Installing Redhat onto a Windows Xp machine...
 

This is my first thread on this site so forgive me if this has already been answered.

I've just aqquired version 9 of RedHat and i want to dual boot it onto my current pc. I've got two partitions, C:\ is an NTFS (windows XP) 50gb partition and the other is D:\ FAT32 only 5gb.

How would i go about installing linux for a dual bootable system?

i will be grateful for any response.

dav

well, you could find a utility to resize partitions (like fips, although fips woun't touch ntfs partitions) and resize the 50gig ntfs partiton to allow perhaps 10gig free, then install linux and put the partitions for linux in the free space

p.s. always defrag before resizing partitions

If you don't mind reformatting I would recommond actually re-partitioning (since NTFS support isn't defaultly installed in RH kernel) and making all Windows partitions FAT32. If this is an option I would recommond reinsalling Windows first to a partition in which you'd like for it to use. After that is done insall RH and use the remaining partitions (note: RH will make 3 default partitions....first: / second: /boot third: SWAP)

If this is not an option then you might try partition magic to resize the NTFS partition. Once you have done that install Linux on that partition.

Yeah after you partition and install RedHat you will need the NTFS module, which you can get from here, in order to mount and view the files on your windows partition(s).

Just a hint from another newbie (not knowing what you actually need from your computer), try another distro, red hat is good for servers and such, but if you want to get the hang of linux first, try something like knoppix (http://knopper.net/), it comes on a bootable cd, just put it in your cd rom, and restatrt your computer and you are into linux, very straight forward. I tried red hat myself, but I had a bit of trouble with it (no sound, poor video etc) so I gave up with linux I was scared off because at the time I didnt know about any sites where I could get help (I know its sad). A couple months later my girl friend gave me a copy of knoppix, Ive been happy ever since, and I have even (partly) converted a bunch of my friends. Any way, thats my opinion. Best of luck with the penguin!!

Ampex189