If I new to anything that isn't windows and I am thinking of installing linux on my machine and dual booting. Mandrake linux's site says "GNU/Linux will install a dual-boot loader and you can choose which OS you want to run each time you switch on your computer!" Is that something most free linux's offer? And will I have to lose all of the data on my hard drive/reinstall windows.
Dual booting
- Thread starter eagamer
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silverpig
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A boot loader (option to pick what OS to boot) is standard with any version of linux. It even comes with XP/NT for sure as well (install winXP with win98 and you will boot to ntldr which will give you the option of XP or 98).
You will not lose all your windows information. Mandrake makes it easy. When it comes to setting up your disk, you get a screen that shows a coloured bar representing your disk with your windows install. You grab a slider, make it smaller, then click in the new gray part of the bar and set up your new partitions. It's so simple it's almost stupid
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
You will not lose all your windows information. Mandrake makes it easy. When it comes to setting up your disk, you get a screen that shows a coloured bar representing your disk with your windows install. You grab a slider, make it smaller, then click in the new gray part of the bar and set up your new partitions. It's so simple it's almost stupid
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
silverpig
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Redhat is very similar yes. You won't lose anything.
If you're really nervous about it, then get partition magic. You can resize all your partitions from the comfort of windows, and SEE that you aren't losing anything. Then just install linux in the free space.
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
If you're really nervous about it, then get partition magic. You can resize all your partitions from the comfort of windows, and SEE that you aren't losing anything. Then just install linux in the free space.
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
silverpig
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If you want to experience linux without having to re-partition, and without booting from the cd, then get linux-mandrake. You can do a full out install, but you can also install it on your windows partition like a regular windows program. You start it up and it reboots your computer into linux. When you're done, just reboot again and you're in windows.
linuxnewbie.org has a lot of good resources.
Regardless of which way you do it, you still have to download and burn the .iso files, unless you want to pay them the $3 or whatever to mail you the cds.
Now that I've remembered about that optional way to install mandrake, that's what I'd suggest for now. It's pretty easy to do. I've never done it, so I probably couldn't help you out much after, but if you do get totally lost and decide you hate linux, then it's extremely easy to uninstall; you won't have to worry about extra partitions.
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
linuxnewbie.org has a lot of good resources.
Regardless of which way you do it, you still have to download and burn the .iso files, unless you want to pay them the $3 or whatever to mail you the cds.
Now that I've remembered about that optional way to install mandrake, that's what I'd suggest for now. It's pretty easy to do. I've never done it, so I probably couldn't help you out much after, but if you do get totally lost and decide you hate linux, then it's extremely easy to uninstall; you won't have to worry about extra partitions.
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
silverpig
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It has disadvantages:
1. It takes time.
2. If you don't like linux, then you have to re-partition again.
I still recommend mandrake. Redhat is good and easy, but Mandrake makes it so easy it's almost stupid. Ever installed something in windows <yes> <okay> <next> <next> <okay> <finish>? That's how easy it is to install mandrake.
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
1. It takes time.
2. If you don't like linux, then you have to re-partition again.
I still recommend mandrake. Redhat is good and easy, but Mandrake makes it so easy it's almost stupid. Ever installed something in windows <yes> <okay> <next> <next> <okay> <finish>? That's how easy it is to install mandrake.
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
Sorry again, I am pretty new to installing OS's, but why do you have to burn the files to a CD if you don't boot from the CD? And you can install mandrake on a seperate partiton for dual booting right? And that is in the installer. And do I need the internalization CD download?
silverpig
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That's how it works. You choose either windows or linux at boot up. No going into linux first if you don't want to.
Well, I suppose if you were just going to do the "inside windows install" for linux that you could get away with just using an iso reader like daemon tools or iso buster... But if you're gonna boot from the cd, then you gotta burn it.
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
Well, I suppose if you were just going to do the "inside windows install" for linux that you could get away with just using an iso reader like daemon tools or iso buster... But if you're gonna boot from the cd, then you gotta burn it.
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
OK, I hope you don't mind, I'm having trouble installing... I inserted my boot cd and disk, and it asked me if I wanted to start the computer with cd rom support, or without, I chose with, and then it came up with "path can't be found", "filename could..." and stuff like that, and it told me to insert windows 98 CD 2. Which is funny since I have XP installed... Any ideas?
silverpig
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Good to hear.
I trust all your hardware is working and what not too?
All you really have to do is install your video card drivers, but I'll leave it up to you to find out exactly how. nVidia has an awesome page on how to do that if you have an nvidia card.
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
Sorry, new name, same me, why do I need to install video card drivers? It works fine, I do have another question or two though. What does the third CD, internalization, do? I didn't install it. And also, to boot up it does all this checking, and if here is an ethernet card configured it takes especially long, is there a way to skip that?
silverpig
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The video card works fine I'm sure, but you probably don't have 3d acceleration enabled yet... Maybe it's best to let you figure that out on your own though 
Do you have an nvidia card btw?
I don't know what the 3rd cd does off hand, but I'm gonna guess that it has all the other languages/keyboards/etc on it.
All that checking is no different from anything windows does when it boots up really... You might be able to change some settings in the network config to make it quicker, but you don't want to skip anything or else things will start not working... Did you enable DHCP?
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
Do you have an nvidia card btw?
I don't know what the 3rd cd does off hand, but I'm gonna guess that it has all the other languages/keyboards/etc on it.
All that checking is no different from anything windows does when it boots up really... You might be able to change some settings in the network config to make it quicker, but you don't want to skip anything or else things will start not working... Did you enable DHCP?
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
silverpig
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Integrated video on the mobo won't need additional setup for what you're using the computer for then You're set.
If you want to install the internationalization stuff, then just put the cd in the drive and see what's on it. If it looks too difficult, then just boot from the first cd again and select "UPGRADE" when you get the choice. Just hit okay a bunch of times and it'll just skip through most of the install as you've already done it. Select that you have the 3rd cd, and then it'll just continue the install from there.
No problem
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
You're set.If you want to install the internationalization stuff, then just put the cd in the drive and see what's on it. If it looks too difficult, then just boot from the first cd again and select "UPGRADE" when you get the choice. Just hit okay a bunch of times and it'll just skip through most of the install as you've already done it. Select that you have the 3rd cd, and then it'll just continue the install from there.
No problem
Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.
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