Dual Boot -- XP / Linux?

obiwanshinobi · 09-25-2003, 12:54 PM

I'm kind of a newbie, but I wanted to set up a dual boot windows xp/linux system on my laptop and I wanted to know how.

The advantage is, I'm willing to format my existing hard drive and start from scratch. I've heard that this is an easy way to do it...that you install Linux first, and you can install windows afterwards.

Does anyone know of any good online tutorials covering this?

Any caveats?

Thanks!

acid_kewpie · 09-25-2003, 12:56 PM

well the biggest caveat is to install windows second! that will destroy the boot loader without even thinking twice about it. if you install windows normally first, there is nothing to say you should have any notable problems, just leave enough space unpartitioned for it.

Skyline · 09-25-2003, 12:59 PM

Install Windows 1st making sure you leave some unpartitioned free space on your drive for Linux to go on later.

Install a Linux distribution 2nd into the unpartitioned space.

Install either LILO or GRUB to the MBR

Make a boot disk if possible during the install just in case of probs.

Repost - if anythings not clear.

What distro are you thinking of installing?

obiwanshinobi · 09-25-2003, 01:09 PM

Red Hat 9.0...and 2000 as the windows install

I've also messed with MDK9.1...is there a preference?

Also, the system I'm thinking of doing it on is pretty old school...P2 200Mhz...is this a prob?

Thanks!

Skyline · 09-25-2003, 01:11 PM

What amount of RAM has it got in it?

obiwanshinobi · 09-25-2003, 01:16 PM

Not a lot...128 I think

Skyline · 09-25-2003, 01:30 PM

128mb should be enough to install and run RH9 or Mandrake 9.1 in graphical mode - the machine will be fairly slow though with the combunation of a pentium 200 and 128 and a DE like KDE or GNOME - the advantage of Mandrake out of the box is the inclusion of IceWM (a much lighter Window Manger) - you can install lighter Window managers in Red Hat though.

sib_99 · 09-25-2003, 01:31 PM

It is always a good idea to create a bootdisk, since windows is quite interested in clearing your MBR, especially if you play with fdisk.

Use mkbootdisk to create a boot disk, if you forgot to do so during setup.