Newbie wants to multi-boot
 

Hello, how is everyone? I'm new here and to Linux and I have a few "getting started" questions that I hope won't be to much of a bother. I want to install a version of Linux onto my desktop and multi-boot it with Windows XP. I have already re-installed my OS and partitioned my hard drive with un-allocated space reserved for Linux, about 15 gigs worth. I've read that of the two Linux boot loaders, LILO & GRUB, I would need to use GRUB as LILO doesn't play nice with NTFS partitions. I'd like to learn about both the server & desktop applications of Linux so a version that comes bundled with Samba & SQL support, Apache, KDE & Gnome, WINE, Konquerer, etc. would be ideal. Once again I am a total beginner so if someone could direct me towards whichever "flavor" and version would best suit these needs I would be much obliged. Oh yeah, my hardware specs:

Pentium 4 2.20
40 Gig Harddrive
256 Megs RAM
SVGA Video @ 1280x1024, True Color
Cable Broadband
Integrated sound, video, & NIC on a Dell Dimension 2400

Welcome to Linux Questions!

Everything you said you needed comes with Mandrake (Mandrake 10, or Community, is more of a beta, if you want stable stick with Mandrake 9.2). The install procedure is by far one of the simplest (I would say its easier than XP Home install - this gives presets for your specific hardware and then allows you to change them if you want).

LILO worked fine when I had Windows XP Home, Windows XP Pro, and Mandrake 9.2... The not working with NTFS might be true, but it worked for me for quite some time ;-)

I never had problems with settings of Windows (NTFS) on first partition. Lilo install in MBR is able to boot to Windows just fine.

Even though I am a Debian user but I usually recommend my friends to install Redhat (Fedora) if they are to install themselves. But if I am going to install for them, I'll install Debian. Just because Debian has a scary installation process. They both contain the apps you're looking for, and more. But Fedora will contain more up-to-date version while the stable version of Debian usually has older version of those apps.

Mandrake/Suse etc also have some very user-friendly installer.

Thanks for your reply! So when you used XP with Mandrake did you have XP on a NTFS partition or FAT32? And were you booting from the same hard drive? I know it's better to give Linux it's own hard drive entirely but unfortunately it's not an option for me at the present time.

I've read a little about Fedora but it seemed kinda new & iffy. I'd like to be indoctrinated on a platform that enjoys wide scale implementation, if for no other reason than there would be a wider knowledge base. I have heard good things about Debian, Mandrake & Redhat though.

I have 3 hard drives, had 5 partitions. Windows XP Home - hda, XP Pro - hdc1, Mandrake - hdc2, Swap - hdc3.

hdb was just a fat32 for storage (40GB)

XP Home and XP Pro were on NTFS. Mandrake was on EXT 3

Gentoo is very nice, but definately not for newbies unless you're good at following instructions, since the Gentoo installation guide is very complete.

dutch , what you have read is probably old and outdated, boot loaders like lilo nowadays is well capable of handling (booting to) different OS (e.g winxp on ntfs first partition , linux 2nd partition like what you want). Also no problem by using both OS's in the same HD.