how to install mint without crying
 

i have ubuntu on my computer. i keep hearing about how great mint is so i want to duel install it with my current system. i have downloaded and burned the iso disk file to the dvd. NOW WHAT? there isnt anyone on the web says what to do next. do i boot up my computer and press install? is it a terminal command? do i book from the dvd? what am i supposed to do next. i want to have a duel boot on my computer of ubuntu and mint.
your clueless geek wannabe friend!

Have you made room for another install?
Have you thought about trying debian?
Debian has the option to not install grub, which means that after installing you reboot to ubuntu& just update-grub & it's added to the existing grub. To do that just go to "Advanced Options>>Expert Install" on bootup.

You need to search harder.

This is one of many available dual-boot guides:

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/d...-8-ubuntu.html

If you have a desktop computer you can always buy another hard disk and install Mint there. Then use the BIOS boot menu to choose what to boot. You can usually do so by pressing F8, F10 or F12 during boot (it differs by manufacturer).

I've wondered about this since I have only done a windows and linux dual boot. So if he already has grub with the ubuntu and then installs mint as a dual boot, does mint add another grub? Or does it recognize the grub there already?

Once upon a time (not too long ago) I chose not to install grub on a Fedora install. The installer chose not to install anything in /boot ... :doh:

Bloody idiots - I have constant moments of amazement as to how developers must (not) think.

dunnery,
you install it the same way you installed Ubuntu, from the disk (cd,dvd) and when you get to the partitioning options you can choose from the suggested or create your own partitions but you don't want to loose the space for Ubuntu.
Generally it will give an option to install Mint alongside Ubuntu, providing there is enough space on the disk the partition tool will offer to resize your existing partitions to accommodate Mint. Nothing will be writen till you approve/tick box to write to the hdd.
When the installation has got near the end you maybe asked to install grub to /dev/sda say yes if you only have one hdd and just the two o/s.

Fred.

The second podcast at this link demonstrates a Mint install, including a discussion of resizing an existing partition.

http://www.linuxvoice.com/getting-started-with-linux/

I'm not sure if LM has the option to not install grub, but, I know that debian has that option. So I would lean towards LM overwriting grub.

I'm using a Gateway laptop, and there are two things to do in order to get to linux boot loader menu:
1. (optional but makes life easier) Change the behavior of function keys:
Immediately after startup I hit Fn + F2 to get to the BIOS menu. Then navigate to "Main" -> "Function key behavior" and change it from "Special keys" (default value) to "Function keys".
This way you won't have to press Fn everytime you need to use a function key, wich is very often at least for me.

2. Every time I want the BIOS to load the boot loader from linux instead of booting up wndows, I need to hit F2 to get into BIOS (provided the above was done), then navigate to "Boot" -> "Boot mode" -> change from "UEFI" (default value) to "Legacy BIOS", and then hit F10 to save changes and reboot.

It's a pain that they designed it that way - especially the function keys will be annoying for people who are just starting using computers. The second one is annoying "only" for all linux users. :doh:

IF you create UEFI and BIOS partitions during the Linux install then you can leave BIOS in UEFI mode and ask it to boot from the Linux partition. Then you can update GRUB to add the Windows bootloader as an option. At least that's how it worked for me.

Personally, I wouldn't dual-boot Ubuntu and Mint, because they're too similar. Choose one or the other. Mint has a reputation for being more reliable than Ubuntu. As for installing it, I think this is the place to go for information:
http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/20

Debian now boots in uefi mode & if you choose to install using Guided partitioning it will automatically create an EFI partition.