Is it possible to dual-boot Windows and Linux on one computer?
 

I have been trying to get a Linksys WUSB600N adapter to work for awhile now. I am thinking of dual-booting my computer to run Windows for the sake of getting it working, as I have tried many solutions and none of them have worked (some have even locked up my computer). So, as evidenced in my title, I'm wondering if it is possible to get two different operating systems to work on a single hard drive, and if so, how do I do it? I apologize if this had been asked before, or if this is the wrong place, but I really couldn't find anywhere else to go.

It definitely is possible to dual boot but I have never done it because it is so clumsy. You probably want to install as the first operating system whichever one will allow you to create multiple partitions on the hard drive and that will also allow you to change the bootup menu as needed to boot up either the windows or linux partition(s).

Running one operating system in a virtual machine under the other one works much better for me. My overwhelming preference is running windows in the virtual machine under linux. But, given your situation, why not run linux in a virtual machine under windows?

Hi, Welcome to LQ!

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Ah, you're right, plenty of times.

If you have linux installed, well, it could be tough.

Window$ likes to be installed on the first partition of the first HD.

If like me, you have more than one HD, simply make a partition for windows, about 12Gb should do it.

Then I detached my other drives(, to be sure, to be sure)!

And installed window$ on the spare partition. (sdb1)

Once window$ is installed reboot and configure as usual.

Shutdown and re-connect the power for your other drive and then boot linux and go to the boot manager and configure lilo/grub to see the windows partition.

Warning, this is a hazardous method, and you risk losing your data.

I have found that running the linux install/rescue is a better way to get window$ on the grub menu.

Anyhow, see how you go.

Have you thought about using a live cd, like mepis or knoppix to see what is configured and how?

You can easily copy the files across.....

Regards Glenn

I'm doing that now. I installed a second hard drive, so that I'd have more room for Linux, but you don't have to. When you install Linux, many distributions (Ubuntu and openSuse for sure) check to see how much drive space is available and detect if there's already another OS (such as Windows) installed. It then gives you the option to overwrite the existing OS, or install in dual-boot mode. The limitation is that both OS's have to share the available hard drive space.

I've done dual boot's several times on the same hard drive and Windows does need to be installed first, test out your Linksys and then try a live CD of your choice. That will give you the chance to see if the Linksys USB works before you install alongside Windows. The grub loader will give you the choice of Linux first and Windows last on boot. Worked great for me, hope it works for you.
One thing I've found is that if you use XP and un-install Linux later,(fixmbr then delete Linux partions), XP will not expand out to re-occupy the disc space. Vista will. I now do my dual boots with Vista and change Linux distros when I want. The reason I do this as to not affect the recovery partition in many systems in the chance it may be needed later.
Good Luck

Yes, it is possible. Here's the procedure (for XP Pro):

1: Disable page file. Right click My Computer => Properties => Advanced => Performance: Settings => Advanced => Virtual memory: Change => check No paging file => click Set => OK => OK => OK

2: Reboot.

3: Defragment. More than once, if necessary

4: Resize. Use partitioning software on any live Linux CD or DVD. Leave unallocated space. Use actual installation CD or DVD to create and format Linux partitions.

5: Restore page file.

6: Reboot with whatever distro and install with lilo or GRUB in the MBR.

7: Reboot, and hope for the best. :)

the Windows installer program will expect to have the first partition, and be able to write to the mbr.

Windows works fine from any other partition, it's just the installer that requires "mono-theism", for want of a better term.

Regards Glenn

Good instructions BrianL!

You can dual boot no problem. Install Linux and use the GRUB bootloader. The manual explains how to configure the bootloader file grub.conf to dual boot from a menu.

Thanks guys. I'll see if it works.

Yes. Starting with Windows and adding Debian Linux
 

Yes, my system has both Windows and Debian Linux. If you already have Windows on your systems, try Googling "Dual booting Windows and Debian" Almost any of the results will work. You partition the disk in Windows, and then install Debian on the partition. Just don't install Debian over Windows, that's fairly easy to avoid. The basic procedure with probably work with other Linux operating systems. One other thing, I have lots of disk space and lot of RAM and 4 processors.

kenuiowa

You strongly implied you already have Linux installed. But you didn't say it clearly.

It is easier if you install Windows first and then install Linux. But I think you already have Linux installed. I think you would prefer to get it working installing Windows second (rather than destroy your current Linux, install Windows and reinstall Linux). I'm pretty sure it can be done, but most of us haven't even tried it that way, especially with current versions of Windows (I have managed it with XP and older).

I assume you have a bootable Linux liveCD. These things are even trickier without that.

1) You need to have enough unpartitioned space for Windows and you must have a spare entry for a primary partition, meaning you must have no more that three total primary and extended partitions. It is OK to have several logical partitions inside the extended.

If your partitioning doesn't fit the requirements now, you'll need to boot the liveCD to resize and move partitions.

2) Install Windows. Every Windows installer I have seen gives the option whether you use the whole disk wiping out Linux or whether you just use the space that was left unpartitioned. I can't be certain every Windows installer offers that choice. Read prompts carefully.

3) Installing windows will overwrite the MBR code so that even if Linux isn't destroyed you can't boot it. The cleaner solution is to boot the liveCD and redo the Grub setup, reconnecting the part of grub in your Linux partition to the MBR. Then Windows is installed but no longer bootable.

Assuming your Linux distribution uses Grub (rather than Grub2) there are lots of threads here at LQ giving examples of how to edit the /boot/grub/menu.lst file to chainload Windows.

I've got enough information, so thanks everyone. And yes, I do already have Linux installed on my computer, it's just that I cannot install the adapter for some reason ( WUSB600N, just for clarity again).

Ah, I didn't realise you had linux installed already. I should have read your original post more carefully. :redface: :)

Is it possible to dual-boot Windows and Linux on one computer?
 

OpenSuse can be dual booted in windows. I did it with windows vista. First you should modify your BIOS to boot up from the CD/DVD-Rom Dirve. Insert the open OpenSuse DVD and reboot your system. OpenSuse will shrink your drive and partition it for Linux. Good Luck.