New to linux, and dual boot.

[Tubbz]

Okay, I?ve done some research into running Linux as an operating system, and am totally ready to get into all the troubles of learning and using a non M$ OS. Now, I only have a few questions before I jump in. Okay, this is a common question...Which Linux distribution should I pick up? (I am thinking Mandrake, yes I have done a search on this forum and this is the result, just want to be reassured) Now for the question that nobody has asked...Is possible to dual boot Win XP and Linux, when Win XP is installed first? And how? Oh, and is it better to go and buy a distribution or just download one, for learning purposes? (after I learn Linux, I plan to keep at least 1 linux system) hmm...one more question, about how often does a distribution such a mandrake get updated and need updates?

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

to dual boot with any version of windows, you want windows installed first, and then install linux.

and about updating mandrake....not sure, with debian you can do an apt-get update && apt-get upgrade and that upgrades all of your stuff. how long it takes depends on how long it's been since you last updated/upgraded.

for me it can take anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes, just depends.

example (i am doing this right now, thanks for reminding me ):

23 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 17 not upgraded.
Need to get 13.4MB of archives. After unpacking 2161kB will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]

you should have an idea of how long that might take, considering your bandwidth, for me it looks like...

128kB/s 1m20s

so a total of maybe 2 or 3 minutes max.

again i have no idea about mandrake but i'm sure it would be a somewhat similar amount of time.

 

[Tanner]

just download it and burn the ISOs d00d! don't EVER pay for linux! it's TOTALLY NOT ALL about THAT!

 

[MOTM]

hey Tubbz,

im new and also went last week putting up a triple boot system, may got quadruple just for more testing and learning. But the system is Win98SE, 2K and Linux RedHat 7.2.

First off, my setup is because I am learning to get my MCSA (Ms Cert Sys Admin) and also in Linux+ if I have the time to. Go ahead and make a Windows 98SE boot disk. If your using Windows, make sure you note down your system devices (video card type, model, make) sound card etc. Linux may look friendly but its not and hates RAID and other things like Winmodems. Now when your ready, load up the boot disk and let it goto DOS. Type in FORMAT C: /Q. This will delete everything off fast. Next type in and enter FDISK. Chose the option to delete partition. And nuke it all, reboot machine let it boot form Floppy again. Now type in FDISK once more.

This time if you want to follow my setup, you will want to make 3 partitions. C:, D: and E:. If you have a CDROM it will become F:. The first parition will be C: and make it active, reboot. Leave the disk in and let it boot up, type in FDISK, (will eb the last time you use this) and goto the option to make Paritions, choose Extended partition, make 1 parition and then make another one. So in short say you have a 30 gb hdd, c: will have 10gb, d: will have 10 gb and e: will have 10 gb, total 30gbs. Linux dosent need alot of space you could go ahead and make it to your preference, mine is set to 7 gbs. I like my linux to have a bit of space.

Ok nwo that your set, go and load up the Windows 98SE cdrom on boot (may need to tell bios to boot form cdrom) or you cna leave the floppy in the drive, reboot with CDROM support. Type in SETUP and let it go thru the phace of formatting C: ONLY. Make it FAT32 i doubt it will ask if you want FAT16. Follow the setup procedure and let window sinstall.

Windows 98:

Once the setup is complete, go ahead and setup the system with the upto date virus protection, drivers and other patches (win98se security patches, internet explorer 6.0, directx 8.1) etc. Now you have ti setup and upto date, dont install any productivty softwares just yet. Go ahead and put teh Win2k cd in, let it install, tell it you want to SPECIFY INSTALLATION LOCATION. Choose D:, let it format and install to it.

Win2k:

Same as Windows 98se, update the patch to sp1, sp2, internet explorer 6.0, patches, drivers etc. Now comes the fun part. If you have the Linux Redhat CDs burnt, go ahead and put them in the cd drive and see if you can see the files! Some times mistakes can happen and you burn the .iso to the cd as .iso instead of haveing it restored and burnt properly.

Linux RedHat

Reboot the machine, make sure in BIOS you choose to boot from CD. Linux Redhat with its cute pengiun will load up, let it. If it asks for regular install or custom, choose regular. Now it will ask for where do you want it to be installed to, choose the one it has setup, then select GRUB as the loader! This GRUB will load Linux and also take respect you have Ms Windows 98/2k partitions and not harm them.

Let it install!

Linux:

Once linux is loading say you have broadband dsl or cable, you early on took note of your system config and stuff. This is where the IP, DNS, host etc will come to use, if you dont know it dont worry, you can install it later.

Results:

When its installation is done successfully, you will have a RedHat 7.x and DOS option, choose DOS and press enter, you will be presented with the Windows 98se and WIndows 2000 Professional option.

Success

References:

www.ircontic.com (articles)
www.linux.com
www.debian.com

 

[NorthenLove]

<< just download it and burn the ISOs d00d! don't EVER pay for linux! it's TOTALLY NOT ALL about THAT! >>



Well maybe not Debian, Gentoo, SlackWare and other non-profit Linux's but for SuSE, RedHat and especially MANDRAKE they really do need your support if you plan to use their products and since they are nice enough to allow you to sample it for free you should return the favor if you like their product and buy it when you get the chance.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<<

<< just download it and burn the ISOs d00d! don't EVER pay for linux! it's TOTALLY NOT ALL about THAT! >>



Well maybe not Debian, Gentoo, SlackWare and other non-profit Linux's but for SuSE, RedHat and especially MANDRAKE they really do need your support if you plan to use their products and since they are nice enough to allow you to sample it for free you should return the favor if you like their product and buy it when you get the chance. >>



Why pay when we can get everything for free? Isnt that what its all about?



<< hmm...one more question, about how often does a distribution such a mandrake get updated and need updates? >>



Much like Windows, Solaris, AIX, IRIX, OpenBSD (yes, OpenBSD), FreeBSD, NetBSD, HPUX, Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, and many others, there could be updates at anytime. Keep up to date on their site and download fixes and whatnot when they are released. As far as new releases, you shouldnt have to wait more than 6 months or so. With linux its hard to tell since they dont have a set release schedule (no one seems to do this except OpenBSD ).


-n0c
Spending money on Free OSes since 1996

 

[zeedo]

i have a question to ask too, is it the same procedure to install linux over XP and linux over winzk ? thanks

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< i have a question to ask too, is it the same procedure to install linux over XP and linux over winzk ? thanks >>



Over or to dualboot? Either way it should be the same.

 

[Tubbz]

Okay, maybe my question was too vague. As of right now I have Windows XP installed on one of my rigs. The 32 gig hard disk is one big NTFS partition. Now, I want to install Linux onto the system without sacrificing Win XP. Is there a way to do this? If so, I can probably figure this out, if someone can tell me if there is a way to partition my hard disk. Thanks in advanced.

 

[n0cmonkey]

fdisk and reinstall (you keep backups right? )
partition magic. It may cost you some $, but you shouldnt lose data
buy another hard drive.