How do I install linux on my laptop. It has win xp on & I want to keep that.?

Question

I am only putting linux on because i have to use it at uni along with XP. I have never run 2 O/s before so easy steps please.

Answer 1

Why do you want to keep Windows XP? tut tut tut.....

Answer 2

The first thing that you will want to do is back up your system. This can be done in a lot of ways, pick the method you think would be the best.

Then, Defragment your hard drive. (Start->Control Panel->Performance->Rearrange items) This will minimize the risk of corrupting your files.

Next, download or obtain your distribution. I'm not sure which one you are doing, but most come with a partitioner.

If your distribution does not come with a partitioner, then look up the manual for your distribution. GParted is a partitioner that runs from a disc that you can use separately, but you need to know what partitions you will have to set up.

Insert the distribution disc and start the installer. From here, it's pretty self explanatory. Some installers have different methods of resizing a Windows Partition. Some will just ask you how much space you want in either your new partition or how much space you want left on your Windows Partition.

Others might ask you to partition the Windows Drive yourself. Your Windows partition most likely will be known as hda1. Choose the resize function and resize the partition to the size that you want that partition to be. After that, free space will appear. You might have to make a boot partition and a swap partition, but your installer will tell you that. Other than that, you can use the rest of the free space to make ext3 partition. This will be your "C: Drive" so to speak (Linux uses completely different naming conventions from Windows) So make it the size that you want for that. Generally, most distributions require about .5 GB to work, so make it a least bigger than that.

You will probably be asked if you want GRUB or LILO as a bootloader. Definitely get either. These are the interfaces that will allow you to choose which OS you want to boot. These are pretty easy to set up and your installer will guide you through this.

After that, your Linux/Windows system should be set up!

Answer 3

First you will need to have either two hard drives or two partitions on your laptop. This going to mean either reformatting the hard, creating two partitions, or purchasing an external hard drive on which to install Linux. You do not have the option of adding second internal hard drive to most laptops.

Once you have the two hard drives or partitions, do a normal install of Windows XP on to the first drive/partiton.

When done, run the Linux set up. It will ask you where you want to install Linux, select the second drive/partition. Complete the Linux install.

Once done, when you boot you should get a menu screen that allows you to select whether to boot into Windows or Linux.

(airhead is correct that you can also download CDs that have Linux set up on them and boot the PC from the CD)

Answer 4

put linux on a cd then when your computer starts enter bios by pressing F2 right when it starts before it loads XP then change the startup order to CD first. then exit and save.

Answer 5

linux gives you the option to partition your drive so you can run a dual boot system http://freepctech.com/pc/001/dual_boot_guide.shtml

Answer 6

try here

http://www.techtutorials.net/Linux/