hi all

i am great fan of linux and most of work i do in linux . i have laptop and linux is installed . But now i want to install window xp in my laptop with linux (i want both operating system in my laptop). So any body can help me about my problem .



with regards
Amandeep

Well the question back to you would be if you want to use only one at a time or both simultaneously?

The first will require you to make some space on the hard drive and then go through the normal install process for windows.
The downside will be that you will then need to re-install your bootloader as windows does not play well with others

The second you can achieve with some virtual software, vmware, virtualbox, to name a couple.

It's easier if you have Windows XP first. Look at http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_l...lled_first.htm

Just install it.

Suggestions

(1) You need unallocated free hard disk space. This can be achieved by resizing the Linux if you have given all the hard disk space to it. gparted is the program you need to use so get it installed by the package manager. About 15 to 25Gb will be needed depending on how you use the Xp. You can create the partition for Xp installation in Linux by specifying the partition Type 7 for ntfs.

(2) You can optionally format the Xp partition using command like "mkfs.ntfs". Use the -f paramter to do a quick format otherwise it will be very slow. Xp intaller can format the partition too but it could be the slow format.

(3) Tell Xp installer to use the partition you have created (and formatted).

(4) Xp installer will place Xp's boot loader in the MBR and so your Linux will be out of action temporarily. You need to restore the Linux boot loader (can be Grub1, Grub2 or Lilo) and amend its configuration file to dual boot the two system. Equally you can use Xp to dual boot Linux. The choice is yours. All the details are in just booting tips in my signature if you need to find the commands and steps.

Lastly you also have a choice of using vitual machine by installing Xp as a guest system inside Linux as a host.

1 members found this post helpful.

hi grail

i want to operate only one operating system at a time . but in my system linux is already installed and there is no free space in hard disk . so please help me .


Amandeep

You have 3 options (in order from most to least preferable):

1. Try running your Windows apps under Wine (no Windows, and you can even seamlessly use your apps)

2. Install Windows in VirtualBox under Linux (You can still use Linux and Windows at the same time, but not quite seamlessly)

3. Dual-Boot with Windows (you cannot have Linux running while using Windows apps, also it's risky to setup)

hi


from where can i download "gparted program" . Can anybody explain it by command how can use this program which help me to install window xp .

You could also try using VirtualBox to install Windows XP in a virtual machine...

hi


i do't want to use virtual box .

Why exactly?

And what's wrong with trying to run your Windows apps with Wine?

Just google gparted download. Then follow the instructions above from saikees post. It's pretty easy to use but if you have problems, you can always post specific questions.

Do you also have Linux on a liveCD? Many Linux distributions install from a liveCD, so the media you installed Linux from might be a liveCD.

Do you know what boot manager you are using to start Linux? Probably it is grub, but it is best to find out for sure what to fix before breaking it.

You should be booted in the liveCD to shrink the Linux partition before installing XP and you should be booted in the liveCD to repair the Linux boot manager after you install XP.

Make sure you know how to use the liveCD to repair the boot manager before you even resize the partition.

gparted is available as a program to be used inside your installed Linux, but it can't resize the Linux partition that is booted, so it would be pretty useless for you in that form.

gparted is also available as a liveCD. That might be what you want. I don't have a copy of that and don't know if it includes what you also need to repair your boot manager.

Many distributions of Linux are available as a liveCD that includes both gparted and the tools to repair grub. There is no need to have a compatible distribution of liveCD to your installed copy of Linux. I use an older version Mepis liveCD for many such repair tasks on Centos systems. Mepis 8.5 isn't as effective as a stand alone liveCD for repairing other systems, but older versions of Mepis are quite good for that. But if your Linux uses grub2, you would need a liveCD with grub2 support for repairing it.

There is nothing wrong with "trying" to run windows apps and games with Wine.

Except for the fact that 3/4th of the apps and games won't function like they are supposed to.

Actually, I believe we are at or near the point where the majority DOES work. As a "registered lazy person", I use CrossOver (the commercial version of WINE), and I have been pleasantly surprised how much works now. Note the CrossOver comes in various flavors, including one specifically for games.
http://codeweavers.com

I have never used CrossOver so I don't have much of an opinion on it.

As for "wine" in itself, it has very little compatibility with windows games and applications.

Quick question though, will CrossOver run "The Sims 2"? If you don't know then thats ok.