Dual OS Booting Questions?, regarding windows/linux

[J_D]

Hey

I've just received an old computer off a family member (minus a hard drive as the one it did have has been transplanted to their other computer)

I have also been given the windows 2000 OS that was originally on the system, so I have a copy of windows, and just need a hard drive, but ideally I would like to try out Linux as the main point of me using this computer was to do things like play around with Linux and other stuff that I just wouldn't dare do to my main computer as I depend on it being in 100% working order

So was wondering what I need to do after I have a hard drive. To get a dual boot situation?

Thanks

J_D

 

[patrickv]

what do you need ?
well any version of linux would do, ubuntu, Dream,PClinux, depends on what you choose.
to get a dual boot system you need to partition your hard drive so that you can make space for linux.
You just install your version of linux on the other partition, no need to worry about boot menu as grub/lilo will solve the problem !!

 

[Hsv_Man]

Yea it is quite simple really once the operating system Linux is partitioned with windows 2000 you will recieve a choice in which Operating System you wish to boot up with at startup of the machine.

 

[J_D]

yeah i was thinking of ubuntu.

So my best bet is to partition the hard drive it to two parts with the windows 2000 disc, (does the linux OS require a different format other than FAT32 or NTFS?),

Should i install Win 200 then linux or the other way?

so i dont need some other software to allow the option at start up to chosse the OS it just work automatically?

Thanks

 

[patrickv]

yeah i was thinking of ubuntu.

So my best bet is to partition the hard drive it to two parts with the windows 2000 disc, (does the linux OS require a different format other than FAT32 or NTFS?),

well yes, but just leave the other partition, "unpartition"..don't format to fat or ntfs

Should i install Win 200 then linux or the other way?

always keep in mind, windows first

so i dont need some other software to allow the option at start up to chosse the OS it just work automatically?
Thanks

No, you'll get your OS selection automatically

cheers

 

[J_D]

Excellent, Thank you patrickV for answering my queries,

Just need to find a cheap PATA HDD, I think 80GB should be enough.

 

[porterjw]

So my best bet is to partition the hard drive it to two parts with the windows 2000 disc, (does the linux OS require a different format other than FAT32 or NTFS?)

Linux will run best using an Ext, jfs, reiserfs, etc. rather than FAT. Also keep inmind that Linux makes use of an active Swap partition. When partitioning, you may wayt to figure out how you want the partitions to be before hand.

For example, my XP HDD contains three partitions: 1 for XP itself, 1 for my software, and one for my personal files.

My Linux HDD contains 6 partitions: 1 2 Gig Swap, 1 each /Home for Kubuntu and Ubuntu, 1 each /Root for Kubuntu/Ubuntu, and a backup of all of my personal files from the XP drive.

 

[porterjw]

Just on a side note, be wary of your system specs. You may find Xubuntu to be a bit smoother on older hardware.