If you have a brand new empty disk, there probably aren't any partition issues.  Or there are partition issues, but since I didn't have a brand new empty disk, I can't tell you what they are.

There are a number of choices made in deciding how many partitions to have and what kind of partitions they should be.  I set up one partition for /root and one partition for /swap.  I think the notes recommend the /swap partition be twice the size of your RAM.

Icepack recommends using the ReiserFS file system.  Both Reiser and EXT3 are "journaling" file systems, which means they are supposed to keep from getting fragmented and also shouldn't require disk scanning the way a FAT32 partition does when the computer crashes.

Some websites recommend "EXT3 for /root, ReiserFS for other partitions."  I asked Icepack about this and they recommended using ReiserFS.  Apparently some older versions of  LILO (the boot loader that is going to allow you to pick which system to boot into) have problems with ReiserFS.

Some websites recommend making partitions also for /var, /home and other choices.  I don't have enough knowledge about Linux to speak knowledgeably about such choices.  However, I like to use one big partition because otherwise I always end up needing more space in one partition and having too much space in another partition.

Special Note:  I used a disk that had been a Windows 98 disk.  Something went wrong with the partitioning the first time through.  In fact, I couldn't get the Icepack partitioner to do what I wanted it to for some reason.  I did the complete install, only to have it fail completely.  However, I then went through the install a second time and everything worked fine.

Second Special Note -- Windows/Linux Partitions on one Drive:  This note is derived from my Mandrake Linux install on my laptop (which is presently absent).  Many people report "no problems."  However, I had this problem -- I ran a test version of Mandrake Linux 8.2 for some time on my laptop.  Mandrake resized my Windows/FAT32 partition and added the necessary partitions for Linux.  (But see third note.)  The Linux partition was too small, so I knew I was going to have to re-do the install after awhile.  But!!! here is the bad thing that happened.  When I defragmented my Windows partition to try and make more room for a larger Linux partition, Linux disappeared.  Apparently, the two partitions were overlapping.  (In fact, by the time I got done, my Windows partition was also overlapping the Top Secret "Save to Disk" partition that is for the laptop "suspend" operations.

Now, Icepack tech support and several websites say that the Windows and Linux partitions should leave each other alone.  However, after an extensive websearch I ran into someone who says, "Around here, everyone knows that the Windows partition will not respect the Linux partition, because it doesn't know about it."  The proposed solution was to re-partition the hard disk with fdisk making the partitions for Linux as well as the partitions for Windows, reinstall windows, then install Linux.  (If this sounds like too much fun, perhaps you will understand why I haven't done it yet.)

Third Special Note Shrinking the Windows Partition:  Yes, you can shrink the Windows partition.  Maybe if you do it with Partition Magic (a program I don't have), Windows will respect the Linux partition, I don't know.  But anyway, I used Mandrake to shrink my Windows partition on my laptop and it wouldn't go very small.  I was puzzled, but didn't worry about it immediately.

I have subsequently learned that Windows leaves a bunch of hidden/system files in various places.  The partition won't shrink below where the last of  these hidden/system files resides.  Defragmenting under windows will not move these files -- you will see them as little 1/2 red flag icons in the defragmenter display.

On person has suggested locating these files, changing their attributes and then running a defragmentation.  However -- I don't know whether this will leave Windows actually running or whether it will die.  One person described using a Windows boot floppy and using the "sys" command to reinstall the system files after moving them around as I have described.  So, you know, when you put Linux on a Windows drive, Beware and Be Ready to reinstall Windows.

Fourth Special Note:  I was able to straighten out my partitions with Partition Magic by PowerQuest.  Also, it was able to shrink the Windows partition despite the hidden/system files I described above.  I made a Linux partition and a Linux swap partition from Windows and then proceeded to the Linux install.  More good news:  The HP diagnositics on my laptop will work with the Icepack bootloader (would not work with the Mandrake bootloader).

Whether the Partition Magic partitions will remain stable or get messed up when I run "defragment" (or in some other operation) I don't know.

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