Can I Dual Boot Linux and Windows XP?

JimboJangles · 08-27-2007, 03:58 PM

I tried installing Ubuntu on a second partition and ran into some trouble during the install, and I ended up having to reinstall the Windows MBR to be able to start XP...
Does the Linux boot loader work with dual booting XP?
Can I make the Windows boot loader recognize Linux as a 2nd OS?

**Cromewell** · 08-27-2007, 05:22 PM

Does it use GRUB? If everything is installed properly it should be able to detect linux and windows XP on it's own.

But if it doesn't, here's a howto for GRUB: http://www.devhood.com/tutorials/tut...utorial_id=405

It can be done with lilo too but I think it's more work.

brian · 08-27-2007, 05:26 PM

it will not just pick up windows. it does if it is fat32 but not nfts. i dont know if it is me but the tutorial is not working. all you have to do is when installing ubunto and you get to the boot loadre hit add and add your partition. it should be like /dev/hda1

JimboJangles · 08-28-2007, 05:43 AM

eew, it won't work with NTFS? Screw that... I'll just put some distribution of Linux on my crappy desktop. I'll wait til it can actually write to NTFS and use it normally before I put it on my laptop where i'm really gonna use it...
Ubuntu is still great to boot from though! I love how it has drivers included that work with a lot of WLAN cards... I'm used to not being able to connect to wireless with BartPE and such.

Sooo, quick question: What distribution of Linux would be good to install, to have just for the heck of it? I wouldn't really be using it for any crazy technical stuff, just trying it out...

Bl00dFox · 08-28-2007, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianmay27

it will not just pick up windows. it does if it is fat32 but not nfts. i dont know if it is me but the tutorial is not working. all you have to do is when installing ubunto and you get to the boot loadre hit add and add your partition. it should be like /dev/hda1

You have no idea. Ubuntu/GRUB can read and write to NTFS. Dual booting is a breeze. Just free up some space, make an ext3 partition and install linux onto it. It will automatically detect all other operating systems and configure the boot loader. You dont have to do anything.

Try Ubuntu btw, there is so much online support, it kinda freaks me out!

patrickv · 08-28-2007, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianmay27

it will not just pick up windows. it does if it is fat32 but not nfts. i dont know if it is me but the tutorial is not working. all you have to do is when installing ubunto and you get to the boot loadre hit add and add your partition. it should be like /dev/hda1

dude what the hell are you talking about, thats confusion !!
step 1 : install XP
step 2 : install ubuntu
step 3 : DONE dual boot FINE

JimboJangles · 08-29-2007, 08:10 AM

Oh, seriously? Sweet! I'm totally gonna put ubuntu on my PC to try out the dual booting then. It's got 2 10GB HD's in it, so I guess I'll just use the 2nd one for ubuntu to make it easier.

PabloTeK · 08-29-2007, 10:30 AM

There are also tutorials on the web to get Windows to be the first OS to boot. By default Ubuntu is the primary OS according to GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader).

Bl00dFox · 08-30-2007, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickv

dude what the hell are you talking about, thats confusion !!
step 1 : install XP
step 2 : install ubuntu
step 3 : DONE dual boot FINE

Perfect. Glad to know one person knows what he/she is talking about

08-27-2007, 03:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
JimboJangles Bronze Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oklahoma City Age: 21 Posts: 97	Can I Dual Boot Linux and Windows XP? I tried installing Ubuntu on a second partition and ran into some trouble during the install, and I ended up having to reinstall the Windows MBR to be able to start XP... Does the Linux boot loader work with dual booting XP? Can I make the Windows boot loader recognize Linux as a 2nd OS? __________________ Laptop :: Dell Latitude D610 :: 1GB RAM [2 x 512] :: Pentium M 1.86GHz :: 80GB HD Sony External Burner :: DVD+RW/CD+RW :: DRX-830U External HD :: 160 GB :: Western Digital Piece of Crap Desktop :: Dell Optiplex GX1 :: 256M RAM :: Pentium III 548MHz :: 10GB HD x2

08-27-2007, 05:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cromewell Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Canada Age: 25 Posts: 10,117	Does it use GRUB? If everything is installed properly it should be able to detect linux and windows XP on it's own. But if it doesn't, here's a howto for GRUB: http://www.devhood.com/tutorials/tut...utorial_id=405 It can be done with lilo too but I think it's more work. __________________ You know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with 'til ya understand who's in ruttin' command here. I must plug a couple comics because they are good :D: www.ctrlaltdel-online.com www.userfriendly.org

08-27-2007, 05:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
brian Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Age: 16 Posts: 3,720	it will not just pick up windows. it does if it is fat32 but not nfts. i dont know if it is me but the tutorial is not working. all you have to do is when installing ubunto and you get to the boot loadre hit add and add your partition. it should be like /dev/hda1 __________________ formerly brianmay27 Main laptop: hp dv9005us \| turion 64 X2 1.6 ghz \| 3 GB ram \| Vista ultimate \| 240 GB HD First build: pentium e2160 3.2 GHz \| gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L \| 2.5 GB ram \| 160GB HD If you can see this, you have WAY TOO much time on your hand. Or you're a mod going through my sig. But if you do, copy and past this in your sig.

08-28-2007, 05:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
JimboJangles Bronze Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oklahoma City Age: 21 Posts: 97	eew, it won't work with NTFS? Screw that... I'll just put some distribution of Linux on my crappy desktop. I'll wait til it can actually write to NTFS and use it normally before I put it on my laptop where i'm really gonna use it... Ubuntu is still great to boot from though! I love how it has drivers included that work with a lot of WLAN cards... I'm used to not being able to connect to wireless with BartPE and such. Sooo, quick question: What distribution of Linux would be good to install, to have just for the heck of it? I wouldn't really be using it for any crazy technical stuff, just trying it out... __________________ Laptop :: Dell Latitude D610 :: 1GB RAM [2 x 512] :: Pentium M 1.86GHz :: 80GB HD Sony External Burner :: DVD+RW/CD+RW :: DRX-830U External HD :: 160 GB :: Western Digital Piece of Crap Desktop :: Dell Optiplex GX1 :: 256M RAM :: Pentium III 548MHz :: 10GB HD x2

08-29-2007, 08:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
JimboJangles Bronze Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oklahoma City Age: 21 Posts: 97	Oh, seriously? Sweet! I'm totally gonna put ubuntu on my PC to try out the dual booting then. It's got 2 10GB HD's in it, so I guess I'll just use the 2nd one for ubuntu to make it easier. __________________ Laptop :: Dell Latitude D610 :: 1GB RAM [2 x 512] :: Pentium M 1.86GHz :: 80GB HD Sony External Burner :: DVD+RW/CD+RW :: DRX-830U External HD :: 160 GB :: Western Digital Piece of Crap Desktop :: Dell Optiplex GX1 :: 256M RAM :: Pentium III 548MHz :: 10GB HD x2

08-29-2007, 10:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
PabloTeK Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Peoples Republic of Nae Butta! Age: 17 Posts: 2,269	There are also tutorials on the web to get Windows to be the first OS to boot. By default Ubuntu is the primary OS according to GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader). __________________ Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 @ 2.8GHz \| Gigabyte EP43-DS3L \| GeIL 3GB PC2-6400 \| BFG GeForce 8800GT 512MB OC \| Seagate 500GB 7200.11 SATA \| Western Digital 250GB SE16 SATA \| Coolermaster CM690 \| Corsair HX520W Forum Rules

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