Yes, you can do this. Simply identify the partition mount point as /home, and then do not format it. Note: There will be some incompatibilities--mostly of the cr/lf variety easily handled on the linux side with unix2dos and dos2unix scripts that translate the line termination chars to fit the OS. On Tue, 19 Feb 2002 fleytin@sci.smolensk.ru wrote: > > Hello, listers! > I am new for this list and i am a complete newby to linux. But i plan > to install it and try it, so i have several questions and let's start > just with one: > Since i have quite limited disk space, i found it a very interesting > idea to format home partition as fat so that both Linux and Windows > could share data on it. I have 10 gb hard disk, but my bios gives me > access only to 4 gb. I saved 1 gb for planned Linux installation and > have remaining 3 gb for my Win-98 system. I actually have 2 fat > partitions: Primary partition (disk c:) 1 gb in size and extended > partition (disk d:) 2 gb. So i wonder if i can tell Linux to accept > my extended fat partition as its home partition without reformating > it? Any suggestions will be highly appreciated. > Thanks in advance, > Sergey. > > On Mon, 18 Feb 2002 15:56:24 -0500 (EST) Janina Sajka wrote: > > > Another approach you might want to consider, is to size down your Windows > > partition to something closer to it's actual data size, i.e. if you have > > 1.5 gB of Windows programs, make hda3 2 gB. Take the remaining for a /home > > formatted as vfat. That way you could see the same data files whether > > you're in linux or Windows. And, you'd have enough room for X, not that X > > is accessible yet, but some access for GNOME is on the horizon. > > > > On Mon, 18 Feb 2002 > > PRASADSL@iocl.co.in wrote: > > > > > thanks every body you who showed concern but i am sorry that i could not do > > > the things > > > > > > basically what i did was as root igave > > > mkdir -p /dos > > > mount -t vfat /dev/hda1/dos > > > > > > the command showed no errors ( as it happens almost always in linux :) > > > but when i went inside the dir there was none in it ...neigther was some > > > thing in the /mnt dir > > > i also tried editing /etc/fstab but of no use > > > > > > basically here is my hard disk ...if you want some more info plz call me > > > .....i have a lot of things to ask if this problem is solved ....you know i > > > am a damn newbie and passionate for linux > > > > > > result of fdisk > > > > > > device boot start end blocks ID system > > > /dev/hda1 1972 2513 409752 83 linux > > > /dev/hda2 1294 1971 5125680 f win95 Ext'd(LBA) > > > /dev/hda3 * 1 1022 7726288+ b win95 FAT32 > > > /dev/hda4 1023 1293 2948760 82 LInux Swap > > > /dev/hda5 1294 1971 5125648+ b win95 FAT32 > > > > > > > > > > > > my mtab file : > > > > > > /dev/hda1 / ext2 rw 0 0 > > > none /proc proc rw 0 0 > > > usbdevfs /proc/bus/usb usbdevfs rw 0 0 > > > none /dev/pts devpts rw,gid=5,mode=620 0 0 > > > /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy vfat rw,nosuid,nodev 0 0 > > > > > > > > > my fstab file : > > > > > > LABEL=/ / ext2 defaults 1 1 > > > /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom iso9660 noauto,owner,ro 0 0 > > > /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy auto noauto,owner 0 0 > > > none /proc proc defaults 0 0 > > > none /dev/pts devpts gid=5,mode=620 0 0 > > > /dev/hda4 swap swap defaults 0 0 > > > /dev/hda3 /dos vfat defaults 1 0 > > > > > > the last line i tried putting after making a dir in / as dos > > > > > > and regarding the disclaimer , i am helpless as it is attached automatically > > > when this piece of paper leaves our network....i do not fine our admin good > > > enough to talk :) > > > > > > thanx in advance > > > > > > see i am totally new to this world , you guys have to teach me word by > > > word > > > > > > > > > > > > **************************************************************************** > > > This electronic communication and any accompanying document is being > > > transmitted over the Indian Oil Network and contains confidential > > > information that is for the exclusive use of the individual or entity to > > > which it is addressed and is protected against unauthorised disclosure. If > > > the reader of this message is not the intended receipient or the employee or > > > agent responsible to deliver to the intended receipient, or is not intended > > > to act on it, be aware that any disclosure, dissemination, distribution or > > > copying of this communication, or the use of its contents is prohibited and > > > is likely to be attended by legal consequences. If you have received this > > > communication in error and/or are not the intended receipient, please > > > immediately notify the undersigned or Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. at the > > > telephone or the fax number or email address given above and permanently > > > delete the original message from your email system. Whilst this mail has > > > been checked for all the known viruses, recipients should undertake their > > > own virus checking as Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. will not accept any > > > liability whatsoever > > > **************************************************************************** > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > > Blinux-list@redhat.com > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > > > > -- > > > > Janina Sajka, Director > > Technology Research and Development > > Governmental Relations Group > > American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) > > > > Email: janina@afb.net Phone: (202) 408-8175 > > > > Chair, Accessibility SIG > > Open Electronic Book Forum (OEBF) > > http://www.openebook.org > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Blinux-list@redhat.com > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Blinux-list@redhat.com > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > -- Janina Sajka, Director Technology Research and Development Governmental Relations Group American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Email: janina@afb.net Phone: (202) 408-8175 Chair, Accessibility SIG Open Electronic Book Forum (OEBF) http://www.openebook.org