I tried running the install and I'm not quite sure from the GUI in FC6 how to just repartition my windows drive and keep windows on. It either had trouble with repartioning (from my experience, which is quite limited) or it wanted to completely format the drive and install linux. This is why I mentioned saying goodbye to windows. Basically this is what I have:
1 hard drive: 120GB
first partition: 100GB (where windows is located)
-20 GB on that partition is being used by windows itself leaving about 80GB free

second partition: 11.5GB (this partition is the recovery partition that is installed from factory) I'd like to keep it if possible and yes I have already made recovery DVDs as well for windows. there is also 1.22GB free on this partition.

I'd like to install linux on the 100GB partition. Leave windows with about 40 GB and give the other 60GB to linux. Now I understand that I need a swap partition so that will eat about 4GB of my 60 alloted for linux (2GB RAM).

I fiddled for quite a while with the GUI and searched around but couldn't find any information on how to do this specifically with FC 6 GUI install (anaconda I think is what it's called). I've never installed an OS before so I'm sorry I guess I need some specific step-by-step instructions. If anyone is willing to provide any help on this it would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Hammy

Get the SystemRescueCD and use this (gparted or run_qtparted) to resize the Windows partition before you install FC6. This will leave the recovery partition alone and provide the free space need to install Linux. The SystemRescueCD is a great tool to have and use in any case.

http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page

Are the systemrescuecd that is shown on the Fedora donwload site and the one you just mentioned the same?

Thanks,
Hammy

No, they are completely different, the one I provided a link to is much more useful.

Thanks. I'll try it out today when I get home and with any luck my next post on here will be from linux. (here's hoping it will detect my wifi card)

Hammy

I am a newbie also. I prefer to use a Win partition program to resize my WinXP partition before installing FC6 in the freed up space. I used Paragon Hard Disk Manager Pro 8.0 to do it. There is a free 15 day trial version to download. Just a suggestion in case you are more comfortable with win programs at this moment in time. Good luck!

Well I used SystemRescueCd and got everything resized. I installed FC6 x86_64 and so far everything works. Well almost. Unfortunately I am writing this in windows because I am trying to get my integrated wireless to work.

started a new thread with what happened.