Help me prepare for my fresh install.

[Cam42]

I'll be doing a fresh install of Xubuntu Karmic in a few days. Some questions


If I create a large ext4 partition now, before the upgrade, move my files to it, can I use that partition as /home with the fresh install?
What is the recommended partitioning scheme?



How big should each partition be?

[earthpigg]

I'll be doing a fresh install of Xubuntu Karmic in a few days. Some questions


If I create a large ext4 partition now, before the upgrade, move my files to it, can I use that partition as /home with the fresh install?
What is the recommended partitioning scheme?



How big should each partition be?


1. yes, but you should still have your important data backed up in case you mis-click during the install or the power dies or the moon and stars align resulting in a failed install. if you are unable to back everything up at this time, then i suggest sticking with your existing install until that changes. if your vital data is under 2gb and you are ok with the 'cloud', you can back it all up using dropbox (https://www.getdropbox.com/) or UbuntuOne (https://one.ubuntu.com/).

2. what i consider to kinda-sorta be the standard scheme is:

-15gb, mountpoint of /, ext4, bootable flag

-2gb, use as swap. if you give us exact hardware specs and exactly what you use your computer for, we can discuss the need for a swap at all, and how big it should be if you have one till the cows come home. if HD space is at a premium for you, let us know and we can do cost/benefit analysis with you.

-rest, mountpoint of /home, ext4... make sure you click 'do NOT format' at this point. not that you risk losing any data, really, since you will have everything backed up right?

-if you want to, you could make a /media/media partition that all users have read/write access to and put music and stuff there for all to use.

[Cam42]

1. yes, but you should still have your important data backed up in case you mis-click during the install or the power dies or the moon and stars align resulting in a failed install. if you are unable to back everything up at this time, then i suggest sticking with your existing install until that changes. if your vital data is under 2gb and you are ok with the 'cloud', you can back it all up using dropbox (https://www.getdropbox.com/) or UbuntuOne (https://one.ubuntu.com/).

Yes, I already have a combination of dropbox (I've actually got 2.75GB due to people I've referred) and UbuntuOne. I also have a DVD burner, so I'll do that as well.


2. what i consider to kinda-sorta be the standard scheme is:

-15gb, mountpoint of /, ext4, bootable flag

-2gb, use as swap. if you give us exact hardware specs and exactly what you use your computer for, we can discuss the need for a swap at all, and how big it should be if you have one till the cows come home. if HD space is at a premium for you, let us know and we can do cost/benefit analysis with you.

-rest, mountpoint of /home, ext4... make sure you click 'do NOT format' at this point. not that you risk losing any data, really, since you will have everything backed up right?

-if you want to, you could make a /media/media partition that all users have read/write access to and put music and stuff there for all to use.
Thank you.