Re: Overwrite existing partition with zeros without hurting partition table? (Debian Lenny)

[Thierry Chatelet <tchatelet@free.fr>]

On Saturday 06 March 2010 00:36:31 Mark wrote:
> >On Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 3:23 PM, Thierry Chatelet <tchatelet@free.fr> wrote:
> > >"If" I understand your question correctly;  you want to keep your 200 Gb
> >
> > and
> >
> > >do a new install.First question: are those 200 gb on a separated
> >
> > partition? If
> >
> > >no, then you should save the music on a external drive, or create a
> >
> > partition
> >
> > >to put it on. Then during the new install choose manual partitioning and
> >
> > go
> >
> > >on.
> 
> Currently I have 180 of the 200 GB partitioned containing music, pictures,
> etc. and an old OS installation on the hda2 partition.  I'd like to keep
>  the 180 gb partition in-tact, not damage the partition table, and fill the
>  20 gb hda2 partition with zeros so I can install Lenny.
> 
> Thanks,
> Mark
> 

First use gparted live cd to split your 200 gb partition.
Then, you can install Lenny on the hda2 partition. During install, choose 
manual partitioning. Then, it is a bit tricky as you want to create a / 
partition and a /home/user on the new partition. You can do that from the 
installer. And then you can mount your 180 gb partition still using the 
installer. Select the partition and mount it as say  /home/yourname/music.
Good luck.
Thierry