It would be cool to be able to choose which OS at bootup and still have access to the sames files etc.
2006-10-27 00:08:39 · 16 answers · asked by tanjaneeka 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
u can even multiboot windows and choose 98, 2000 or Xp. Linux is great, but it comes in very differnt "flavours".
A very easy to install and run is a distribution called Ubuntu. It comes on a single CD and is free to download and use http://www.ubuntu.com/ it comes with bootloader, firefox, open office, and other programs to do everything u want
you won't to able to open and use windows file on a Linux machine, unless u install additional software. Linux can learn Windows, but Windows can't stand Linux.
2006-10-27 00:25:44 · answer #1 · answered by luca m 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is easy to do. 2 things you will need to remember though...1) Always install Windows first. M$ believes they have the only OS in the world and will reformat over your linux partition (Unless you install a second drive in your machine), Windows will also re-write the MBR so you won't be able to dual boot.
2) XP is based on the NTFS filesystem which Linux cannot write to (Linux can read ok though). M$ will also not allow Window$ to read linux filesystems. Before I became 100% M$ free I used to have a FAT32 partition that both Linux and Window$ could write to for sharing files.
2006-10-27 00:22:15 · answer #2 · answered by John K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. It is called a dual boot system. But you will need a hard drive that has two separate partitions or two separate hard drives.
First. on one partition or hard drive install Linux. after you have Linux fully installed then put in your windows xp install CD and when it gets to the point where it asks where you want xp to be installed make sure you point it to the second partition or hard drive.
As an example Linux would go on partition C: and xp would go on partition D:
At a point in the xp install your system will reboot. let it reboot and wait for it to come to a selection screen with your Linux and windows installs listed. windows should be the first one in the list. and it will have a 30 second count down.
press your Enter key and the xp will finish its install. When it is done remove your install CD and now you have a dual boot system.
2006-10-27 00:23:58 · answer #3 · answered by chuckbaker11 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Linux can set up a dual boot for you and you can even try one of those Linux versions which run completely off of a CD, like Knoppix. You must partition the drive yourself, but if you use something like Partition Magic (for Windows), you can move and re-size partitions.
If you want both operating systems to have access to certain files, it might be best to create a FAT32 partition to store those files.
XP can't read Linux's native file system and the NTFS support in Linux isn't perfect yet.
2006-10-27 00:21:09 · answer #4 · answered by Balk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can on the same PC install windows XP and Linux but not on the same partition in example if say Win is on C: and
D: is the drive dedicated to a cd-rom then let Linux be installed on one of the 26 drives that may be created. Enjoy learning the
intricacies.
2006-10-27 11:47:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Surely, this is done very easliy. As a matter of fact, most recent versions of Linux will install them as a dual boot OS using the Linux GRUB boot loader. I've installed several and they work fairly well and I haven't damaged my Windows installation once.
I'd always recommend backing up your important files and setting a system restore point prior to attempting your Linux install.
Good Luck!
2006-10-27 00:12:41 · answer #6 · answered by Linwood J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, just set up a separate partition and install your Linux in the second partition or you could use one those CD based Linux O/S i.e. Knoppix. You will have to use a ISO burner to burn an iso image to a CD and then change your boot sequence to read the CD Drive first. Put the CD in your drive restart your system, press the key that gets you into your System Bios. Change your Boot Sequence, save the changes. The CD based Linux will load from the CD. no need to install it onto your harddrive.
2006-10-27 00:28:27 · answer #7 · answered by EASYIT 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course you can. You will need to divide your hard drive to partitions because Windows and Linux use different file systems.
2006-10-27 00:16:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes. u can have a seperate partition for linux, and install windows on one and linux on the other.. u can select which os to boot from using a boot loader (it comes as part of the linux installation)
2006-10-27 00:14:33 · answer #9 · answered by chaits 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure you can. Also gives the option of which OS you want to boot up in. Linux is awesome and very stable you will be a convert I guarantee.
2006-10-27 00:12:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋