How to install fc11 or fc12 dual boot with windows XP
 

Dear All,

I have try to install fedora 11 with windows XP dual boot, but when fedora 11 is install, it will compeletly remove the already installed windows XP, while fedora 8, it works nice with windows XP, and is good dual boot OS at the same time.

if any thing is new in fedora 11 or 12 with respect to dual booting, please explain or share with me , your help is most fruitful for me.

thanks.

Regards,

Akram

I haven't tried to install a dual boot with FC11 or 12, but I've done it many times with previous versions. What dual boot installation procedure did you use with FC8 that is not working with FC11/12?

What I found works best is:
1. Format 1/2 your disk for Windows OS (or whatever percentage you want to use for Windows.) If your disk is already formatted for Windows, create an empty partition for the part you want to install Linux on. That's tricky with an installed OS, so it's easiest to partition first, then format, then install the OS. So, for example, if you have a drives C and D on your Windows disk, with Windows OS on C and D being empty, simply delete D in your Windows disk manager.

2. That will effectively leave you with blank disk space ready to be formatted by Linux.

3. Install Linux, selecting the option to use unformatted disk space for your installation (sorry, I can't remember how that option is stated in the setup process...)

I can't imagine Linux would delete a Windows partition unless commanded to do so (but I sure would!). Are you sure that Windows just isn't showing up in Grub or whatever bootloader you're using?

you need a linux partition to install Fedora on !
NO it will not do this on it's own you would have had to TELL the installer to do this that IS NOT the default for fedora


Now the XP install cd WILL "borg" a linux install and auto turn it into a MS windows install
BUT the fedora install dvd WILL NOT do that all by it's self

nothing new other than the fedora dvd and grub WILL auto install to the MBR ( fedora 8 also did this) BUT the partition layout IS NEW 256 bit inode instead of the old 128 bit. This can be changed in the setup, if you want to use the MS bootloader to start grub.

also the fedora installer IS way better at ADDING a windows install to Grub ( listed as "other" ) in the boot menu