which is the best software for dual booting?

Question

I am using Windows xp and i want to install Ubuntu on the same disk.Any sugggestions which dual boot software's the best.

Answer 1

You don't really need any extra software as Ubuntu has Grub which you can use as a boot selector or believe it or not you can use XP's own bootstrap loader


From: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=205909


The way I did it was to install XP onto the first partition.
Then install Ubuntu onto the second partition.
To do this I did the following:
You will need a bootable DOS disk with a copy of fdisk.exe on it.
Choose to install Ubuntu on the second, unused partition (aka D)
When asked, choose GRUB as the boot loader
Install GRUB on the first sector of the /boot partition
Important: If you tell it to install on the drive's master boot record (MBR) you wipe out Windows XP's boot selector. Not what you want.
Make sure this partition (/dev/hda2) is active i.e. bootable
Reboot, it should go into Ubuntu
Login and get to a shell
Use df to check which filesystem device holds /boot (e.g. /dev/hda2)
Insert the DOS floppy disk it should be mounted automatically but if not mount it. (sudo mount -t msdos /dev/fd0 /media/floppy)
Substituting your /boot device, enter:
dd if=/dev/hda2 of=/mnt/floppy/bootsect.ubu bs=512 count=1
Reboot off the floppy
You will need to set the first partition active but this can be done with fdisk.
Remove floppy and Reboot.
Set up the Windows boot menu
Boot into Windows XP if you're not already there
Insert the DOS floppy disk
Copy the BOOTSECT.UBU file from A:\ to C:\
Open the System Properties window
Click the Advanced tab
Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings
Click Edit to open the boot.ini file in Notepad
Add this line to the end of the file and save:
C:\BOOTSECT.UBU="Ubuntu"
Close the Startup and Recovery settings, open it again, and Ubuntu should now appear in the Default operating system drop-down menu.
Reboot and test it out


If you don't understand those instructions don't panic!!! The following guide should help you out:

http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/index.htm

And then there's this guide! Section C details how to use Grub to do everything:

http://www.justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?t=130715

And finally if you feel the need for a commercial alternative you have two good choices.

1. Acronis Disk Director - Disk Director includes a graphical OS selector for multi-boot systems.

http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/diskdirectorsuite/

2. Norton Partition Magic - Partition Magic includes a simplistic yet effective graphical OS selector called Boot Magic

http://symantec.com/home_homeoffice/products/overview.jsp?pcid=sp&pvid=pm80

Answer 2

I don't think there's a software for that. XP and Ubuntu are both operating systems, and they operate on the more hardware/assembly level. Our common daily softwares run ON them.

When you install a Linux distro OS, it usually will install its own multi-boot... uh... boostrap? Not sure the right term. But yeah, it should come with the Linux distro.

Also, if you want to install Ubuntu on the same disk of your XP, you better have a seperate partition on the same drive that is not used by XP. If the whole disk is one full partition occupied by XP, you won't be able to install Ubuntu, unless you have Norton's Partition Magic (not free) or Partition Logic (free) that will let you split a new partition out of your existing parition.

If you have no idea what I just said, I think you are not ready to install your Ubuntu at all. Ask a friend to understand more, since it is a issue that's better explained in person.

Answer 3

Windows XP. You don't need anything else, just install Ubuntu on another partition and XP and Ubuntu will handle the dual booting.

Answer 4

i tried twin booting and do not keep in options any instructions operating after booting into Vista. i'd assume to re-installation any application you count number upon (interior the XP partition). you'll of route, having booted into XP, be waiting to get entry to any records and instructions interior the Vista partition, yet do no longer assume the instructions to artwork. records might want to be no problem. I used EasyBCD (freeware you may want to google it) to administration by using utilising twin-booting. you'll might want to wish to coach some application, by ability of way of certainty installation XP will over-vacation Vista's bootloader and avert from gaining get entry to to Vista. It worked proper for some months, then I had problems with it and then purely junked it besides as my Vista partition. yet as right now as I had to twin-boot i'd attempt that decrease decrease back.

Answer 5

the ubuntu software should automatically create a boot loader for the two operating systems automatically