How to dual boot Linux mandrake and Windows XP HE
 

Hi! im new to these forums

but im writing here to see if i can get some advice on how to dual boot my computer with Linux mandrake and XP..because im annoyed by XP and want to be able to run a better OS :) but i need to ask a few things..

is there some program i can install so i can chose which OS i want to boot when i start my computer?

if so.. how do i install it?

and when im going to install linux mandrake, do ineed another HDD for it?

and if i have too.. will i still be able to use that HDD when im using Windows XP

Oh and please dont bash me for knowing so little :p

if you install windows xp first and then install a distro such as Mandrake or Suse, they can resize your windows partition to make space for linux and they will also install a bootloader that will enable you to choose the OS you want to load when your system boots up. There have been a lot of threads about this issue on this forum and if you search this site, you will get a lot of useful information.

its that simple? with XP home and Mandrake(10.0) :eek:

iwill try browsing this forum then for some more info :)

Yes, with the GUI install of Mandrake it is very simple and intuitive. You don't have to worry about manually sizing your partitions or anything of that matter. I would back up your neccessary files on your Windows partition and jump right in.

how to dual boot lmdk & wxp
 

erasorn; good advice. that how mine is in dual boot. W 1st, then LMDK. no problems since yr ago still ticking (like timex). if ur xp is on hdd 1st leave alone,
just shrink it in size the rest of hdd to Lmdk. ie: have 40g ,w=12g , 35.2g =lmdk.
ur choise decide how much to each.

what necesary files? :(

Any personal files you may have, just as a precautionary measure. There should be no problems with the Linux installer's resizing of your OS drive, but just in case. If the procedure takes longer than you expected, you could still access your personal files from a different machine if need be.

ok.. i have one more question.. whats that "i586" the download pages talk about?

i586 is latest intel processer that is current with linux kernel. just an indicator so that users r aware if using ealier processor ie: i386 ,i486. not to worry ur is ok.

i586 is not the latest. i786 is the latest which is Pentium 4. The i stands for Intel architecture. The 586 or 80586 is the instruction model of the processor that is compatible with. It can handle instructions that were program for 8086 to 80586. Below is the models of Intel processors.

8086
80186
80286
80386
80486
80586
80686
80786

The model increase does not matter how fast the processor is. Several years ago an 80486-DX2 66 (66 MHz) can beat Pentium 66 (80586 clocked at 66 MHz). These days an Athlon 64 (80686) beats Pentium 4 (80786). From 80386 to 80786, they are 32-bit processors except for Athlon 64 bit processors. Intel has one processor that is a 64-bit processor called Itanlium but it only for calculating numbers all day. Also Intel introduce a revised Pentium 4 that can handle 64 bit instructions, but it is still a 32-bit processor.

For information go to sandpile.org.

If you did a search, there are several posts on this topic.

electro; thanks for information & update.
informative indeed!