duel boot
 

hi im would like to install xp on my computer as well as the exsisting fedora 7 i have now (just to play games on) can i install xp on my hard drive or onto another hard drive and set it to duel boot?

To my knowledge, Windows XP likes installing itself over any existing partitions, and its not very fond of resizing the existing partitions.

You may want to try resizing your / or /home partition with the GParted Live CD, found here.
I'm pretty sure you can choose the partition to install to with XP so just create one while using the GParted CD.

The next problem is the bootloader, as the XP installer doesn't give you a choice (as far as I know- I may be wrong). There is a FedoraForum.org post which tells you how how to do this. Simply install XP in its own partition and look at that post to get Grub back.

(Without Grub, you will not be able to boot into Linux)

Good luck!

can i not install onto another hard drive?

"Duel" = "A prearranged fight with deadly weapons by two people (accompanied by seconds) in order to settle a quarrel over a point of honor". The one who dies is the looser.

"Dual" = A choice between two.

Of course you can. But (stupid) windows will only install on the first ("Primary") hard drive.
So: unplug your linux drive, plug in a new drive. Let win install (if you must ;))
Then plug in your linux drive. Then boot from live CD and install grub so it knows where to find both windows and your linux distro. You are fixed :)
I choose pistols ;)

Looser = "less taut or tight"

Loser = "not the winner"

Thanx fur thu spellin lesunz.

tredegar, sometimes a "Dual Boot" to a newbie can seem like a "Duel Boot". I remember my first encounter.

thanks guys youve been a big help
oh and is the live cd different from the install cd? or are they the same thing?

@Mark 7 -thanks ! ;)
@Larry Webb: You are so right!
@intheshadows:
Sometimes it is (Eg (K)ubuntu, othertimes, maybe not, it depends on how the distro was built.
If once you get to the live CD desktop there's an option to "Install" then obviously they are the same, but I would expect most live distros to have an option to install.
Come back here if you have trouble reinstalling grub.

so i take out my linux hard drive put in the fresh and install XP then put my linux hard drive back in as well then choose boot from cd (live cd) and install grub?

When i put my linux hard drive back in do i set it to master or slave?

What is grub?

How do i install it?

Do i have to use the live cd every time i want linux?

Do i have to install grub every time?

sorry for the 101 questions its just id like to know what to do so i dont mess things up, im only installing XP for games that run on XP better than linux ive tried wine, wineX and cedega and they just dont run my games properly

thanks

Questions, questions questions - It's OK ;)
Correct :)
Slave would be my recommendation. Win likes to be "Master", but you can change this if you are in the mood later. Right now, just get it working!
= "Grand Unified Boot Loader"
But maybe your distro uses lilo (which is another boot loader), I do not know which your distro uses :(
[Search] this board for "Install grub". Give it a try :)
Certainly not, unless you'd like it that way. Generally you configure your bootloader (eg grub) so it offers you a list of options (Linux-kubuntu, linux-another-distro, win, whatever), and it'll boot to the default if you do nothing for 10sec. Otherwise you can cursor up/down the list and choose what you want.
No, once is enough!
It's OK.

thank you should i install grub no or wait till i have done the installation?

I would install the grub with the installation, that way if you can reboot to check your installation and do drivers or what ever. After when you want to install the second hd you can use the live cd and overwrite the mbr if need be.

Installing windows will probably remove grub, win is like that ("I am the ONLY OS", but linux / grub / lilo are more tolerant :))
So just install win to the (new) primary hdd, then plug in your linux hdd (as slave) (you did unplug it before you tried to install win, right?), and boot to a live console.
Then use the live linux to install grub on the MBR of the windows (primary) disk.

Now, I'm out of touch for a while as I'm busy, busy, busy, but I'll be back (Monday?), meanwhile there are others (and searches) to help you along.
Hope you have vital personal data backed up somewhere. If that's the case you can experiment until you get it right - you'll learn a lot!
Search for grub and username saikee on this board - he has much useful advice - and check his sig for How-to links.
Good luck.
@Larry Webb: "I would install the grub with the installation,..."

He has already installed linux and a bootloader, but now he wants win.

Sorry I missed on that one.