be installed along side windows xp, like on the Hard Drive, but keep windows and be able to choose during boot witch os you want to use???
2006-08-29 16:29:35 · 8 answers · asked by bigbob33 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
also whitch distro of linux do you recomend for someone who hasn't used linux before but plans to switch to it permenently
2006-08-29 16:47:07 · update #1
Yes, it can. I am typing this on a computer that has both a Windows XP partition and a Linux (blag, to be exact) partition.
Most newer distrobutions of Linux will come with an application (perhaps Disk Druid) that will walk you through the partitioning of your hard drive. I may suggest though, if you have little or no experience in partitioning your hard drive, that you check into getting something like Partition Magic or similar partitioning software before you start the Linux install.
Just be careful. If you overwrite your Windows partition you can say bye bye to Windows....
2006-08-29 16:34:54 · answer #1 · answered by badnervesjones 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, just make sure to install Windows first. It will overwrite any boot loader that Linux installs. Most Linux Distros will setup the bootloader to boot both Windows and Linux if it sees a Windows partition.
2006-08-29 23:35:31 · answer #2 · answered by Bryan A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but on a different partition on your hard disk.
If you have Installed window first on one partition. Then install linux on another partition. Linux autodetects previous installation of windows, and gives you an option to boot from either operating system during boot time.
2006-08-29 23:38:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may want to use Virtual PC so you may run both WIndows and Linux at the same time. Btw, Virtual PC is free...
2006-08-29 23:46:47 · answer #4 · answered by MP 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's called a dual boot system. Not too complicated, below is a link to a helpful article.
2006-08-29 23:38:07 · answer #5 · answered by Brent D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes CoLinux, and you can also get CD versions which boot on their own without touching the hard drive at all - version distos such as knoppix.
2006-08-29 23:35:39 · answer #6 · answered by teef_au 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
heheheheh i agree with the previous posts, but........ there's no problem with bye bye linux. heheheheh I have ubuntu now, I loved debian, so a more user friendly version of it was just awesome. POWER TO THE PENGUIN
2006-08-29 23:39:01 · answer #7 · answered by b_jay82 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes i have done that before take a look at the dual boot article in wikipedia
2006-08-29 23:39:57 · answer #8 · answered by sims 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋