Dual boot WinXP Pro and Linux mandrake 9.0
 

Hi

I am currently using windowsXP Pro using an NTFS file system. I would like to start learning how to use Linux but im not prepaired to delete windows as yet as i have some very important uni work to do and would prefer to do it using a familiar OS so this would suggest that i dual boot. As i cant afford to get this wrong i looked round on the internet for information and i see people are having problems with it (typical XP!) but i cant find anything on how i can do it. as i am a complete newbie at this Can any one tell me what i need to do? and tell me of any web sites i can visit which will help me?

Thank you for your help.

you can do your typing in linux if uni work is meant that way second if you use gnome or kde they are nearly same as windows i recomend mandrake or redhat they both(i am sure of redhat but not mandrake) come with openofice which is capabile of handling word excel vs vs stuff for programming linux support all the programming languages there is only one thing that you cant do with linux is that playing games

First off, make sure you have enough room for your Mandrake install. (Mandrake is my choice -- currently dual boot betweek XP Pro and Mandrake 9.0). Use partition magic if necessary. Give yourself plenty of room to get Gnome, KDE, and OpenOffice installed. Let Mandrake install it's bootloader (LILO is my choice here). It will give you a menu when you bootup to choose between NT (WIndows XP) and Linux (Mandrake). You'll be able to change the default, labels, and timeout of the boot menu once you get into Mandrake Control Center. I've had NO problems with numerous machines - laptops, single processor, dual processor machines dual booting between the two -- especially newer machines.

Good Luck!

Thank you for your help, just a couple of questions tho, how do i get mandrake to install LILO? and is the Windows XP you are running on a NTFS File System and Linux Madrake on Fat32?

I think Lilo was the default boot loader... Towards the end, you'll be asked if you want to install the boot loader, say yes. Always NTFS -- and Mandrake is on Ext2. I have no Fat or Fat32 partitions on any of my machines.

So I use Partiton Magic to create an Ext2 partition? and this wont effect windows ina any way?

No, you only need to use partition magic to make free (unpartitioned space) if necessary. Let Mandrake install create the partitions for you -- they'll use the free, unpartitioned, space that you have available.

thats gr8, thank you for your help

Yeah Burke's got it right. The CD does everything for you and gives you options along the way. Word of advice GO SLOW!

:) exactly what i am doing :) which is why i am trying to find out as much as possible before i do it. Its a good way to learn aswell :)