Ubuntu 7.04, Windows XP, and Server 2003

bigkev · 09-26-2007, 01:27 PM

I am a student and my classes require that i use 3 different operating systems. Is there a way to run all three of these on one computer??
I know the 2 windows boot records wont like each other much. But any advice would be great
Thanks

pljvaldez · 09-26-2007, 01:39 PM

There's several methods for doing this. You could multiboot. Install XP first, server 2003 second, and Ubuntu third. Use grub to hide the first XP partition from the Server 2003 partition, which should make server 2003 think it is the first partition on the drive. Then at boot time you just pick which one you want to run.

The second thing you could do is use virtual machines. Install Ubuntu and then download VMware server and install each of the other two into their own virtual machines. That way you could theoretically (i.e. with enough RAM) run all three at the same time by just starting the virtual machines from within Ubuntu.

bigkev · 09-26-2007, 03:11 PM

Ya ive tried the VMWare server idea and it doesnt run very well. Which is why i was hoping to just install all 3

When i install server2003 after xp wont it change xps master boot record so that it wont boot?

Or will the grub recognize that xp is still there?

pljvaldez · 09-26-2007, 03:16 PM

Grub should still recognize XP is there and so should server 2003. I think server 2003 is more sophisticated than XP and will leave XP alone. I guess it might add it to the boot.ini file for server 2003. Either way, you should be able to mangle the boot.ini file and get them each to boot.

bigkev · 09-26-2007, 06:39 PM

What would be the best way to set up the partitions when i install XP
it is a 80 gb drive i would like to use 40 for xp 15 for server 2003 and the rest for linux
linux needs three partitions what should i size them at

thanks

pljvaldez · 09-26-2007, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigkev

linux needs three partitions what should i size them at

Technically, linux only needs one partition. But what I personally would do with the space is this: 512MB for swap, 10GB for linux and the rest as a FAT32 partition that Windows and linux will both be able to easily access.

bigkev · 09-26-2007, 09:07 PM

xp and 2003 installed fine and give me an option of which to run
but when i try to install ubuntu it wont boot from cd

when it does it gives me an error about the graphics card
ideas?