Installing Slackware without removing Windows.
 

For a lot of new comers to Linux removing and even creating new partitions in the system can be a daunting task. This guide is to explain how to create not only a working Linux system without repartitioning your hard drive, but how to make it boot also. It also assumes you know a bit about using VirtualBox, easyBCD, and all other tools involved, so if you have questions feel free to ask.

Keep in mind this guide isn't just for Slackware. It can be effectively used with FreeBSD, and any other operating system you would like to use for your PC.

1. Install Oracle VirtualBox - Oracle's VirtualBox will be used as our base platform, but won't be the final place of the system itself.

2. Depending on your hard drive space, create a VirtualBox VirtualMachine for Slackware with a 7.5+ GB partition. For arguments sake, let's use a 50 GB partition. You can use Foxed or Dynamic space for this. It won't matter. Make sure you use a .VHD style Virtual Disk.

3. Install Slackware from the ISO you've downloaded within VirtualBox as you might normally be instructed to creating at least /boot, /(root), and swap partitions. You can use whichever formatting you like for the main file systems but I recommend:

/boot - ext4
/(root) - btrfs

4. Finish the installation as normal. You can even install LILO if you choose.

5. Download EasyBCD and use it to add the Slackware VHD to the boot order, and simply reboot.

Upon reboot you should be able to now load your Linux OS from the Windows BCD Menu and boot normally. The software will have access to the hardware as normal, so feel free to install whatever drivers you normally would use.

This is also a great way to dynamically add and remove operating systems from a Windows system without removing the actual OS provided by your OEM if you aren't comfortable removing or repartitioning the actual hard drive itself, and simply just want to start learning Linux. Plus, if anything goes wrong all you have to do is simply delete the BCD Entry from the EasyBCD Editor and delete the virtual hard drive.

problem
Oracle VirtualBox only works if the CPU supports it

What about running Slackware from a flash drive? You can get a 32 GB Sandisk drive at Amazon for 10 £/$/€.

Or you could use an Ubuntu or OpenSUSE DVD to safely re-size Windows and set-up a dual boot. Once the dual boot is up and running with Ubuntu or OpenSUSE then pop in your Slackware DVD and boot from that. Install Slackware to the Linux partitions.

Member Response
 

Hi,

Or use the 'MS' disk management tools to first defrag drrives then perform a re-size via KNOPPIX, SystemRescureCD via parted or just use Parted Magic.

I think you all are missing the point. This in just another way of installing Slackware and/or linux if your hardware supports it.

Member Response
 

Hi,

Not missing anything. You can defrag the MS drives and then use tools to re-size then install to the new partitions. Prefer the old way, and one can use partitions for VM work.

One good point. VMWare and VirtualBox both support offline defragmentation of hard drives, though honestly I've never had to defragment a Linux partition ever.