How to install Vista, Xp and Ubuntu?

Question

I have a 80gb Hard Drive and am currently running Vista. Will i loose all my data while doing so? What are the procedures and what format should i keep my drive coz Linux runs FAT32 while XP and Vista NTFS.
Thanks in Advance.

Answer 1

you have to make partitions on your drive -> partition magic 8

Answer 2

Linux does not use FAT32, that is a Windows format.

You should have divided you C drive into 3 separate partitions. You can still create a separate partition for Vista and Linux but the XP partition is going to be the problem.

If you just want Vista and Ubuntu then install Ubuntu and it will resize the Windows partition to accommodate the Linux partitions. Ubuntu will make 3 partitions for itself:-

/root (system files)
/swap (virtual memory)
/home (user data)

If you want to have another partition for Windows XP then you will have to get something like Partition Magic to create a second partion in the middle of your disk.

Answer 3

Install XP (NTFS) on C:, and use the built-in partition tool during the install as needed, then install Vista (NTFS) On D: and then Ubuntu (use the default - Ext3?) on separate partitions. This won't work any other way.

You don't need a separate partition program. Yes, you will have to backup all your personal data FIRST.

BTW, Linux doesn't use Fat32 natively, but can format extra partitions in FAT32.

(Watch this Video):

Answer 4

Well, easy approach to this would be to use VMWare if you dont want to worry about file systems.

Download VMWare software which is freely available just go to www.vmware.com. Install that under your Vista base OS.

Make separate partitions for XP & Ubuntu with required space.

Install XP and Ubuntu as virtual machines under VMWare. This way you dont have to worry about filesystems because VMWare creates virtual machine and virtual filesystems under your normal FAT32 or NTFS partition.

Easiest thing would be removing those OS when you don't require them..simply delete the VM file thats it.