Anyone else triple booting with XP, Vista and Ubuntu?

[Bernie]

I finally bit the bullet and tried to get all three working again after
my recent disaster with boot managers and lost partition tables. This
time it all went smoothly and I can boot to any of the three.

I get the linux grub thing first and from there can choose Ubuntu or
Windows Boot Manager. The Windows Boot Manager gives the usual choice of
Vista or XP.

This is my first real look at Ubuntu ever and first for about 4 or 5
years look at Linux. I still don't like a lot of things about Linux but
Ubuntu is a great improvement over Red Hat and Mandrake of 4 years ago.

Installing apps is much easier than it was and I'm generally finding I
can figure out most of what I need to figure out about how things work.

An annoyance is that I can't figure out how to adjust the screen
positioning in Ubuntu. The screen is set too far to the right. If I
adjust via the monitor then it is wrong for XP and Vista.

Coming to Vista from Ubuntu makes Vista look quite stunning with Aero
but it is slower.

But a funny thing I noticed in Ubuntu is it has a very similar UAC thing
going on to Vista. Up pops a dialog to enter a password into and the
rest of the screen darkens at the same time.

 

[Bob Treat]

Am triple booting 2K, Vista and Kubuntu. But put grub on floppy and eject
floppy when wanting to boot into Windows. This way when RC1 goes in it
won't overwrite grub and cause a Linux restore to reinstall grub. Ubuntu
has behaved in the way you describe when asking for root permission by
darkening the screen for sometime. As for your monitor shifting, you
probably don't have proprietary drivers installed for graphics and you may
have a generic driver for your monitor. I'm not sure how exactly to get
that done in Gnome but in KDE selecting system settings/display settings
then a front end to change video and monitor under Hardware can get me where
I need to be. Ubuntu detects hardware pretty well but it didn't recognize
my monitor. I had to install a non-free linux kernel and then proprietary
drivers for Nvidia to get correct refresh rates after manually selecting my
monitor and restarting X. Then all would line up on the display like
Windows. Nvidia drivers are avaiable in Synaptic as well as others.

 

[David Wilkinson]

I finally bit the bullet and tried to get all three working again after
my recent disaster with boot managers and lost partition tables. This
time it all went smoothly and I can boot to any of the three.

I get the linux grub thing first and from there can choose Ubuntu or
Windows Boot Manager. The Windows Boot Manager gives the usual choice of
Vista or XP.

This is my first real look at Ubuntu ever and first for about 4 or 5
years look at Linux. I still don't like a lot of things about Linux but
Ubuntu is a great improvement over Red Hat and Mandrake of 4 years ago.

Installing apps is much easier than it was and I'm generally finding I
can figure out most of what I need to figure out about how things work.

An annoyance is that I can't figure out how to adjust the screen
positioning in Ubuntu. The screen is set too far to the right. If I
adjust via the monitor then it is wrong for XP and Vista.

Coming to Vista from Ubuntu makes Vista look quite stunning with Aero
but it is slower.

But a funny thing I noticed in Ubuntu is it has a very similar UAC thing
going on to Vista. Up pops a dialog to enter a password into and the
rest of the screen darkens at the same time.

Hi Bernie:

My test computer finally came yesterday, so I am facing a few days of
multi-boot fun. My plan is to use BootIt NG so my setup will be very
different from yours.

My immediate goal is to multi-boot Win2000, XP, XP x64, Vista and Vista
x64, and to set up Win95/NT/98/Me under Virtual PC (no drivers for my
video card), but I will probably try Linux later. What made you choose
Ubuntu? I tried RedHat about 10 years ago, and again 5 years ago, but
never really got into it.

About the screen positioning, I currently have a KVM setup where the
same issue arises. My Dell CRT monitor has separate settings for
different "modes" so if I use different refresh rates for the different
machines I can set them all up correctly. Maybe you could do the same?

David Wilkinson

 

[Beck]

I finally bit the bullet and tried to get all three working again after my
recent disaster with boot managers and lost partition tables. This time it
all went smoothly and I can boot to any of the three.

I get the linux grub thing first and from there can choose Ubuntu or
Windows Boot Manager. The Windows Boot Manager gives the usual choice of
Vista or XP.

Since installing Ubuntu have you actually been able to boot into Vista?
Every time I install, grub corrupts my Vista bootloader.

 

[Raven Mill]

One of the things to think about with using Linux is: There are VERY few
reasons why you should have the bit-depth set to 32-bit for standard use of
the OS as there is with windows, as very few linux apps take advantage of
that. That might help your positionaing problem, but I doubt it. You
didn't specify which video card you have, so I couldn't look to see if there
was a driver update that I could suggest... Ontrick is to simply keep
changing the screen settings. My monitor has an "auto-set" feature, which,
at the push of a button, adjusts the display to where it needs to be. Have
you tried looking through the menu on yours to see if it also has that
feature hiding somewhere?

 

[John Jay Smith]

There are VERY few

reasons why you should have the bit-depth set to 32-bit for standard use
of

there are new versions of linux that have transparencies, 3d effects, window
movement distortion effects, cube desktop switching in 3d mode....

so I guess you are not talking about those

 

[Raven Mill]

there are new versions of linux that have transparencies, 3d effects,
window movement distortion effects, cube desktop switching in 3d mode....

so I guess you are not talking about those

Actually, no, I don't run an OS to have interesting windows themes, though
if you like, you can go for it. I run an OS for the applications, which is
really what most people use a Com-Pu-Ter for. I was discussing the actual
use of a computer...but if you own a computer that is JUST for having a
window open so you can look at the window border all day, hmmm... Running
32-bit on a useless screenmode because the driver won't support it so you
can see a "movement distortion effect" is, imho, one of the stupidest things
I've EVER heard of...lol

....some people should really not get into a discussion...

 

[Guest]

Please explain me in detail how do you put Grub on a floppy.
Thanks in advance.
Carlos

 

[John Jay Smith]

I care less on what you use or what you like. Linux can use 32 bit and take
advantage of it just like windows and macs can.

I am just stating the technology facts.

I can imagine that the HP clusters using linux working for dreamworks to
create
3d animated movies also use something higher than 16 bit....

...some people should really not get into a discussion...
...some people are reeeeaalllllyyyy ignorant!

 

[Bob Treat]

Once you get the retsricted 386 or 686 Linux kernel, then the restricted
nvidia drivers installed and then load your specific monitor drivers, find
then use your max supported refresh rate, then your monitor will display
correctly. It's a little bit of work. Like I said, I use the KDE desktop
and not very familiar with Gnome in Ubuntu but you should be able to get to
your system settings to tweak your display after the hardware is setup
correctly.

Are you ok with installing programs? This app is very helpful:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=80295
There are a few steps to installing Automatix and a few involve the command
line but once installed becomes a good front end to install your best video
drivers, the restricted kernel to run them, get all the audio/video codecs
to run Windows formats, plus it helps to install programs that would be
difficult for some to install such as Adobe Reader, Real Player, Wine to run
Windows apps, Java, Nvidia settings and a few other useful apps. But if you
get Automatix installed it will save you a lot of time and/or headaches.

To just cut to the chase with the graphics you will need to from command
line:
sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx nvidia-kernel-common
sudo nvidia-glx-config enable
You may need to enable extra repositories:
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Dapper#How_to_add_extra_repositories

Then you will need to restart X and experiment with refresh rates and maybe
activate the proprietary driver. Here's a link to the wiki:
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Dapper

 

[Bob Treat]

When you download Ubuntu or Kubuntu, first use the Altenate install CD iso
file, which will give you the text install instead of the ui. When it gets
time for grub, tell it no when it asks to write grub to the mbr. When it
asks for where to write grub tell it " (fd0) " do not use the quotes. If
you use another distro research the installation to see if grub can be
installed other than to the mbr. I use the floppy because grub to the mbr
was not compatible with Vista's bootloader and crashed. I was not able to
boot into Vista using the floppy but removing the floppy gets me to the
Vista bootloader and just makes more sense that having all kinds of
bootloaders going.

 

[Bob Treat]

You can try the KDE desktop, essentially convert Ubuntu to Kubuntu.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingKDE
BTW, the command line gets easier the more you use it. I still use it a lot
in Windows.

 

[Bob Treat]

The dns is another example where the KDE system settings provides a front
end for network settings. I just don't like Gnome in this regard but bailed
on it before I really knew basic stuff with Linux.

 

[Bernie]

Am triple booting 2K, Vista and Kubuntu. But put grub on floppy and eject
floppy when wanting to boot into Windows. This way when RC1 goes in it
won't overwrite grub and cause a Linux restore to reinstall grub. Ubuntu
has behaved in the way you describe when asking for root permission by
darkening the screen for sometime. As for your monitor shifting, you
probably don't have proprietary drivers installed for graphics and you may
have a generic driver for your monitor. I'm not sure how exactly to get
that done in Gnome but in KDE selecting system settings/display settings
then a front end to change video and monitor under Hardware can get me where
I need to be. Ubuntu detects hardware pretty well but it didn't recognize
my monitor. I had to install a non-free linux kernel and then proprietary
drivers for Nvidia to get correct refresh rates after manually selecting my
monitor and restarting X. Then all would line up on the display like
Windows. Nvidia drivers are avaiable in Synaptic as well as others.

Thanks Bob. I can't find a gui front end for adjusting screen position
in Gnome. And having to resort to editing files manually seems to me
very primitive and absolutely the wrong way to go to attract regular
Windows users. If this hasn't been addressed by those working on Gnome
it amazes me.

I am very much a newbie with Linux so I may be missing all kinds of
things but I've already come across two things that should be much
easier to handle. The screen position settings is the one that is as yet
unresolved. The other was that once I had set my dns settings they would
disappear after a few minutes use. I found a solution (manually editing
a config file) in a Ubuntu forum but there was no indication anywhere
that the settings I had changed were only temporary.

 

[Bernie]

One of the things to think about with using Linux is: There are VERY few
reasons why you should have the bit-depth set to 32-bit for standard use of
the OS as there is with windows, as very few linux apps take advantage of
that. That might help your positionaing problem, but I doubt it. You
didn't specify which video card you have, so I couldn't look to see if there
was a driver update that I could suggest... Ontrick is to simply keep
changing the screen settings. My monitor has an "auto-set" feature, which,
at the push of a button, adjusts the display to where it needs to be. Have
you tried looking through the menu on yours to see if it also has that
feature hiding somewhere?

The card is an Nvidia Geforce 5600. The monitor is a very old Dell
without the auto set button.

 

[Bernie]

Hi Bernie:

My test computer finally came yesterday, so I am facing a few days of
multi-boot fun. My plan is to use BootIt NG so my setup will be very
different from yours.

My immediate goal is to multi-boot Win2000, XP, XP x64, Vista and Vista
x64, and to set up Win95/NT/98/Me under Virtual PC (no drivers for my
video card), but I will probably try Linux later.

You are going to have lots of fun with that lot.

What made you choose
Ubuntu? I tried RedHat about 10 years ago, and again 5 years ago, but
never really got into it.

When I tried Red Hat, Mandrake and Suse about 5 years ago I didn't
really have any desire to move away from Windows and so I didn't give
them much of a chance. They were interesting but there culture was very
foreign to me. Today I still wish to continue with Windows but would
also like to see some real competition to MS. I asked in various places
for the distro that was most likely to appeal to the average Windows
desktop user and Ubuntu was the one that came tops in the polls.

About the screen positioning, I currently have a KVM setup where the
same issue arises. My Dell CRT monitor has separate settings for
different "modes" so if I use different refresh rates for the different
machines I can set them all up correctly. Maybe you could do the same?

The monitor I'm currently using is just too old to have those kinds of
features.

 

[Bernie]

Since installing Ubuntu have you actually been able to boot into Vista?
Every time I install, grub corrupts my Vista bootloader.

Yes it all works perfectly. Try this http://tinyurl.com/rt5xw

 

[Raven Mill]

The card is an Nvidia Geforce 5600. The monitor is a very old Dell without
the auto set button.

Yeah. We test a LOT of things with linux for our show. Video card and
monitor combos are probably the hardest to deal with on a realistic basis,
because they tend to either be setup for people that don't realize they CAN
have a different refresh rate or for HUGELY specific systems setup for
people (as a poster recently posted) who are doing some VERY expensive
animation/video applications. I think there are a total of 20 computers
running those specialty apps though, so it doesn't fit into this convo in
the slightest.

My LFWPT says to simply try using the generic VESA driver with generic
monitor drivers and see where you get with that. After that, make your way
up with the drivers and see which ones have the best looking desktop. Her
view on it is: if you REALLY run those specialty applications and NEED to
have 32-bit depth, then you need to have a system which is custom made to
run those applications just like the folks at dreamworks do, because the
computers they had were built around the applications, not the other way
around, like most people have.

 

[Bob Treat]

Gnome does have a front end for it and it is very easy to use but.... it

doesn't save the information in the config file and it doesn't let you
know that the changes you just made will only last about 15 minutes!

Ouch! Looks like a permissions think. Can you sudo to the front end?

 

[Bob Treat]

Getting to the point I can find a GUI for most things now. Unfortuantely
all the help given in the forums are from power users who are very command
line centric and competant. The addins available from the repositories are
worth looking at. If you have a whole lot of time sometime check out all
that's available in Synaptic. Can be worth it.