I'm pretty new at this: I recently purchased a new computer with previously installed Windows XP and want to add a Linux OS. The reason is I have used Unix System at school and would like that luxury at home. Is it easier and/or better to buy a new hard drive or partition the current one (80 Gig). Also, are there step by step instructions on how to do this? If so, where can I find them?

80 gigs is plenty for winblows and linux. here is a link for installing mandrake into your computer. have fun!

http://doc.mandrakelinux.com/Mandrak..._Startup.html/

--cheers

Some reading you should do first:

# Pre-installation guides
GNU/Linux pre-installation checklist
The Pre-Installation Help File

# Linux filesystem structure
Directory Navigation Help File
Filesystems, Directories, and Devices Help File
Proper Filesystem Layout

# Partitioning
Linux Partition HOWTO
Rute - Partitions, File Systems, Formatting, Mounting

Windows XP normally uses one NTFS system using the whole disk except for some boxes that use a "Recovery Disk". They may have 2 partitions. If you can find out how your Windows is installed, that may save some initial confusion.

For a freeware re-sizing tool for NTFS, the Mandrake install comes with one and it supports the NTFS "out of the box", so that is a "must have" CD for me, no matter what distro I pick if I have to deal with a NTFS.

# Linux Distribution links:
A Beginner's Guide to Choosing a Linux Distribution
Reasons to Choose or Not Choose Linux
LWN distro list
elinux Linux Distributions

Good luck and welcome to freedom.

How To Check MD5sums On A Linux Iso Image
# Cheap CDs
Discount Linux CDs
Linux Central
Cheapbytes
TuxCDs
ComputerHelperGuy

hello,
I have a lettle problem for installation bootloader. Pls help me.
My PC have Win98 and WinXP and I installed Redhat 8.0.
In first time I installed lilo in first sector chioce(boot with floppy disk). Next I re-install.
I choose lilo in BMR and add list for booter (/dev/hda1, /dev/hda2, and /dev/hda5). After finish re-boot it has not lilo (yet Windows98, Windows XP). What happen ?(now I yet use floppy disk).

???????
jeppe

there are hoards of dual boot Wontdo's / Linux tutorials on google. From what I gather (personally I hate the idea of dual booting, seems to make an unnecessary mess of a computer), you must use the wontdo's boot loader, and add a special line to start linux out of it. Either way try google or google groups. Lots of stuff there.

B.

Here's a how to.
http://www.justlinux.com/forum/showt...hreadid=108583

It'll be here soon. I'm rewriting it. Make it look pretty and stuff.