Tabasco Sauce
King
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Anyone know how to Dual boot a computer? I have Windows XP now, but have the Popular Mechanics version of Ubuntu I want to use.
Dual Boot?
- Thread starter Tabasco Sauce
- Start date
GenMarshall
High Elven ISB Capt & Ghost Agent
Dual Booting is very tricky to make an attempt which has to deal with setting up your BIOS to boot from a CD and setting up partitions on your hard drive.
The safe way to try out any OS is to use VMware. There you can try out Ubuntu without messing up your hard drive.
The safe way to try out any OS is to use VMware. There you can try out Ubuntu without messing up your hard drive.
GarretSidzaka
Modder
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Ubuntu will often boot up the Operating system with out installing on your hard drive. It runs right off the CD so you can try it 
Dual-booting is a snap with modern Linux distros, like PCLinuxOS, Ubuntu, Mandriva, etc. Just install, and follow the instructions.
Of course, using Linux as a Live-CD to try it out is always a safe bet.
Of course, using Linux as a Live-CD to try it out is always a safe bet.
GarretSidzaka
Modder
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totally. i tried Ubuntu that way and then got scared coz i was too noob for linux quite yet.
GarretSidzaka
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yeah i think so
The good ones will. Of course, you need to do a Windows defrag first, to be sure that the partition(s) can be resized safely.
O.H.Dog
Chieftain
All of the recommendations so far are good.
A virtual machine is definitely the safest way to try out Linux. It is even safer than booting from the live CD. It can be a lot of fun, and if you completely mess up the Linux virtual machine, you can simply delete it and start again. Your familiar Windows environment is right there ticking right along just outside the virtual machine's window.
Ubuntu runs quite well under VMware Server or Virtual PC (the Microsoft offering) and even better under VirtualBox. All three are free and will peacefully coexist on a Windows XP machine.
For your purposes VirtualBox is probably the best choice. VirtualBox is lighter weight and you do not need the extra features of VMware Server. In fact, VMware Server can be risky if you are directly connected to the internet. It allows other computers to run a virtual machine remotely.
Ubuntu, VirtualBox, VMware Server, and Virtual PC all have excellent forums you can go to for help. They all have threads for new users.
Basic instructions:
Start VirtualBox
Create a new virtual machine with at least 10 GB virtual disk, 256 MB memory.
Open the Settings popup.
Use NAT for networking.
Enable Audio and choose Windows Direct Sound
Mount CD/DVD and select the drive letter of your Ubuntu install CD
Start the machine and follow the directions
Rest assured: The partition step will only change the virtual disk.
Install the VirtualBox Guest Additions (under the Devices menu)
You may need to adjust the firewall on Windows to add the new address range of the virtual machine so you can share folders.
I will add another post with more advice for full multiboot installs.
----
My machine currently multiboots into Windows XP, Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, Suse or Debian. I also have virtual machines with Windows 98/95/3.1 various DOS replacements, Several Linux versions, AROS (experimental Amiga replacement), WinUAE (Amiga), AppleWin (Apple II) and Dosbox (for old DOS programs.) Oh yes. I also just made a virtual machine for a multiboot test bed. That's how easy it is to use VirtualBox.
A virtual machine is definitely the safest way to try out Linux. It is even safer than booting from the live CD. It can be a lot of fun, and if you completely mess up the Linux virtual machine, you can simply delete it and start again. Your familiar Windows environment is right there ticking right along just outside the virtual machine's window.
Ubuntu runs quite well under VMware Server or Virtual PC (the Microsoft offering) and even better under VirtualBox. All three are free and will peacefully coexist on a Windows XP machine.
For your purposes VirtualBox is probably the best choice. VirtualBox is lighter weight and you do not need the extra features of VMware Server. In fact, VMware Server can be risky if you are directly connected to the internet. It allows other computers to run a virtual machine remotely.
Ubuntu, VirtualBox, VMware Server, and Virtual PC all have excellent forums you can go to for help. They all have threads for new users.
Basic instructions:
Start VirtualBox
Create a new virtual machine with at least 10 GB virtual disk, 256 MB memory.
Open the Settings popup.
Use NAT for networking.
Enable Audio and choose Windows Direct Sound
Mount CD/DVD and select the drive letter of your Ubuntu install CD
Start the machine and follow the directions
Rest assured: The partition step will only change the virtual disk.
Install the VirtualBox Guest Additions (under the Devices menu)
You may need to adjust the firewall on Windows to add the new address range of the virtual machine so you can share folders.
I will add another post with more advice for full multiboot installs.
----
My machine currently multiboots into Windows XP, Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, Suse or Debian. I also have virtual machines with Windows 98/95/3.1 various DOS replacements, Several Linux versions, AROS (experimental Amiga replacement), WinUAE (Amiga), AppleWin (Apple II) and Dosbox (for old DOS programs.) Oh yes. I also just made a virtual machine for a multiboot test bed. That's how easy it is to use VirtualBox.
O.H.Dog
Chieftain
If you decide you want full multiboot capability:
Linux doesn't care what partition it installs in and is perfectly happy in an extended partition on a slave drive. It is quite safe to install Ubuntu into unused disk space.
If your hard drive has no unused partition space I recommend simply adding a second hard drive and installing Ubnuntu there.
To install to unused disk space:
Set your BIOS to boot from CD and boot from the Ubuntu install disk.
Follow the prompts.
At the partition stage select the option "Guided - use the largest continuous free space". Be careful at this step. There is an obvious bad choice that can destroy your Windows installation.
Be patient. It may seem like it is hung at the "Scanning the mirror..." stage specially if you have a slow internet connection.
If it asks about time zone, your machine is probably not set for GMT. Windows normally does it the other way.
It will install the Grub bootloader. This will have several boot options. The two you care about are the first Ubuntu entry, and the Windows entry.
Run the System, updates program. If you have already updated a virtual machine, you could first copy /var/cache/adm/archives onto CD or a shared folder, then copy it into the new installation.
You can adjust your /boot/grub/menu.lst to allow Ubuntu or Windows to be set as default.
You can automatically mount the Windows partitions and use them as regular disks. You do have to be a bit careful not to mess up your system files.
It is still a good idea to practice first in a virtual machine.
--------
If your whole hard drive is already formatted for Windows it is risky for a neophyte to attempt a resize. The ntfs filesystem does not like being shrunk. I recommend practicing with a virtual machine.
To practice:
Create a new virtual machine with about 10 GB virtual disk, 512 MB memory.
Install Windows from your original CD, but do not activate (unless you have a second license.)
Once Windows is fully installed, remove the Windows CD.
Boot the virtual machine into safe mode (F8 just as it starts to boot)
Defragment the virtual disk. This is critical. Even a fresh install must be defragmented. Make a note of how much space is left on this disk.
Insert the Ubuntu CD.
Reboot the virtual machine into the Ubuntu live operating system.
Double click the Install icon.
At the partition stage select "Guided - resize ...".
For a live install you have to make sure your ntfs partition will still be large enough to hold everything it already has or will have.
The Grub bootloader will be automatically installed and will automatically configure to boot either Ubuntu or Windows.
Boot into Ubuntu and install the virtual guest additions.
Practice editing the /boot/grub/menu.lst file. This is the configuration for your bootloader. This must be done as root so you will have to learn how to edit the file as the root user.
Near the top will be a line starting with the word 'default'. Change this to
default saved
Add a line in the first Ubuntu entry just after 'initrd':
savedefault
Boot into windows. Let the disk checking routine fix the disk. So long as you defragmented, this should be no problem.
Then it will remember which of Ubuntu or Windows to boot into.
I also like to change the Grub background picture, but that trick is a bit more advanced.
Once you have practiced a couple of times you can proceed to install it on your regular system.
Do not skip the defrag step. It is absolutely essential. That and the obvious wrong choice in the partition step are the only two mistakes that you cannot recover from.
P.S. This works equally well for other Linux distributions. I like Ubuntu for playing and Suse for working.
--------
Bonus tip:
When playing with virtual machines, you can use any of the iso creation tools to copy your Windows install disk, and your Linux install disk to .iso files. Then you can select ISO Image file to boot and install from them. It is faster and saves wear and tear on your physical CDs.
Linux doesn't care what partition it installs in and is perfectly happy in an extended partition on a slave drive. It is quite safe to install Ubuntu into unused disk space.
If your hard drive has no unused partition space I recommend simply adding a second hard drive and installing Ubnuntu there.
To install to unused disk space:
Set your BIOS to boot from CD and boot from the Ubuntu install disk.
Follow the prompts.
At the partition stage select the option "Guided - use the largest continuous free space". Be careful at this step. There is an obvious bad choice that can destroy your Windows installation.
Be patient. It may seem like it is hung at the "Scanning the mirror..." stage specially if you have a slow internet connection.
If it asks about time zone, your machine is probably not set for GMT. Windows normally does it the other way.
It will install the Grub bootloader. This will have several boot options. The two you care about are the first Ubuntu entry, and the Windows entry.
Run the System, updates program. If you have already updated a virtual machine, you could first copy /var/cache/adm/archives onto CD or a shared folder, then copy it into the new installation.
You can adjust your /boot/grub/menu.lst to allow Ubuntu or Windows to be set as default.
You can automatically mount the Windows partitions and use them as regular disks. You do have to be a bit careful not to mess up your system files.
It is still a good idea to practice first in a virtual machine.
--------
If your whole hard drive is already formatted for Windows it is risky for a neophyte to attempt a resize. The ntfs filesystem does not like being shrunk. I recommend practicing with a virtual machine.
To practice:
Create a new virtual machine with about 10 GB virtual disk, 512 MB memory.
Install Windows from your original CD, but do not activate (unless you have a second license.)
Once Windows is fully installed, remove the Windows CD.
Boot the virtual machine into safe mode (F8 just as it starts to boot)
Defragment the virtual disk. This is critical. Even a fresh install must be defragmented. Make a note of how much space is left on this disk.
Insert the Ubuntu CD.
Reboot the virtual machine into the Ubuntu live operating system.
Double click the Install icon.
At the partition stage select "Guided - resize ...".
For a live install you have to make sure your ntfs partition will still be large enough to hold everything it already has or will have.
The Grub bootloader will be automatically installed and will automatically configure to boot either Ubuntu or Windows.
Boot into Ubuntu and install the virtual guest additions.
Practice editing the /boot/grub/menu.lst file. This is the configuration for your bootloader. This must be done as root so you will have to learn how to edit the file as the root user.
Near the top will be a line starting with the word 'default'. Change this to
default saved
Add a line in the first Ubuntu entry just after 'initrd':
savedefault
Boot into windows. Let the disk checking routine fix the disk. So long as you defragmented, this should be no problem.
Then it will remember which of Ubuntu or Windows to boot into.
I also like to change the Grub background picture, but that trick is a bit more advanced.
Once you have practiced a couple of times you can proceed to install it on your regular system.
Do not skip the defrag step. It is absolutely essential. That and the obvious wrong choice in the partition step are the only two mistakes that you cannot recover from.
P.S. This works equally well for other Linux distributions. I like Ubuntu for playing and Suse for working.
--------
Bonus tip:
When playing with virtual machines, you can use any of the iso creation tools to copy your Windows install disk, and your Linux install disk to .iso files. Then you can select ISO Image file to boot and install from them. It is faster and saves wear and tear on your physical CDs.
Tabasco Sauce
King
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2007
- Messages
- 846
well, I wanted to dedicate a spare harddrive I have to Ubuntu, would I just follow the first steps you laid out?
O.H.Dog
Chieftain
Yes.
Hmm. I should probably expand on that a bit.
If the spare drive happened to already have a filesystem on it, you may need to remove the partitions first. You can do that in Windows.
Be careful here. You can really mess up your system with a mistake. Fortunately, it will not let you delete your C: partition.
Right click 'My Computer' and choose 'Manage'.
In the Computer Management window select 'Disk Management'.
You should see both drives. (If you don't, the second drive is installed wrong.)
Be sure to select the partition on the correct drive, right click and delete the partition.
Repeat for any other partitions on that drive.
Then you can exit windows and boot your Ubuntu CD.
If you are not sure, then practice first in a virtual machine with two virtual drives. Ironically, if the second physical drive happens to be formatted for Windows, you can use that space for the virtual drives to practice on.
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