Please help: Doing full re-install, need help w/ stuff...

[Z3R0T0N1N]

Hi:
I am doing a full re-install on my main machine. I want to have my 60 gig 7200 RPM HD in two partitions, one for WinXP pro, the other for Suze Linux. I need to format, because drive is just too damn messy, and I want to start fresh.
So, what do I do first?
I am thinking that there must be a way to partition after I have formatted but before I reinstall winXP (Linux is going in after I get up and running) But I don't know if or how that can be done. Is there a way to do it from bios? is it too hard for stupid persons like me? And, Can it be partitioned after I install winXP? If i do it that way, but do it before I install anything else, drivers etc., would that be okay?
And last but not least, what sytem should it be formated in (fat 32 etc,... I don't know what any of those things mean, sorry.)
Now for da spec's: I intend to use this machine for both school and music. That means Adobe and macromedia stuff for school, and general design and coding (java, html, and some other stuff) Music is mostly VST and virtual studio style composing, maybe a little sound recording, but I will be using my Hitachi Deckstar 40 gig 7200 rpm for all my samples and recording, so that shouldn't matter.
I have 512 meg ram, 1900+ athlon XP chip, asrock mobo , nvidia geforce2 video card, sb live and m-audio delta 44 for sound.
Any advice at all? I shur could use some.
Also, as I am installing the hitachi hd for the first time, how should I set that up - it will be for sound pretty much exclusively.

Thank you so much for any advice you can give. I am gone for an hour or so starting now, so I can't reply right away, but feel free to PM me any questions, or post them here.
Thanx frenz, much love.
s:b

[cptgone]

You can partition during the XP install. I think you can install whatever OS you like on the unused partition. But you'll need some boot manager to pick the one you want on start-up.

FAT32 is an older and simpler file system than NTFS. NTFS offers security for several users. You can't use DOS stuff to read NTFS files. Apart from that, it won't matter much.

I'd keep all music apps in a separate OS.

[Crackbaby]

Asrock? hehe.. what is that?
Uh.. nevermind

Ok .. i think all you have to do is to use the xp cd. If i remember correctly (im under medication so i might be not) the installationprogram will let you partitionise and format.
You can create and remove partitions .. and format. Great huh!?

[Z3R0T0N1N]

That's really cool.... Why didn't I know that?
I have never noticed that option, and I've installed xp twice now. I sure appreciate the help.
So, I guess I will get to it... Man I hate doing this. The results are nice, and all that, but having my system in chaos for a day always kind of pisses me off!
one more thing, if anyone knows; I am totally new to Linux; Never even seen a computer with it installed, much less tried it. After looking around on the net for quite a while, and trying to understand the tech-talk, Suze Linux looks like the one for me. I would like to hear opinions though. If you know of a better one for total beginners, could you let me know?
Thanx again for the help, guyz.
s:b

[tetraplan]

If you are going to install SuSE 9.1, make sure your drive is set to LBA in your BIOS. Otherwise there are going to be enormous problems.
Do this before you reinstall XP, it may not help if you do this afterwards (as I am experiencing).
More info here. Pay attention to RickH's post.

Groet, Erik

[bluedad]

but having my system in chaos for a day always kind of pisses me off!
s:b

a day? I like your optimism!

[Z3R0T0N1N]

but having my system in chaos for a day always kind of pisses me off!
s:b

a day? I like your optimism!