dual boot linux

[Durrthock]

Anyone know how to dual boot linux and xp ?? Please explain

[OvRiDe]

Well there are several different ways using different boot loaders. Grub, LILO, NTLDR, and then third party software like System commander etc.. I would suggest looking at the links below and do some reading on what you feel comfortable doing. Good Luck and let us know how it goes..

http://www.google.com/search?q=Dual+boot+xp+linux&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
or this one
http://www.google.com/search?q=How+to+dual+boot+XP+and+linux&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

[.Maleficus.]

Quick guide.

1. If you have a free partition already, skip this. If not, then defrag using a 3rd party defrag application. NOT Microsoft's. It doesn't move all of the files, and other software will. Otherwise, when resizing your partition, you may (and probably will) lose some stuff.

2. Again, if you have a free partition, skip this. Get some partition managing software (for use with NTFS) and resize your C: drive (or whatever you want to resize). If you lose something, I hold no responsibility.

3. Insert your preferred distro's CD. I used Ubuntu, so I will tell what I did with that.

4. If it is a LiveCD, find the "Install" option. I don't know where it would be, unless you are using Ubuntu, and then it will be on the Desktop.

5. Pretty straight forward from here. Set time-zone, all that stuff. You know the drill.

6. Now, here is my setup for my partitions. I have 3 right now. I have an NTFS one, an ext3 one, and a linux-swap one. This is were I got very confused and I have to say, I am going to have trouble explaining it, but I'll do my best. Linux-swap only needs ~1gb max of space. I guess you could go 2gb if you're really not sure. Ext3 is where all your files will be saved. Make that your biggest partition. And the NTFS one is where you currently have Windows. I believe that is my "/" partition, which I think is just where they mount it. Idk though, so be cautious. So, to recap, "/" is on my NTFS, ~1gb linux-swap, and the rest ext3.

6 alternate. If you're lucky, your distro's installer will set this up for you. Then you just need the free space and it will handle the rest.

7. Let it install, restart, and hope to see GRUB or LILO. If it just boots into Linux, then you may have just deleted your Windows install.


Hope that helps man, and good luck!

[chedabob]

My personal favourite is install windows as normal, then install your Linux distro, and make sure it partitions your free space, or uses another drive. Then the linux bootloader will overwrite the windows one, and bob's your uncle, a dualboot.

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

bobs my step dad :S :S :P