Windows + Linux on 2 partitions=1 HDD??

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Guest

ok, maybe this is a newbie question (..it is actually), but i have a 130 GB
hard drive, can i partition it to half, and install WinXP in one partition
and Linux in the another??, or because are different OS i must have another
hard drive?

--
- Starving to learn
and
Happy to help -

Victor :)
 
VBA said:
ok, maybe this is a newbie question (..it is actually), but i have a 130 GB
hard drive, can i partition it to half, and install WinXP in one partition
and Linux in the another??, or because are different OS i must have another
hard drive?

--
- Starving to learn
and
Happy to help -

Victor :)
Click to expand...

You can install as many OSs on the one disk as you like -
provided that you have a boot loader that can manage
them. XOSL is one of those, Grub another (abouth which
I know nothing).
 
by "boot loader" you mean the screen on start up that shows you the OS
installed and let you select one to load??

--
- Starving to learn
and
Happy to help -

Victor :)
 
ok, but can i create new partitions with a software? or only before an OS is
installed? (i ask this, because in the windows installation you must create
partitions before)

What i meant is, that if doesn't matter that i'm running my WinXP using a
single 130 GB (aprox) partition?...can i still partition it using software??,
if so, could i have problems with some files or something like that?

Which partition software would you recommend?

--
- Starving to learn
and
Happy to help -

Victor :)
 
Yes, your description of a boot loader is fairly accurate.
To be successful with multi-booting systems you need
the following tools:
- A good boot loader.
- A partition manager
- A partition imaging tool

If you have no experience with these tools then you
must play with them on a spare disk until you know
them inside out and can use them with confidence. If you
use them on your active disk then you will thrash it in no
time at all.
 
VBA said:
ok, but can i create new partitions with a software? or only before an OS is
installed? (i ask this, because in the windows installation you must create
partitions before)

What i meant is, that if doesn't matter that i'm running my WinXP using a
single 130 GB (aprox) partition?...can i still partition it using software??,
Yes

if so, could i have problems with some files or something like that?
Click to expand...

There's always a chance of problems when using HD tools. (backup
first)
Which partition software would you recommend?
Click to expand...

Partition Magic, only because it's the only thing I've used.

My computer came with XP home on a 200Gig hard drive.
I used PM to convert from NTFS to FAT32, then Chopped the drive into 6
partitions, XP home booted right up when I was done (no data loss).

Note: that this was a brand new computer, so XP home wasn't spread out
all over the place, no data was ever really moved.
 
In addition to what the others have said, I'd say use PM and create those 2
partitions for Linux (create simply unallocated space, later format in Ext3
or Ext2) before starting the Linux installation. Then make sure that you
select the partition for the OS in the unallocated space. Generally, this
will be selected already, but make sure you're putting the OS at the proper
place.

Don't autoformat the disk unless you have loads of space and no preference
where data goes.
 
PowerUser said:
In addition to what the others have said, I'd say use PM and create
those 2 partitions for Linux (create simply unallocated space, later
format in Ext3
or Ext2) before starting the Linux installation. Then make sure that
you
select the partition for the OS in the unallocated space. Generally,
this will be selected already, but make sure you're putting the OS at
the proper place.

Don't autoformat the disk unless you have loads of space and no
preference where data goes.
Click to expand...

(snippage)

You don't need to create two partitions for Linux ahead of time. You can
make the /swap and other partitions for Linux (if desired) during the
Linux installation. It is always good to have /home on a separate
partition or hard drive.

Just back up your Windows data and then use Partition Magic, Disk
Director, or BootIT NG to create a partition for Linux. This should
leave your Windows install intact. As the others have said, these
programs will do non-destructive partitioning but there is always a
chance of something going wrong so be prepared with backups.

Then boot with whatever Linux distro you've chosen. If you put Grub (the
most commonly used bootloader on modern distros - replacing LILO) on
the MBR, it will allow you to choose between Windows and Linux at
bootup.

Based on your posts, I strongly suggest that you spend some time
familiarizing yourself with partitions and Linux before you plunge
right in or you will not be successful. You should read the information
at the first link below before you start messing around with Linux. The
second link will help you afterwards.

http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/index.php

Malke
 
VBA said:
ok, but can i create new partitions with a software? or only before an OS
is installed? (i ask this, because in the windows installation you must
create partitions before)

What i meant is, that if doesn't matter that i'm running my WinXP using a
single 130 GB (aprox) partition?...can i still partition it using
software??, if so, could i have problems with some files or something like
that?

Which partition software would you recommend?
Click to expand...
Most of the newest Linux distros come with the facility to shrink your
existing Windoze partition and create the required Linux partitions on the
free space created on your hard drive. Ubuntu is one such distribution, but
there are many others. At the beginning of the Linux install a program like
gparted will be run that will allow for the shrinking of the Windoze
partition. With a Ubuntu install you'll be given the option to go with the
default resizing that the installation sniffs out as doable or if you want
to control this more with your needs, you can select to do so.

It's adviseable of course to backup your existing hard drive before setting
up dual boot just in case things really screw up. An image backup of your
hard drive using something like Acronis TrueImage or Ghost is a good thing
to have.

I'd also defrag the Windoze hard drive before installing a Linux dualboot
setup.


--
Linux is ready for the desktop! More ready than Windoze XP.
http://tinyurl.com/ldm9d

You just can't play games on Linux!
http://tinyurl.com/kgszl
 
Yes, you could start the installation with one chunk of unallocated space-
That will be optimally partitioned for the swap and regular.
 
Thank you very much to all of you people :), your opinions really helped me!!

--
- Starving to learn
and
Happy to help -

Victor :)
 
Thanks for coming back. Is your issue resolved?

VBA said:
Thank you very much to all of you people :), your opinions really helped
me!!

--
- Starving to learn
and
Happy to help -

Victor :)
Click to expand...
 
VBA said:
ok, maybe this is a newbie question (..it is actually), but i have a
130 GB
hard drive, can i partition it to half, and install WinXP in one
partition
and Linux in the another??, or because are different OS i must have
another
hard drive?
Click to expand...

What you wish to do can be done many different ways. I have found that
these partitioning schemes often cause problems somewhere down the
line. Since a reboot is necessary to change the operating system, I
would
suggest two hard drives using a mobile rack. Just my experiences.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...e+rack&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all&Go.x=15&Go.y=33
good luck
 
I think so, the thing is that a friend will give me the Linux disc so i can
install it, but he hasn't yet, but for now all my doubts are clear :) thanks

--
- Starving to learn
and
Happy to help -

Victor :)
 
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