Thanks for the info in original post;However I would like to know how to Partition Hard drive to dual boot from XP or Freespire.Also I am running XPSP2 on Dell Dimension 4600,Intel P4;What else DoI need to do? Will I need to install kernal? Do I need an Emulator? Any help will be appreciated

I have seen your other post and your questions in this one suggest to me that you are still a little raw.

my advice is do not install linux but download a good live cd. others have already mentioned freespire (which has ms codec support) but I am suggesting you try mepis 6.5 live cd.

live cds do not have to be installed so you change your bios to boot the cd b4 the hard drive.....its then up to you to see if you like the applications (programs) on the cd and the way linux can read your ms hard drive partitions (heh heh) before you re-visit the next step of installing.

there is no rush to do a hard drive install.....and a number of live cds have a graphical partition tool called qtparted on them to allow resizing of your ms partition when you decide to go the full monty.

If your current xp is installed on a partition you will need to repartition the hd into 3 partitions. one for xp, one for Linux swap file, and another for linux. When you install whichever distro you choose you have to install a boot loader and that will let you choose what you boot to.

If you are going to modify your current partition instead of deleting it be sure to read warnings and i would definitely back up any data you don't want to loose before resizing the partition with anything. If you are just wanting to play with linux I would just make a partition 1 or 2 gigs more than necessary to install it.

Hope thats the info you wanted. Have fun.

Uh-this is A LOT easier than you think. However, I have only dual-booted with Ubuntu and XP, but Freespire will be similar.

First, the distro (in this case Freespire) will install everything you need to operate (hence operating system) including the kernel.

Download and burn copy of GParted. Don't worry about losing a CD, you may need GParted in the future. For tips on burning it, look at the section in my sig about basic Linux questions.

Once that is done, install Freespire, have it take over your whole drive. Then, don't worry about setting things up, just reboot with the GParted CD in your CD tray. Once GParted boots up, it will open a graphical partitioner. Resize the "ext3" partition (the biggest partition) so that half your drive in 'unallocated'. Then click "apply". This will make your partition, so when it is finished, double click on the poweroff button and shutdown.

Then, reboot with Windows in your CD drive and have it install on the free space in your drive. If you don't have a Win CD, then you will have to set everything up without uninstalling Windows, which I don't know how to do. (other people on here do).

If this does not help you, reply to this, and also do a search in this forum for dual-booting. Also, put up your specs for your computer.

I took the advice of Live CD using MEPIS and Unbunto( I think I spelled that right), changed boot sequence in BIOS and still went to XP from Hard drive.Any suggestions?