Installing Linux

[kev7555]

Can I install Linux to a second partition on my existing hard drive? I have XP Pro on the primary partition. If so, wiil I need anything special to allow booting of either XP or Linux on the same machine?


-Kev

[XenaWP]

I bookmarked this for me to try later:

http://www.devhood.com/tutorials/tutorial_details.aspx?tutorial_id=405

[kev7555]

Excellent tutorial, thank you.

I'll check back later with my progress (or lack of...).


-Kev

[kev7555]

Update...

The tutorial was great but a bit out of date. The guy who wrote that was using mandrake or red hat, I believe. Ubuntu does not require entering any of the command lines noted. Simply selecting to install the grub boot loader does the whole thing, Windows is noted on the start up page and dual-boot works perfectly.

I'm guessing this newer version of Linux is more user-friendly in order to help out all of us "Windows only" folks and get us more involved in the Linux community.

I had some problems getting the "select and install software" step to work so I ended up with just a basic system install. I decided to go back, re-partition and start the installation over again. Right now it's nearing the same stage so we'll see if it completes this time.


-Kev

[kev7555]

Success!

Ubuntu Linux up and running. I didn't even have to select the Grub boot loader this time. It detected the previous Windows OS and loaded grub automatically.

Just downloading software updates and getting ready to start learning...



-Kev

[XenaWP]

Thanks for the update and the corrections noted.

I'm planning to try a dual boot sometime later this summer.

[kev7555]

Do it. You won´t be sorry. I haven't used Windows since I started with this yesterday.

It runs great.

-Kev

[tigstah]

i may have to try it. i have ubuntu, i'll partition some space this weekend.....

[cmillar6]

Ubuntu is a viable alternative to Windows and the newest distro is rather easy to use; however, there always seems to be that one application that you absolutely need that is Windows only.

[XenaWP]

I'm thinking of using in an online-only dual boot type setup. Seems to offer better security and less nasty-ware. Most of my critical apps are Win-only.

[kev7555]

I have not found anything yet that will not run on Ubuntu, but I don´t use a lot of different applications.

For my simple purposes, everything I need is already built into it. Media Player, CD creators, movie player, word processor and other office apps, Firefox web browser, e-mail, image viewer, image editor, image scanner, photo manager... Any of my data produced in Windows programs is read fine here, in Linux

Free is a good thing.

-Kev