Re: dual boot with xp on same drive

popkjo@xxxxxxx wrote:
i would like to install linux (i have downloaded fedora and burnt to
cd) on the same hard drive as what i currently have xp pro on.

i have two partitions currently, 1 for os (xp) and the second for
data.

i have partition magic to create a new partition. i have 15 Gb spare
on partition 1 where i would like to put linux.

can anyone give me the steps involved install on this new, yet to be
created partition and be able to choose which os when booting up.

thanks

Warning, your system may become unbootable, but read on.

I haven't dealt with Windows on my PC for a year or two. The Linux installation will be straight forward. Basically booting up the set up, and possibly creating a swap partition (by removing your empty partition, and creating two). The swap partition would generally be about 2x the size of your RAM, it should also be the closer to the center partition, ie. part1 = Window, part2 = swap, part3 = linux.

For booting the system, I suggest that you use either Lilo or Grub. They'll boot Windows too, but I don't have the info on that. Be sure that you have a windows/dos boot disk, because if you can't get your system to boot, you'll have to boot to dos and type fdisk /mbr, which will restore the Window/DOS master boot record.

During the linux installation, you'll be asked about were to install boot information, in the partition or in the master boot record (MBR). Because the Windows boot loader only boots Windows, you should use Lilo or Grub. For lilo or grub settings, you'll have to consult their documentation, which they do cover dual booting.

Good luck!
.

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