Installing ubuntu & Win XP Pro

Funkiwi75

Hi, I have Win XP Pro on my laptop but would also like to install ubuntu as dual boot, does anyone know how to do this?

pogcica

create a partition. use this link to find out how

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348/en-us

install Ubuntu to the new partition(remember to make it large enough for your needs) when its installed and you boot computer you will be given the option of running XP or Ubuntu

good luck

D

pogcica

A bit more info if you need it

Have you a copy of ubuntu? if not download and burn to disc(make sure you burn as an iso file)

when you have figured out the partitioning of he hard drive restart computer go into BIOS and set boot order to CD drive,pop in Ubuntu CD save and exit,

CD will boot and when asked where to install Ubuntu choose the partition you created and then let it do its thing,

when finished restart,enter BIOS and change boot order back to hard drive

D

Funkiwi75

So i do need to make a new partition? is this because when installing Ubuntu it will mess up the MBR (Mater Boot Record) for windows?

I_Mr_Euphony

The easiest way to install ubuntu if you are new to it is to run the ubuntu cd when booted into XP. Then you can use a windows installer to install it. Its call Wubi afaik.
This creates the linux filesystem as a file on your ntfs (windows) drive. Then uses the Windows boot loader to allow you to choose between Xp and Ubuntu at boot time.
It is very easy to set up this way.

This stops you having to mess with partitions and mbrs and grub and everything like that. On the other hand, if you would rather get your hands dirty and learn some stuff, just say so... :P

calex71

+1 for the wubi method, clean and easy.

you'll give up some performance doing it like this, but i find it perfectly ok on my 3 year old system.

vibe666

even the regular "booting off the ubuntu cd" method will give you a partitoning tool to allow you to shrink an existing windows partition and install ubuntu on a partition in the free space. it will also give you a bootloader so you can choose which option you want.

BUT, if you're new to linux, skip Ubuntu and go straight for Mint.

A new Linux user will find that "Out of the box" Ubuntu is lacking quite a few things and it can be daunting initially to get everything installed so that it all works without knowing what you're doing.

Mint is basically Ubuntu with all those bits already included and will svae you quite a bit of time.

it's also configured to be more familiar to a windows user, so you won't find yourself getting lost quite so easily as you might with Ubuntu.

Setup itself is almost identical to Ubuntu anyway (as that's what it's based on) which is just as easy as Windows, so you won't have any problems there either and the boot CD works just the same and I'm pretty sure it's got wubi in it too if you wanted to go that route.

Funkiwi75

Thanks for everyones help, I think ill partion my drive and start with ubuntu for a bit and then have a look at mint or the other way round not sure yet gotta clean some s*&T off first.

Just a last thought can you still install mircosoft office? and what about games?

vibe666

you can (possibly) install MS office via WINE but generally people stick with something a little more linux friendly like openoffice which can still read/write all the usual office document formats and looks and feels very similar to the ms product (and is also available for windows).

regarding mint, it's basically the same thing as ubuntu as I said (it's based on ubuntu) it's just got a lot of the hassle of getting ubuntu taken out of it.

unless you like extra grief, there's no good reason to choose ubuntu over mint. you won't be missing anything, mint is just ubuntu plus extras. http://www.linuxmint.com/about.php

Funkiwi75

Ok i've downloaded Mint, do it just boot to the cd and on there i can partition my hard drive? and not loose my already installed windows? (I only have one partition on the drive) and 20Gb would be big enough ah?

Funkiwi75

Hi just thought of two more questions:

1: If i need drivers where do i get them from? Sony don't have drivers for Lynex
2: If i want to take Mint off my laptop can I go back to one partition without loosing windows?

Capt'n Midnight

moving to linux
sony don't even do XP drivers for some new laptops so no supprise they aren't doing linux drivers - on the ubuntu website you shoud find links for your laptop

Orion

vibe666 wrote: »

unless you like extra grief, there's no good reason to choose ubuntu over mint. you won't be missing anything, mint is just ubuntu plus extras. http://www.linuxmint.com/about.php

I have Mint on my laptop - and hate it. I'll be going back to Bunty on it shortly. I find the interface crap tbh. Yes is has media drivers/codecs etc pre-installed but in Bunty they're easy to install anyway.

Capt'n Midnight

Macros42 wrote: »

Yes is has media drivers/codecs etc pre-installed but in Bunty they're easy to install anyway.

http://www.ubuntugeek.com/ultamatix-install-101-applications-in-one-click-including-gamescodecsapplications.html

vibe666

Macros42 wrote: »

I have Mint on my laptop - and hate it. I'll be going back to Bunty on it shortly. I find the interface crap tbh. Yes is has media drivers/codecs etc pre-installed but in Bunty they're easy to install anyway.

i don't actually find it much different to ubuntu other than a few additions.

i have to admit i put the standard gnome menu back on in the top left where i'm used to having it, but i'm still mostly usingthe mint one now on the bottom left. maybe that's just the closet windows user in me trying to get back out.

Orion

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

http://www.ubuntugeek.com/ultamatix-install-101-applications-in-one-click-including-gamescodecsapplications.html

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

vibe666 wrote: »

maybe that's just the closet windows user in me trying to get back out.

vibe666

lol, you've got to love the ultamatix warning near the top of the page

Important Note:- After installing this application it might break your system so be careful about this application

Nichololas

I started with Ubuntu but moved to Mint because with Mint both WiFi and graphics drivers worked out of the box, which Ubuntu hadn't quite managed at that point.

Oh, and you should definetely begin using Linux by installing through wubi. If you like it, then you can do a proper partitioned install, and if you don't then you can just uninstall wubi without having to edit partitions.

Funkiwi75

Hi, I finally got Mint installed, screwed it up a bit with not really understanding the partioning tool so ended up loosing my windows and even useing a file recovery program couldn't get anything back nothing to important lost.

This good thing with mint is is that i did not have to look for any drivers even the wireless work from the start.

I have just tried to boot into it tonight and it froze on boot up, so had to turn the laptop off now it says i have to do a fsck or something like that but have no idea how, might just reinstall.