More Then One OS?
- Thread starter teamhex
- Start date
While there are ways to now see a Linux distro run on a virtual machine with Windows as the main OS you would need to split a drive to accomidate the two different types of partitions needed to see the typical install of each to a drive. Linux uses a VFat type partition while Windows strictly uses an MS type.
XP can be installed on a Fat16 or 32 primary even while Linux is based on the old UNIX platform. Most distros will need a second swap partition created for virtual memory while Windows reserves space on an NTFS or Fat for older versions type partition maybe on a second drive for the paging file there.
The first thing to note is that Windows goes after the first 512kb of actual hard drive space for it's own master boot record or mbr as the abbreviation goes. Linux is often seen on extended partitions with a root for the main files along with a separate swap partition alos extended. The size of the swap depends on the actual physical memory installed usually seeing a good 2gb for 1gb of ram.
To see a co-existing dual boot with the option to load either Windows or Linux you have to edit the boot menu.lst file found on the distro's root partition. Others that work more with ubuntu are the ones to explain that better. There are some 3rd party utilities for simply clicking on a button to see one OS or another load. Either way these like the edit of the boot menu.lst have to be added into the MS mbr.
Since Linux has actuall grown in popularity over the years you can now easily find quite a few sites with tutorials on how to configure a dual or multi booted system. One that looks good to review is the information seen at http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installing
For you laptop users the the O'Reilly letter has several pages on dual booting seen at http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a...ting+a+Dual-Boot+Windows+XP+and+Ubuntu+Laptop
To add to those there you can even find a video tutorial on how to configure a dual boot with ubuntu and Windows at http://digg.com/linux_unix/Ubuntu_Windows_Dual_Boot_Video_Tutorial
XP can be installed on a Fat16 or 32 primary even while Linux is based on the old UNIX platform. Most distros will need a second swap partition created for virtual memory while Windows reserves space on an NTFS or Fat for older versions type partition maybe on a second drive for the paging file there.
The first thing to note is that Windows goes after the first 512kb of actual hard drive space for it's own master boot record or mbr as the abbreviation goes. Linux is often seen on extended partitions with a root for the main files along with a separate swap partition alos extended. The size of the swap depends on the actual physical memory installed usually seeing a good 2gb for 1gb of ram.
To see a co-existing dual boot with the option to load either Windows or Linux you have to edit the boot menu.lst file found on the distro's root partition. Others that work more with ubuntu are the ones to explain that better. There are some 3rd party utilities for simply clicking on a button to see one OS or another load. Either way these like the edit of the boot menu.lst have to be added into the MS mbr.
Since Linux has actuall grown in popularity over the years you can now easily find quite a few sites with tutorials on how to configure a dual or multi booted system. One that looks good to review is the information seen at http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installing
For you laptop users the the O'Reilly letter has several pages on dual booting seen at http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a...ting+a+Dual-Boot+Windows+XP+and+Ubuntu+Laptop
To add to those there you can even find a video tutorial on how to configure a dual boot with ubuntu and Windows at http://digg.com/linux_unix/Ubuntu_Windows_Dual_Boot_Video_Tutorial
I haven't worked at all with Apple/Mac. That is a differenc platform to work with from Windows while newer versions are starting to see MS geared games and apps working. You wouldn't see Mac mixed too well with MS on the same drive for sure unless you used some type of virtual machine to isolate one from the other.
You first get familiar with Linux and how to use the bash commands. Any Linux distro is still based on the old UNIX platform which is not simply "point and click" as seen in Windows. Linux has often been nicknamed the "geek's OS" since you have to learn a new set of ropes in order to get things working. Bash commands, Grub and Lilo boot loaders, etc, are usually confusion for the Linux newbie.
However there is some help frpm friendlylinux.org that may give you a few tips for this seen at http://friendlylinux.org/2007/01/28/windows-games-in-linux/
While that link is more for SUSe the one here is for Linux in general. http://frankscorner.org/index.php?p=ie6
However there is some help frpm friendlylinux.org that may give you a few tips for this seen at http://friendlylinux.org/2007/01/28/windows-games-in-linux/
While that link is more for SUSe the one here is for Linux in general. http://frankscorner.org/index.php?p=ie6
teamhex
Active Member
Thanks mate. Yeah im new to it, but iv been wanting to know more about it for awhile so i guess i finally put my foot in the door.
Those were only a few articles there for quick review only. For learning bash commands and seeing how those are put to use the tutorials found at Linux sites are the best. Having been away from Linux for awhile now I would have to go there myself to refamiliarize myself with the commands and using the dos looking prompt common to most distros.
There's a few tips Linux users at CF can still offer more about this. But complaints have also been heard on different occasions when performaqnce and configuration problems kind of become a big let down for MS familiar gamers now trying Linux.
You are certainly not alone with Linux about this. Here there was no way of connecting online with any distro tried since the ISP lacks any drivers for other then Windows or Apple/Mac. So we both got a taste of what's called the "computer geek's OS" on our own.
There's a few tips Linux users at CF can still offer more about this. But complaints have also been heard on different occasions when performaqnce and configuration problems kind of become a big let down for MS familiar gamers now trying Linux.
You are certainly not alone with Linux about this. Here there was no way of connecting online with any distro tried since the ISP lacks any drivers for other then Windows or Apple/Mac. So we both got a taste of what's called the "computer geek's OS" on our own.