Dual OS/ Dual Boot

raoul_1101

raoul_1101

Member
How would i set up a dual boot system on my computer? I have vista already on the pc, and am ready to install linux. Do i need a program in order to do dual booting? does linux need its own partition or can i throw it in on my main HDD with windows?
 
Linux runs on two separate partitions with one as the root and the other known as the swap partition used for virtual memory since Linux doesn't have any UNIX form of paging file system there. The more recent distros now see an improved partition gui to start off with for shrinking the current primary down if needed to create the others.

The important thing to note once you choose the partition for the root while only 2gb is needed for a swap is to see the Grub or Lilo boot loader go on the root(system files) partition not into the Vista mbr. Once you have the particular distro installed you then can use a freeware known EasyBCD for adding the entry for the distro into Vista's own boot loader as an option.

The latest version of the free tool is seen at http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1
 
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