Another n00b Ubuntu question

[Darren S]

Right chaps. I have an AMD64 laptop here with Windows XP32 on the main partition.

I've got a completely free D: partition, currently formatted in NTFS, with around 10GB of space.

I've burnt the iso image of Ubuntu 8.04 AMD64 edition onto a CDR and want to make the laptop dual-boot (if possible).

How do I get Windows XP left on C: and Ubuntu to have D: all to itself and allow me to choose which OS the laptop boots up into?

Any help would be muchos appreciated. I told you it was a n00b question!

Cheers,
D.

 

[Griff]

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm

 

[sn00p]

To be safe (and to make sure you don't delete select the wrong partition), I'd erase the D: partitition in Windows so that it's unallocated.

That way you'll be absolutely sure that you are installing it to the write place.

As the link from griff above, ubuntu knows about the windows loader and will replace it with grub - but will allow you to boot to the original windows loader (and therefore windows).

 

[Darren S]

Cheers guys. One thing I did notice was that Ubuntu had several choices of what to format the partition with during install. Is there a better file format than others for Linux?

Also, it asked about the storage location of the swap file. Can I ignore it, or does it really need one?

And Griff - spam this thread another dozen times and you'll break your 10k posts.

D.

 

[KDF]

As stated already, just run the graphical installer (d click the installer on the desktop once you have booted the live cd)

Go through the options and select the 10GB drive (assuming the other one isnt 10GB otherwise you may get confused and select the wrong one). Then just tell it to autopartition and ubuntu will sort out the dual booting bit for you.

I believe NTFS write support is good enough to be used now so you could even save documents to your C: from linux.

Ubuntu is great, its really come on leaps & bounds.. advanced users can still do all the stuff they need but n00bs can use all the GUI's till they get more comfortable.

 

[Griff]

And Griff - spam this thread another dozen times and you'll break your 10k posts.

D.

lol never noticed...

 

[KDF]

Cheers guys. One thing I did notice was that Ubuntu had several choices of what to format the partition with during install. Is there a better file format than others for Linux?

Also, it asked about the storage location of the swap file. Can I ignore it, or does it really need one?

And Griff - spam this thread another dozen times and you'll break your 10k posts.

D.

Stick with ext3 till you know more about it. Its a good robust file system.

You should create a swap partition, a general rule is that the partition should be at least the size of your ram, and best practice is to make it double the size of your ram*


*when you start getting to 2 gig of ram or more you can pretty much just stick to a 2 gig swap file.

 

[Darren S]

It looks like I'm getting there...

After two aborted failures on install (it said it couldn't read from the CD) - I did a search on the internet and it seems to be a common problem with v8.04.

Copying the ubuntu image into a temp folder, along with the Wubi installer and running it from there seems to fix it.

Thanks all.

D.

 

[sn00p]

ext3?? pah, you need ReiserFS - now with added homicide.