wootmachine9000

Well, I have messed around with various kinds of linux (still know next to nothing about it--knoppix, solaris a bit too.). Since I built my new system though I wanted to dual boot either Fedora Core 4 or 5 with Windows XP Pro. My system:
MSI K8N Diamond Plus
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+
eVGA 7900GT 256MB
2 GB Corsair XMS
WD 200GB HDD
Enermax Liberty 500W
all inside a Thermaltake Xaser V Damier V5000a

How would I set it up to "Dual boot" both OS'? I've heard something about "grub" and I don't know what that is or where to get it.

Thanks

oniko0

Hi,

For some distros, GRUB or L.I.L.O should come with the installation. But becareful that you install Windows first, as it tends to overwrite the bootloader when it's installed later.

I had Ubuntu before I re-installed Windows XP, only to find out that after the new installation, GRUB no longer works and had to be reconfigured. I don't know enough to provide you with more information, but I hope it helps!

batty_professor

You should definitely install your Windows system first. Then your Linux system. The Linux installer will prompt you for where to install Linux. You will need to select the option to "use free space on the windows partition". The installer will then cut the windows partition as needed and format/install the Linux system in the resulting new space. The installer will prompt you to install the bootloader in the post-iinstall configuration utility. There you will install GRUB as part of the process. This is easy, and all the software, including GRUB is on the installation disks. During the post-install, be sure to check the summary page for reports of anything that did not configure correctly. Scroll the summary page so you don't miss anything. Especially the display configuration. It's normal to see a "configure" button for each service, anything that has a problem will be indicated by the words "not-configured".

wootmachine9000

Do I need to worry about different drivers for Linux?

batty_professor

Chances are you're covered. If a problem arises, you should probably find it in the installation summary page.

dragonember

Depends on the drivers somewhat. No Linux distro has just "worked" with my built in wireless card on my laptop or my PCI wireless card in my desktop. I had to use the NDISwrapper and install the windows driver (.inf and .sys files from the driver recovery CD) Generally (for me anyway) wireless cards are the only major driver/hardware issue I've had with linux. I know MEPIS detected my card, but returned an error. You should be covered for most things, but if your gonna go wireless you need to really look into it. Also, most linux distros have issues with NTFS file systems. They can read, but writing is usually not an option without getting FUSE and ntfsprogs or some other ntfs support app/driver. (I dont' know if you have any external storage devices with this type of filesystem. it's hell trying to use my external on Fedora Core 3.) Most hardware is well supported (from what i've seen). As said before, install windows first then linux, GRUB should auto detect the fact that there is another operating system (usually called "other" but I think it was SUSE 10.0 that actually labeled it as Windows.) Some linux's have a tool to manually resize existing partitions but i'm not sure if FC5 does. I didn't see it if it does, but I could be wrong lol. Anyway, good luck. dual booting is a sinch...as long as windows goes on first lol.