Dual booting
 

Help please
can anyone tell me how to partition my hard drive to install linux my os now is xp please make any solution easy
thanks
tony

Re: Dual booting
 

You haven't mentioned what Linux distro you want to use, most will do it automagically.

How experienced are you with Linux?

Is your XP on NTFS or FAT filesystems?

The easiest way is shove an Ubuntu disc in, boot from it and follow the instructions. I've never heard of anyone whose Ubuntu or Mandriva install has borked their Windows install. If you want to talk it through in detail feel free to pm me or ask over MSN etc.

Ian

Re: Dual booting
 

Thanks for your reply
I do not know what file systems xp uses and apart from having bought the linux mag that came with 3 discs in 2006 I know nothing about linux or too much about pc's perhaps I should not be even thinking about doing anything until I know more about it, It had looked a brilliant alternative though
thanks
tony

Re: Dual booting
 

It is and not difficult to install or use. I ask questions on two levels, to initially gauge your IT skills/knowledge and to get a bit of an understanding of what your environment is. This will help me in providing a suitable level of info.

Don't bother with those discs, download the latest Ubuntu disc from Ubuntu Home Page | Ubuntu

Burn the disc ISO to CD( that is not burn teh single file, use Nero or whatever to burn a disc image which is what the ISO file is (think a sort of zip file of a complete CD, Nero will 'unpack it' onto the disc)

Boot from this disc (set your bios to boot from CD before HD if its not already )
This will start a ubuntu environment running from CD. (it will be slow due to CD being a lot slower than HD). there is an install icon on teh desktop, run that and follow teh instructions. Its sensible to do a full defrag in Windows before starting to ensure the data is optimised on your HD.

If you have access to another 'net' PC I'm happy to walk you through it over instant messaging.

Its teh future, join us now! :D

Re: Dual booting
 

Still want to do this myself.

Can you have tripple Boot?

Xp, Vista & Linux?

Re: Dual booting
 

Is this a foreign language?

Re: Dual booting
 

Triple boot yes, probably easiest to dual boot Linux/windows then a seperate WinXP/Vista choice

nope its english geek speak. :D

Re: Dual booting
 

Sounds Like Fun, Just got to find a cheap version of Vista Now.

Re: Dual booting
 

Sounds like it to me!!!:p

Re: Dual booting
 

If you want a copy of "ubuntu"latest copy 7.04 go to "W H Smiths" and get a copy of computer active Getting started with Linux the mag is £5:99 and you get a full copy and a full guide to linux
i got mine today:)
it tells you how to set it up as a duel boot ect and there is a load of extras on the cd too

Re: Dual booting
 

Actually 7.10 is the latest :D

£5.99!!!!! Geesh, theres 3 pints or 8 cans of Stella in that! You can download it for free and there is very good docs on the website. Plus with friendly locals on Accyweb your good to go!

Re: Dual booting
 

Got a couple of CD's here with it on, save yourself a fiver - FREE if you want one

Re: Dual booting
 

7.10 is only a beta version not a stable one like 7.04:D

Re: Dual booting
 

stable table pah,

Lifes meant to be for living, live dangerously, install Beta software ( Oh no, hang on thats Vista isn't it :D )

Re: Dual booting
 

Thanks for your advice
I have now installed ubuntu fiesty fawn (well I didn't the disc did it it self) only one mistake the keyboard would not respond it had to be enabled in bios I didn't know that so I could not select anything but that is sorted now, next task is to connect to the internet but it is not having anything at the moment
thanks very much for your help
tony

Re: Dual booting
 

If you tell us how you normally connect to the net I can proabbly help you.

What ISP?
Modem or Router?
Wired or wireless?

Re: Dual booting
 

Thanks
I am with talktalk using a modem not wireless
hope that's enough
tony

Re: Dual booting
 

I need to know make/model of modem

I'm assuming its connected to PC via USB?

Re: Dual booting
 

speed touch 330 and connected through usb
thanks
tony

Re: Dual booting
 

https://launchpad.net/ustouch/


Download this file (the tar.gz) open a terminal,

type the following commands

sudo su - (Enter your password)

cd <where ever you saved the .tar.gz>

gunzip speedtch330.tar.gz
tar -xvf speedtch.330.tar
cd speedtch330
chmod +x *.sh
./speed330.sh

It should prompt you witha few questions and at the end ask you to reboot.

Hopefully you should be online!!!


let me know how you get on.




extract it as root, make teh .sh executable and run it

Re: Dual booting
 

Ian thanks all that looks good but I am understanding your explanation up to open a terminal the rest I am afraid to say is nothing I really understand, am I downloading on to a cd from the link you have provided and all of command gunzip etc has that to be typed in and the last bit of your info about extracting root?
sorry
tony

Re: Dual booting
 

I'll try and expand.

You are downloading a file which is a compressed archive (download it under windows as you can see your windows drives from within Linux)

Opening a terminal gives you a command line to type instructions into.

sudo su - This switches you to the root user for the rest of this session (saves you using sudo all thetime)

cd This moves you to where you have saved the file. Depending on your install the windows drives may be under /media or /mnt. They may be listed as hdaX or sdaX where X is a number. If you have more than one partition there will be that many folders yo need to just have a look in them to work out which is "C" "D" or where ever you saved the download.

tar -xvf This unpacks the archive creating all directories as required
cd this moves into the folder created in the last step containing all the files for this fix

chmod +x This makes the script execuatble (one of the safety features of Linux is that files are never executable when downloaded)

./speed330.sh this 'runs' the script.

The last line was just a quick way of saying what all the commands did.

If you really struggle if your local I could pop round one day/night or just talk you through it over teh phone.

Re: Dual booting
 

Thanks Ian
I think I am getting there, I found out to open a terminal I needed to press alt and f2 then typed sudo su after which it asked for the password when I got to cd and enter we just stayed on that page waiting for me to put something else in should I type gunzip etc in at that stage
after all this will getting a wireless router affect what I am doing I am going to get one to accommodate a laptop being used here
thanks tony

Re: Dual booting
 

tony, it will prob be a lot easier to do this over a phone call rather than bits here and there. Let me know whens convienient

Re the router it depends if you have wifi in your pc or will be using ethernet cables

Re: Dual booting
 

thanks for trying to help me things have changed here and I have installed a wireless router for a laptop that will be used here, when I opened firefox it connected right away so it saved me asking anymore silly questions
I just need to find notes for a beginner now
thanks very much

Re: Dual booting
 

Heh,
Always a good move to understand though, I see you added me on MSN, when you see me online feel free to ask.

You can also look through threads on teh Ubuntu forums

Absolute Beginner Talk - Ubuntu Forums

Or any of teh more technical forums as your knowledge increases.