Multi Boot?

[darkconz]

I currently have Windows XP installed on my HD. I can partition some space out of my harddrives to install a new OS. I wanna try out Linux in particular. I am looking into ManDrake and RedHat Linux right now and was thinking can I multiboot at this point? Or do I have to install the Linux first before installing Windows XP?

Thank you for any help in advance.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Installing Windows first is usually easier.

 

[darkconz]

Thank you, I'll just install Linux now since I have Windows installed already. Is it alright for me to have 2 Linux on the same HD?

 

[darkconz]

I forgot to ask... I bought Partition Magic 7.0 and do I just use that program to make a partition in the Linux file system? I am not sure if Linux uses FAT, FAT32 or what so this is my first time going through this. Later if I dont want Linux anymore and would like to have my partitioned spaced back to use... can I merge it with the current HD I have or will it remain partitioned?

Thanks again.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Just leave unallocated space at the end of the drive. Linux can use ext2, ext3, xfs, jfs, and reiserfs. The installer will help you partition and format. PM should allow you to format the Linux space and may merge it back into the main partition.

 

[darkconz]

Thanks a lot n0cmonkey. I'll have to try it out in 30 mins or so... still a little bit more to go until Mandrake is done =\ Slowwww ADSL argh hehe.

 

[Turkish]

Partition Magic can merge partitions Very useful. As you can see from my thread in this same forum, PM does wonders By the way, why did you buy version 7.0 instead of 8.0? I thought 8.0 was the last one? And how much did you pay for it? Can you upgrade it to 8.0 for free or you need to pay?

 

[pitupepito2000]

I would suggest you first install windows. Then leave some unallocated space for linux. Then boot with your linux installation disk and follow the instructions. The linux installation disk will guide you through creating a partition for linux. As n0cmonkey specified linux doesn't use FAT32, or NTFS for it's filesystem, in linux you have a variety of filesystems to choose from. Some of the most popular ones are the journaling filesystems, that keep record of all the transactions (read/ write ) that take in place so in case the system crashes it is very easy to make sure that all the transactions are done. Ext2 is very popular, but it doesn't allow for journaling, then ext3 is pretty much ext2 but with journaling and more features. Xfs, jfs, and reiserfs, are very good and popular filesystems that provide for journaling.

By the time that you become very accostumed to linux, you will be able to do a lot of things with it. My best advice to using linux is to be curious, RTFM a lot, ask questions after doing some research on the topic. Some good links are:
www.google.com/linux
www.tldp.org
your local Linux User Group or "LUG"

Good luck,
pitupepito

 

[PhlashFoto]

Just a small note of an idea.... instead of dual booting... why not get VMWare or MS Virtual PC 2004. Then you dont have to dual/multi boot OSs. just run then all from the one OS you have on your system now. Plus then there much less chance for the OS installed within VMWare and V-PC to mess up your primary system.