Hi to All

Looking to get started with Linux soon, I am wondering how easy and how reliable it is to do a Linux install on a Windows Vista PC and have it as a dual boot system? I need the Windows hardware and software support for various things, but would like to get to learn Linux too. Was looking at Ubuntu 9.10. All advice and opinion greatly appreciated.

Chris

Install itself is pretty easy as long as the partitions are there before you start, and understand a few technical terms, otherwise it does it all for you, just adds another option at the boot screen as to which OS you use.

In normal use (web, music, mail, IM, (Open) Office) it's fine and easy to do with little knowledge IMO. The harder bits are when trying to use the terminal (CMD) to install and edit stuff, or fix problems.

Depends on what you want to use it for and your skill levels, as to how good it is in my opinion.

Also, potentailly be prepared to have to manually install drivers and stuff, cos a few (mainly HP's in my experience) have had truobles with both sound and wireless.

If the computer is outdated, or struggling with Vista, the stability and speed should be greatly increased

HTH in some way,

Joe.

one of the big advantages of linux, including ubuntu, is the live cd versions of various distros, including ubuntu, so you can try it out and see what does and doesn't work out of the box without any fear of knackering your install of windows.

If you are going to have problems it will likely be with wireless and graphics. I would download the latest version of ubuntu and burn it to CD, stick it in the machine and see what happens. One extra reason for choosing ubuntu is the forums, there's a lot of useful people and information on them (a bit like here really).

The PC is modern and fast and stable on Vista, but I am interested in learning about Linux and this seems as good a place to start as any. What I really need to know is how reliable is the Windows installer version. Anyone had problems running it, I don't have time for a system rebuild right now, so would appreciate any info to help make the decision.

Chris

I run ubuntu 9.10 dual booted with Win 7 beta at the mo. The only issues I have is with video media/ iplayer etc? I cant seem to get the codecs right

TBH, I am using WIN 7 more. You could also run it as a virtual machine with VMware (its free) or install on another harddrive?

I'm afraid I don't have any experience of the WUBI version of ubuntu. The other option would be to install ubuntu on a USB stick and boot from that, although it is a bit slow compared to running it on a hard drive.

Certainly the normal version of ubuntu is very well behaved when it comes to installing on to a system with an existing windows installation, though as always backup backup backup first.

In my experiences installing it, it's gone:

1. Make two partions in Windows first. (One main, one for page file - ~size of RAM fitted).
2. Insert Linux disc and restart PC, booting from disc.
3. Follow instructions and select relevant partitions.

I've never had it corrupt Windows installation unless I said to overwrite them or did it wrong. When it installs it will decent Vista and add it to the boot choices automatially.

As long as the boot loader works (which it does on virtually all modern machines) that should be it, done.

You could always image the current hard drive as it is, so if it does all go wrong you can copy it across, keeping all the installed programmes etc.

A friend had it where it wouldn't install inialtlay, but that was on a pc with a 400Mhz CPU so pretty dated.

First thing to do though is to, as said, download and burn the ISO to a DVD, pop it in the machine and see if it loads. If you plug a hardwire to the internet in too, it will be able to check wheather it has drivers for the PC as well (assuming they aren't there already).

HTH,

Joe

Just creating a USB to boot from to try it out at the moment. It is an unltra fast read speed USB stick, so should not be too painful to run for testing.

If I like the way it goes, I will do a complete system backup and then run the Ubuntu Windows Installer that downloads and installs online.

Chris

Just creating a USB to boot from to try it out at the moment. It is an unltra fast read speed USB stick, so should not be too painful to run for testing.

If I like the way it goes, I will do a complete system backup and then run the Ubuntu Windows Installer that downloads and installs online.

Chris

So far, so good. Easy to get it running off USB. Seems fast and light on its feet. Thanks for the help all. Sure I will have many questions over the coming few weeks.

Chris

Reconfigured my age-old Dell laptop a few days ago to dual boot (WinXP/Linux).

Piece of cake, really: I was able to resize the windows partition from the Linux USB stick (using the common Linux app gparted). Didn't affect the old install, it ran perfectly afterwards. This particular distro also allowed me to set up the boot config so that I at startup is given the choice between Win and Linux.

My Dell now has got a second life - the insufficient RAM (256MB) means that WinXP takes 2.5 minutes to load fully. With Linux it's 45 seconds...

Edited 7 January, 201016 yr by swedishskoda

Piece of cake, really: I was able to resize the windows partition from the Linux USB stick (using the common Linux app gparted). Didn't affect the old install, it ran perfectly afterwards. This particular distro also allowed me to set up the boot config so that I at startup is given the choice between Win and Linux.

However, on Vista it may casue issues. If you try and shrink the partitions in Vista itself it may only let you shrink it by 50% of the avaliable space, cos Vista puts unmovalbe system files at the end of the volume. If you use gparted and it deletes these, could cause some problems. (Not an issue of XP I don't think.)

If Vista does do this I found the easiest way to shrink it was to download the demo of Perfect Disk and get it defrag the system files at bootup. First time will allow it to shrink 60% of the space, second 70% and so on.

May not be an issue, but it was for me, and repeated bootup defrags was the only think I found to fix it.

However, on Vista it may casue issues. If you try and shrink the partitions in Vista itself it may only let you shrink it by 50% of the avaliable space, cos Vista puts unmovalbe system files at the end of the volume. If you use gparted and it deletes these, could cause some problems. (Not an issue of XP I don't think.)

If Vista does do this I found the easiest way to shrink it was to download the demo of Perfect Disk and get it defrag the system files at bootup. First time will allow it to shrink 60% of the space, second 70% and so on.

May not be an issue, but it was for me, and repeated bootup defrags was the only think I found to fix it.

You seem to be 100 % right issuing a warning when it comes to Vista. However, gparted still is a possibility even if a bit of TLC is needed afterwards if this website can be trusted:

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/using-gparted-to-resize-your-windows-vista-partition/

I have Linux on three of my laptop's and will not look back. BBC iPlayer works like a dream,

even in HD

However, on Vista it may casue issues. If you try and shrink the partitions in Vista itself it may only let you shrink it by 50% of the avaliable space, cos Vista puts unmovalbe system files at the end of the volume. If you use gparted and it deletes these, could cause some problems. (Not an issue of XP I don't think.)

If Vista does do this I found the easiest way to shrink it was to download the demo of Perfect Disk and get it defrag the system files at bootup. First time will allow it to shrink 60% of the space, second 70% and so on.

May not be an issue, but it was for me, and repeated bootup defrags was the only think I found to fix it.

Thanks for the warning, I have a 100GB partition as C and a 900GB partition for data, so I may be able to leave the C partiton untouched with a little luck.

Chris

I've just installed ubuntu as dual boot on an old XP machine. The PC has two separate hard drives in it but ubuntu doesn't seem able to see the 2nd drive, justthe linux partition on the C drive. Is this normal?

I've just installed ubuntu as dual boot on an old XP machine. The PC has two separate hard drives in it but ubuntu doesn't seem able to see the 2nd drive, justthe linux partition on the C drive. Is this normal?

I would guess that the 2nd drive isn't mounted during boot process. Have you tried writing

fdisk -l

in the consol? Thean all disks should show up, even the unmounted. When identified (e.g. /dev/hdb) you can mount it with

mount /dev/hdb

In some file managers unmounted drives show up and can be mounted if you right-click on the drivename.

I would guess that the 2nd drive isn't mounted during boot process. Have you tried writing

fdisk -l

in the consol? Thean all disks should show up, even the unmounted. When identified (e.g. /dev/hdb) you can mount it with

mount /dev/hdb

In some file managers unmounted drives show up and can be mounted if you right-click on the drivename.

thanks for the tip, not tried any of this. I just installed it out of curiosity as the PC is a spare old one. Complete linux virgin here :-)

Complete linux virgin here :-)

Well, so am I so previous post probably not entirely correct. If you need to mount the HD you must also state where to (and if necessary create a directory). And, as it seems, indicate how it's formatted (FAT32, NFTS or whatever).

Guidelines here:http://www.computing.net/answers/linux/how-to-mount-and-use-2nd-hd/26305.html