[Techtalk] factory install of linux & its partition allocation

[Anne Wainwright]

Hi, all,

I recently purchased a new laptop with a factory install of ubuntu. The
partitioning scheme seems really weird.

size	type			dev		mounted
~~~~	~~~~			~~~		~~~~~~~
62GB	linux bootable		dev/sda1	/media 
188GB	extended partition	dev/sda2
59GB	linux ext4		dev/sda8	/
116GB	linux ext4		dev/sda6	/media *
2.5GB	linux swap		dev/sda9
4.9GB	linux swap		dev/sda7
6.1GB	linux swap		dev/sda5

* mounted on / according to disc utility but then when you have looked
  at it then it is mounted on /media

both sda8 & sda9 have a full compliment of linux directories with
contents from /bin to /var except any user directory in /home

Just what is happening here? why three swap partitions? why are
partitions in any case mounted on /media? Would it not be usual to
allocate a partition to say /home ?

Elucidation sought but not at the expense of easter festivities!

the laptop is a local no-name brand, reputedly a Fujitsu.

thanks
Anne