centos 5.4 on comp with xp can it be done?

zorg · 03-24-2010, 12:50 PM

I want to install centos 5.4 on laptop with xp on it...can it be done and if so is it good idea or not????

divyashree · 03-24-2010, 01:01 PM

Yes, thats a good idea ,U can dual boot or if have latest h/w u can virtualize inside ur OS.

nuwen52 · 03-24-2010, 01:39 PM

I have a dual boot system. One, perhaps obvious, note: I would install Windows first and leave enough unpartitioned space open so that you can install CentOS. CentOS's installer should be able to detect the windows partition and set up the boot loader automatically to boot Linux and Windows.

ninjashoes · 03-24-2010, 01:45 PM

Its always easier when you have two hard drives imo but yeah you can still create a partition for each.

okcomputer44 · 03-24-2010, 01:58 PM

If the HDD was already partitioned with Windows (mine was too) partition magic can do the trick after that.
The CentOS5.4 needs about 8Gb hdd space and for the swap needs the physical memory size + 100Mb. (memory 4Gb ==>> 4.100 Gb space)

So it means you will need 12Gb HDD space for CentOS install.
When you install the centos it will ask for where to put the grub installer. Choose the master boot record on your first HDD.

Laz.

zorg · 03-24-2010, 03:00 PM

thank you to those who answered my question! I will reply back after I try it to tell results !!!!
zorg out!

rubentje1991 · 03-24-2010, 04:44 PM

I personally would prefer a seperate /home partition (with a size of some Gigs): later on you can install or reinstall your linux-distro, without losing your personal data and preferences stored there...

but this is only how I do the partitioning (in the past I only used one partition too)

zorg · 03-25-2010, 10:37 AM

Windows xp already installed. I want to put Centos 5.4 on without having to repartition the hd with software such as partition magic... Can this be done? Or do i have to find a way to make room? thanks...greatly appreciated. btw...this is on a laptop.