LMDE12 32bit installation in Virtual Box 4.04 OSE partitioning help please
 

Hey all, I'm kind of stuck here with not knowing how to proceed. I'm running virtual box in my Ubuntu 11.04 64 bit install and want to get LMDE12 32 bit installed and running proper in VirtialBox. Thing is; partitioning for Linux; I've never really caught on. Other distros did it for me and I've never had need til now. LMDE gives a basic partitioning scheme but is lacking where to put "/" I assume that means mount point? The gparted screen/window shows:
/dev/sda1 -- swap -- 564
/dev/sda2 -- ext4 -- 7625 total 7395 free
unallocated -- -- 3
It tells me that I need to set the mount point. I'm not sure what to do or how to do it?
I tried just setting sda2 as "/" but this only allowed me to use the install as root.
What to do? I've got memory problems as in dementia that most of the time keep me from solving things like this for myself. Like I said before in a previous post it's like having one brain cell left and trying to multi task!?!? Many thanx for your help....I did search the net and post on mint forums to no avail Thanx again %:)) SW

Hi - I have just downloaded a LMDE and setup a Virtualbox machine for it.
I have never used LMDE before.
I thought the screens were not as "intuitive" as it could be.
When you get the option to use gparted - you go into gparted - and you need to have 2 partitions. One will be for swap. Probably 1Gb will be more than enough. One will be for your LMDE install. This is the "root" partition and is also known as "/".
Maybe gparted has already created them for you. Maybe not.
Either way - I find it useful (for my own memory issues) to use the "label" field and I put "lab_swap" as the name for the swap and "lab_root" for.... you guessed it right? - "root" (aka "/").

Now, having APPLIED these changes.
You get back to the screen that is demanding you assign "root ("/").
Click refresh to ensure the stuff you did under gparted is visible.
You need to RIGHT CLICK on the partition you created (and maybe labeled) then you can select the "/" bit.
After that - you click "forward" and it works out that the one you created for swap is there... it knows (thanks to your right click) that the root partition is there and ...... away you go.

As I say... not the most "intuitive".

Good luck.
BTW - if you have more questions - I would be more than happy to assist and answer email questions.

Dave

If you use Debian, it is supposed to be less intuitive than LMDE. I suppose essentially the same beast. I'm sorry but I do not follow your reply. As I believe I stated in my post; that gparted gave me a swap partition and an ext4 partition with unallocated space. Marking ext4 as "/" only allowed me to use the installation as root. Is a third partition required to create "/"? And how is this done? My mind kind of goes blank when I'm there and trying. I think I'm too confused to even ask a proper question. I need help that is more intuitive me thinqz! My current thoughts are either third partition [which I may need a walk through on creating and setting as "/"] or setting up user files after first boot to root. I'm clueless how to proceed??? Thanx for trying!

Something like this is what I was looking for except I need it more up to date and a little more fine detail explained. I'll keep working on it. Yet still open for pointers and how to's!!! Duoh BTW thanx

http://mylinuxramblings.wordpress.co...impressions-2/

Hmmm. I guess sort of confused me.


The name "root" is the user name for the super-user AKA the master administrator. It also is the name for the top of the directory hierarchy --> "/".

But - then I come back to your statement ......
The LMDE that I downloaded did ask me for a username AFTER I had allocated a partition to "/" AND Once the install had completed - AND I had re-booted.
Only then was I allowed to login with the username I had supplied earlier. Ie - "dave" NOT root.

Maybe your installation didn't ask you for a username?
Maybe you didn't continue to reboot?
Maybe you didn't complete the installation?
What exactly is the problem?
But, then (I think) a light bulb turned on.

Linux allows you to have multiple partitions mounted at different locations throughout the "tree hierarchy". Because it is "flexible" there are less rules and more conventions. This is great for "those who know" but not so great for those who are expecting that there is only one way (the right way) "to do it".

It is convention to have a "/home" directory where users (other than root) can store their data. (Sort of like putting all user stuff on "D:\" on windoze)
It is convenient to have a filesystem mounted at that location because - should one wish to re-install the O/S - then the users data could be preserved across re-installs.

If what you are trying to achieve is an installation with the O/S on one partition and the user(s) data on another partition THEN (perhaps) the following will help.

When you enter gparted by clicking "edit partitions" you can create 3 partitions;

1. the root partition (bigger than 3Gb)
2. the swap partition (about 1Gb)
3. A home partion - for user data - as big as you think sufficient (The install puts nothing here - it's your space)

.

Make the "type" of partition either ext3 or ext4 for root and home. Make the "type" swap for the swap partition.
"APPLY" the changes from the "Edit" menu.
close gparted.
Refresh.
Now RIGHT CLICK the partition that you made for root and choose "/".
AND
RIGHT CLICK the partition that you made for home and choose "/home".
THEN
click "forward" and continue with the installation. You should be asked for a your full name, the username you want, a password and the name for this machine.
Fill that form in and continue.
Eventually - you should get the message that the install is complete and then you must shutdown and reboot.
When it reboots - eventually it gets to a login screen where the default name that you can choose is the username you setup earlier.

Of course I could be wrong. So, if what you are trying to achieve is NOT having a separate partition for user data - then what I have typed won't be any use.

Your next step after a successful installation could be to install the VirtualBox LinuxAdditions.

Dave