Installing Linux along with Windows XP.
 

Hello,

I'm new to this forum, so I'm sorry if:
1) This question already been asked before.
2) This is actually wrong forum.
3) This forum for very much savvy Linux users who get offended by such questions.

My question is below.
I'm very much basic Linux user (using KDE at work). I'd like to install Linux at home on my PC that is running Windows XP.
I have one HD - C: drive.
I'm actually looking for guidelines, if there are any enthusiasts here, who can help me and guide me on installation process.
Perhaps if you in CA we can even meet and do the installation together.
I'm not looking for the urls with some gibberish that is understood only by hardcore Linux developers (one of my PCs already gone due to the reason I couldn't proceed and I had nobody to ask).

All the responses are welcome and again I'm sorry if I've offended someone by this question.

Have a Great Day/Evening/Night!
Andrew

What exactly do you want to do?
Remove windows and install linux,
have linux and windows running separately on the same computer (dual boot),
or have linux run sort of like a program under windows...???

Hi Newuser455,

Thank you for your feedback!

Actually, I want to have them run separately, means (you are right!) to have dual boot.

Andrew

Hi,
It's not hard to do at all but if windows takes the whole hard drive it would be easier to reinstall it and allocate it , let's say half of the drive.
Once your windows installation is done boot with a linux cd to install it. You just have to make sure that when the partitioning part come you don't overwrite the ntfs partition (windows) and put linux on the place you reserved for it. At the end of the base installation you'll be ask to choose between lilo and grub (there are boot loaders). I would advise you to pick grub but lilo will do also (just more manual stuff to do later). At this stage the important part is to install grub (if you choose it) in the master boot record... If everything goes well it will detect windows and you'll have a working double boot right away. If it does not see windows and you are unable to boot windows after *don't panic* it's very easy to fix... but should work fine.
I could give you more specific advice/details, I did it many times but it depends a lot on the distribution you are willing to install... I did it with debian and it is very straighforward...
Please ask if you need/want more details,
Good Luck!
A.

Hi Arnaud_B,

Thanks a lot!
First of I really want to thank you I never felt that way - I thought Linux world would be even worse in terms of savvy users who wouldn't like to talk to the new people:)

Well, here are my questions.
To recap:
1) Back up all my data.
2) Reinstall the Windows XP and allocate 50% of my HD.
Question: will be there any prompt when reinstalling? At which stage?
3) Boot with Debian Linux cd.
Q1: How do I "when the partitioning part come you don't overwrite the ntfs partition (windows) and put linux on the place you reserved for it" - what are exact steps here in order not to overwrite?
Q2: IWhere can I download Debian and is it a free version?
4) Select grab for dual boot.
5) As I'm planning later (hopefully as soon as possible) to get rid off XP, what would be the process to setup printer, audio/video, internet? Or some of this staff would be detected automatically?

Thank you again!
Andrew

Hi inq_ah,
you're welcome... I have been using debian exclusively for one year... so not really savy... ;-)
ok for your points:
1/ yup would be much better ;-)
2/ 50% or whatever you feel like giving to XP, depends on the size of your hard drive also... ( my first double doot I did it with 50% on each side on a 60G hd of my laptop...).
well actually there is another point that could maybe be helpful for you... it would be interesting if you know how you are going to use this pc (I mean how much windows and how much linux ). you should give place to linux anyway but for instance if you have a lot of music you want to see on both OS without coping in dopuble it is possible but it has to be installed on the windows side ( linux can read ntfs partitions but windows cannot read ext3 partitions or any other in fact... ). However, you should not write from linux on a ntfs partition (i.e. it is experimental), I would advise you to stick to reading (reason for what I talk about music because even it you copy the rest in double it won't take much place)
3/ yup get it there if you want stable http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/
or there for testing http://cdimage.debian.org/pub/cdimage-testing/daily/
(for unstable it's just upgrading from testing... ) --> free of course :-)
Ok, when you boot from this cd you are going to have the debian screen. Type expert26 and ENTER. It will give you mush more options and also the ability to choose a kernel 2.6 (which I strongly advise you to do).
well after you have to configure stuff (most of the time when you don't know just keep the default they work for most people). When you arrive at Partitioning disk" choose EDIT MANUALLY THE PARTITION TABLE. you'll then see how your hard drive look and you should see the partition you created for windows at the beginning of this table. DON't TOUCH ANYTHING in the ntfs partitions (windows) just concentrate on partitioning for linux (if you don't know what to do just ask and I'll tel you what I chose bu tit's very subjective). at the minimum you should have one / and a swap. when it is done continue and choose YES to "write changes to partition table".. the next step is installing the base system if I remember well, at the end you'll be prompted to choose between a kernel 2.4 and a 2.6, choose the 2.6. after you need to install the boot loader (pick lilo or grub.. up to you both can work ... usually) and when a prompt ask you where to install it select "install in the master boot record"
5/ well one step after the other.. I don't know your hardware bu tit's not easy to say... printer will be fine (hopefully) internet and audio video should work right away (unless you have a nvidia card for instance and you'll need to compile it... but we'll see later when your double boot will be ok.

BY THE WAY: This installation will give you *only* the base system, no X, no kde, nothing... you'll have to install it after... I think it is nuch better because you will be able to choose excatly what you want and nothing else... all the installation will be made through apt-get...

Good luck!
A.

Hi Arnaud_B,

Thanks a lot! So far you write almost like in a Bible - everything almost as step by step hits!
I have about 30 Gb. So I'll split it 15 and 15.
Q: What did you mean by "However, you should not write from linux on a ntfs partition (i.e. it is experimental)".
---And I'm continue reading as per your instructions....
NEXT: I'll download the image of "i386". I found the instructions on installing this image here: Debian GNU/Linux Installation Guide
I think it is free...:)
Q: When you said: "Ok, when you boot from this cd you are going to have the debian screen. Type expert26 and ENTER. It will give you mush more options and also the ability to choose a kernel 2.6 (which I strongly advise you to do)".
So do I need to burn a CD with "i386" image? ANd then to use it as bootable CD? If I downloaded the "i386" image into my HD, why can't I just "run" it from there? Or is it not recommended?

Well, about my previous Q #2: when I do reinstall of XP, where do I do original partition so I'll allocate 50% for it? Any special steps or it shall be pretty much simple and straight forward?

Q: So if I do not have (in the end of install) X and KDE or GNOME, how do I get to the internet if it will work right away and how do I get them?

Thank you very much Arnaud_B!
Andrew

Hi!,
- "What did you mean by "However, you should not write from linux on a ntfs partition (i.e. it is experimental)"."
--> from linux you can read a windows partition but writing on it is not officially supported and if you choose to do it anyway you could have some problems...
- "So do I need to burn a CD with "i386" image? ANd then to use it as bootable CD? If I downloaded the "i386" image into my HD, why can't I just "run" it from there? Or is it not recommended?"
--> yup i386 image :-) and yup you need to burn a cd image and boot from your cd... you won't run that from windows... if you don't have an iso recorder, just download and install that http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/Beta.htm
After you download the iso file, right clic on it and choose copy image to cd on something like that... --> it will create a bootable cd from a single file you download :-)
- "when I do reinstall of XP, where do I do original partition so I'll allocate 50% for it? Any special steps or it shall be pretty much simple and straight forward?"
--> To do that from windows if I remember well you have to *boot* from the cd, it's important, and then when the installation stuff comes there is an option advanced that gives you the option to create partition etc... you just need to create the partitions you want for windows and one more of 15G then for linux and ask the installer to install windows on the first one... windows will see the place you kept for linux as an empty partition until you install linux and then windows won't see anything...
Good luck!
A.

Hi Arnaud_B,

--- Actually I am trying to find out how I can avoid writing into Windows? How can it happen intentially or not?
I do not plan to do so, just don't want to make something so it will be written from Linux into XP ntfs...

Arnaud_B, I do have a CD burner, but since you have mentioned ISO, is it a must to be ISO?

Thanks a lot!
Andrew

Hi,
1/ There is no way you write initially from linux on a ntfs partition... you would have to recompie your kernel for that, reading is not out of the box neither but just involve to edit a file... way simpler ;-)
2/ if you have a cd burner you're ok.. just download the stuff I pointed you to because XP does not come with a iso recorder... and you'll be ok to continue :-)
A.

Moved: This thread is more suitable in Linux-Newbie and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

Arnaud_B,

So i guess I am safe in terms of writing into ntfs...?
ISO is it a must? My CD burner has its own software that I use in order to burn CDs.
Well, no problem - will try to use ISO.

Thank you!
Andrew

Hi,
you will have no problem with ntfs writting as long as you don't do it ;-) don't worry.
ISO is a file format that allow you to burn a cd image from it (you don't burn the file on your cd... it's very different) and I doubt your software allow you to do that... check for "burn cd image" in the help of your software if you prefer... if you find that there is such function use your software...
Do as you feel confortable doing but you need a cd image... and if you install the software of the link I gave you anyway you won'y have it in windows once you reinstall (and it's easy to uninstall also...)...
let me know how it goes :-)
Good luck!
A.

Will do.

ANdrew

Good Luck! and let me know how it goes :-)
A.