Dual Booting linux and Windows XP

[pacman326]

Hey guys! After being hardcore Windows user for years, I have finally decided to take the plunge and try linux alongside my copy of windows xp.
Now here is the multiple questions I posses...

1)How do I dual boot with Linux and Windows xp?

How do I do it, and do I have to reformat to do so... ( I dont really want to)

2) What is the best distro?

I am looking for something that will be good for capturing video from my video camera and editing it. ( Along with some photo work)

3) Any suggestions while using linux?

All your help is appreciated!


P.S I have an 80 GB external HD, can I just run Linux off of that? The HDD that uses windows is interally in my computer.

[udontneed2know]

1.) You'll have to repartion your HDD. Make 1 partion for your Windows OS, and the other partition for your Linux OS. Its also smart to make a 3rd partition for your Linux Swap files. Just helps along the process.

2.) Ubuntu is a very solid distro for a beginner user, but I think RedHat has the most professional grade Linux GUI.

3.) Explore, test, play around. Just don't do it as a superuser. Actually, make it impossible for anyone to become the superuser of your Linux system, just makes it where you can't go into your Root directory and destroy your computer in the process of playing around. Also, look around the web. Use google, and check out all the excellent Linux websites out there. You will learn everything you need to know and figure out how to make the most out of Linux's extremely powerful BASH command line interface.

About your external HDD. Hmmm .. haven't really thought about that actually but you should be able to stick your Linux OS on your external and just tell your BIOS to boot from the external HDD first which will run your Linux kernel instead of the windows one.

But if you dual boot successfully during boot-up you'll be hit with a screen that lets you select which OS you'd like to run. The best thing to do is first install Windows and then install Linux. Windows does not react well to being 2nd place ( surpise suprise )

[pacman326]

Thank you udontneed2know, I was hoping you would post. However, I am a bit of a newb at the stuff you were talking about, could you help me a little more?

The only way I know how to partition is through windows when you do a format.How big should I make each partition, and shouldn't i make a 4th one with the remaining space in my hd for files?

Is there a program that does a better job?

I am sorry, i just have a lot of questions. I am seriously considering using my hdd for linux, because i dont think I have the option of reformatting right now.

[udontneed2know]

Hey no problem, i had the same problems and questions back when i originally got Linux. Well, there are programs out there that will do the Partioning for you, like Partition Magic, but they cost money. Truthfully the safest way to do it is to just backup all your files and such on your internal HDD ( Windows is the OS that will give you problems, not Linux usually ) and just format the HDD for a clean slate. And after formatting you could

Thats the thing though about that External. Since you have one, its very possible you could just format that HDD, slap Linux onto it, enter BIOS by hitting F8 during Windows Boot-Up ( before it enters any graphic screen ) and tell the BIOS through its boot sequencer to start at your external HDD first for boot-up. Then it'll hit your Linux OS before the Windows OS and, if I'm thinking correctly, will just start that and skip Windows. Either that or Windows will intervene and command that you choose lol.

Other ways of partioning. Well, theres a command in older versions of Windows called FDisk. Doubt you have Windows 98 though.

Hmmm .. other ways lemme think. Well, really the last option before you go out and buy a partition program is to reformat your main HDD and install Windows again. During Windows NT, 2000 and XP installations it'll give you control options over your partitions ( drive letters ).

And think of partitions as just different baskets of space for data. Or easier, different lettered drives. You know how when you installed Windows you could tell it to have a C: and D: and E: and what not, however many " virtual " HDD's you wanted. Well that was the partitioning.

A 4th wouldn't be necessary. You'll need alot more space for your Windows stuff though, probably 10-20GB at the least. Linux leave about 10GB if you have room, but about 4GB will be just fine. SWAP file space .. hmm .. about 1-2GB if possible, if not just 1 would be fine.

[pacman326]

See, the problem is my internal is only 55 gb useable @_@. My external gives me 76 gb useable, which is my most viable option. It is going to take a while to download ubuntu, so I will let it go overnight.

I think I am going to use my external after all. I will copy all 26 gb of files inside my external temporarily to my internal. What architecture do I use after reformatting, FAT32 or NFTS? I think it is the first, but I am unsure.

Also, since I am going to have an empty HD, do I need to make any partitions still? Can Ubuntu do it for me as I install? What I think I am trying to say is, if I make a single partion with 10gb for linux, do I need to make a seperate partion with the rest of the space.

Lol, I am sorry, I just don't worry about formatting that often.

[udontneed2know]

Edit: I put something before but I change my mind. I think the kernel has the installation code built in so. Yes, I do believe it'll allow you to do it during installation.

FAT32 yeah, you'll want that since Linux loves FAT32.

If your going to use that external for just Linux then I don't think you'll need partitions. Since really your HDD is just one massive 55GB partition.

So your wondering on your external is if you make a 10GB Linux partition for the file system and everything, will Linux recognize the other 60GB? Or are you wondering if Windows will recognize the other 60GB of extra space. No for Linux, yes for Windows though if I'm understanding you lol. When you make that partition, if you make one for Linux, you'll have 2 partitions. Partition A will = 10GB Linux stuff. Partition B will = rest of your space.

[pacman326]

Alright, yea, I meant if I would need to make a partition for my empty space so that linux recognised it. Thanks a lot! I am going to let my computer download the .iso today, and hopefully try messing around with it on friday and this weekend.

[pacman326]

Haha, getting linux to work on my external hd is harder than I thought. I spent 3 hours to no avail. Some guy recently found a way to install my "favorite" distro, but it still doesnt work, lol!

I am going to keep trying though.

The link to the instructions I am trying to follow is here.

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthre...t=80811&page=9

I will try more tommorow.

Edit: Figured out the problem, I can't boot usb devices afterall, my mobo is almost 3 years old now. So I guess booting from the external is impossible... Only have 55gb on my internal, and I know my sister is not going to let me reformat, so I guess I will have to wait to get Linux on the PS3, unless I buy and add another HD to my computer.

[RajaF]

OK, Pacman, I don't mean to but in since ud2n knows his stuff but Ubuntu is a bit hard on newbies. Try Mandrake (Mandriva). Also verry user friendly is the installer on Fedora Core 4. I have both and dual boot with XP.

Well I have a few pieces of advice and if ud2n already said it then I'm just repeating but I won't read through all that

Choose with care what type of file system you choose for your Linux. use the Reiser FS. Also for windows, Mandriva has no problems with NTFS and same goes for SuSe and Fedora Core. I preffer NTFS for windows because it's just plain better than FAT32 (although Ubuntu loves the FAT as ud2n said).

Also create 1-2 GB swap partition for Linux. Even better here is my set up maybe it will help.
I have 7 partitions:

1: Native linux for 20 GB
2: Swap for linux 3 GB
3: Reiser FS 30 GB
4: Reiser FS 30 GB
5: Windows C drive 10 GB
6: Windows D drive 50 GB
7: Windows E drive 4 GB (I am a freak I use this for the windows swap file)

Also be carefull where you write your boot record (at the begining of the drive or somewhere else) It will seriously affect your dual booting

Also, DO NOT log in as root for the first few months because you can seriously screw up (I did this and ended up re-installing more than a few times ).

For the rest, wellcome back from the dark side Luke, enjoy the light and freedom.
Also check out the Penguin Liberation Front :P

[pacman326]

Thanks guys, I have successfully installed Mandrake 2006 onto my external hd. Now I just need to learn how to install programs like vlc, and the latest version of firefox.

[The_Only]

Ubisoft has denied Internet speculation suggesting that the next instalment in the Prince of Persia franchise will be named ‘Heir Apparent.’

Speaking on the company’s official messageboard, Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia moderating team stated:

"Rumours have popped up that the new Prince of Persia game is called "Heir Apparent." This is not the case! The origin of the mistake is in the title of the Game Informer article on Prince of Persia called Heir Apparent.”

"Just to clarify: The Heir Apparent is the name of the article, and it is NOT the name of the new game."

"No name has officially been announced."

Little is known on the game at present, although it has been confirmed that the title will not be related to the Sands of Time story arch, and will instead focus on one-on-one confrontations, as opposed to grouped battles.

Prince of Persia is currently scheduled for release between October and December of this year on PlayStation 3, PC and Xbox 360.

More information is expected to be revealed at Ubisoft’s media summit later this month.

Source: http://www.videogamer.com/news/19-05-2008-8329.html