i have windows xp running in the system and i want to install fedora core 5 in the system and i had an error with graphical installation which was already stated in the previous post. when i tried textual install i was unable to partition the drives bcoz i already have 5 partitions in my hdd. i have information in them which is very important. i cannot backup them in DVD's bcox the total information may be upto 80Gb. Can I install fedora core 5 and windows xp both in the same partition? What is the minimum space required to run both fedora and xp in the same partition? Please tell me what to do!

First, it is not urgent to us so please don't post it as such.

Second, no you can not put two OS on the same partition.

You can't have XP and Fedora on the same partition.You need to have at least one partition formated with filesystem that Linux can be installed on(ext2,ext3,raiserfs etc.)You've said that you can't use any of the partitions that you already have and that you can't create new one for the Fedora,well I'm sorry but then you can't install Fedora on the hard disk,but you can run it from the live cd for example.

You can run linux in a virtual machine in windows though, or use a live cd

Fedora Core 5? that's a bit old, fedora core 10 would possibly be better, anyway the only way to do what you want is probably the way Repo suggested, to run fedora within a virtual machine, else their is no other possible way to do it... you'd need a partition or a new hard drive else wise.