How to do dual boot setup?
 

Hi!

I need to do a dual-boot setup on a machine with Red Hat Linux 9 and Windows XP Professional. How can I do this?

XP is already installed on the machine.

you need a boot manager and partition your disk correctly. I dont use redhat but I think the redhat installer installs grub and that you can configure a multiboot system from there too.

read this for a start:
http://www.faqs.org/docs/Linux-mini/...with-GRUB.html

You need to resized XP down and leave probably 5+ gigs free for RH9 if you want to do a full install. Partition magic is a good tool for this. Just leave the space empty so when you install RH you can tell it to use the free space on the hdd. The only things you have to keep into consideration while installing from that point is deciding which you want to be the default when the system boots up: windows or Linux. If XP is in a fat32 partition you can select a mount point for linux to use the fat32 partition. The mount point would be something like /mnt/winxp . I think you do that prior to formatiing your new linux partitions. Also, you need to put the boot loader (GRUB) into the mbr. I think that is the default choice so follow it. There are also many tutorials online if you search google for them.

Thank you ash4stuff and benjithegreat98! However, I need more of a step by step guide. Also, because RH has discontinued support of RH9 and all, do you think it would be better to install Fedora? I would still like RH as my distro.

edit: either fedora or enterprise?

Also, benji...do you like using fedora?

I enjoy using Fefora. I'm not sure that I would deploy it in a business environment, but as far as my personal home use I have no problems with it. Runs as smooth as a baby's behind.

Is there something specific you have trouble with when you want to dual boot? Go here:
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22du...utf-8&oe=utf-8
There should be plenty there to keep you busy.

Re: Fedora
 

Thanks for the advice, benji! I'm not planning to run it in a business environment, so Fedora sounds perfect for me. Regarding the double-boot setup: I'm not having trouble with it, I just need to know how to do it.

I use the NT loader to boot into linux. I am using lilo instead of grub, but if you google search for NT Linux Boot Grub Howto you should find many links which explain the process in detail. Basicly what they do is install lilo or grub into the linux-partitions boot area instead of the MBR and copy the first 256 bytes to a file. This file is then copied to the XP c: drive, and an entry is created in the XP's boot.ini file.
This will work if you are using NTFS on the XP partition.

It's very easy. After you resize you windows partitions and have left some empty space at the end of the drive, just pop in the linux install CD and get to it. Boot from CD and go through the install. You never really have to acknowledge that windows exists execpt when you partition the drives in linux. But even there you can choose to let RH/Fedora do it for you. Later in the process you will need to decide if you want windows or Fedora to be the default boot option. It will default for linux, but you can change it.

Really, the best way to do it is to just start trying. Start with resizing with partition magic. Once you are happy with that then boot up the install cd. And don't forget the all important step of back up your files.

Thanks!

Now that it's all cleared up about how to do that, I can become a Linux convert (well, almost--I still have Windows apps that I need, but for the most part). :D

but wait...
why is it so necessary to back up files?

what's the best way to do so?

I see nothing wrong with still using Windows when you need to. Why limit yourself to just one thing. Especially if what you need is on another platform. Use the best thing for the job at hand, I say.

Why is it so necessary to back up files? Because you never know what's going to happen. The power may fail in the middle of the partitioning. You may accedentally delete some partition. Who knows. I usually just put all of my mp3s documents, mpgs, whatever to CD. But normally I don't backup and I have been burned by it.

I see what you're saying. It's just that it is in fact harder to work in windows at times. Viruses, pop-ups, adware... I'll probably still use Windows when I need to. But for the most part, it'll be Linux.

Also, a lot of software is available for Linux FREE that is better than what's available for Windows PAID.
Take Apache vs. IIS for example.
OpenOffice vs. regular MS Office (it's just as good)

I agree. I use Linux way more than Windows. But if someone gives you a word document it won't always display correctly in Open office and it is important then you need MSWord. There are other examples too. Try to compare gimp and photoshop. But of course Linux has many programs that are better than Microsoft's. I like Linux way more than MS, but I don't limit myself to it.

I understand. For some programs, there are no Linux substitutes (yet). For example (for me at least), Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash. I don't use Photoshop that much, but I do use Elements, and I have a tablet, so I'll use windows for those most likely.
In summary:
I'll boot into Windows when I absolutely need to,
but otherwise stick with Linux.

Also, just curious, do you think that the SCO lawsuit will be successful??

That's pretty much what I do, and no, I don't think the suit will be successful, but OJ did get a "not guilty" so you never know. :)