Duel Boot Linux Questions

[Atomic]

I have a few questions on to dual boot an O/S with LInux Ubuntu and Windows Xp:

1) Which should be installed first and should Windows be on the C: partition and say Ubuntu on the D:\ partition...I'm not sure how all this works.

2) I have a windows partition at the moment and other partitions for music, videos, data etc. Would these partitions be detected in Windows O.S and then in the Ubuntu O/S when I restart my computer and switch to that O/S and be able to access and edit the date there? Example a Open Office file format stored on the E: drive coudl be accessed during Windows or Ubuntu on a certain partition?

And If I download say a game patch whilst I'm suing Ubuntu, I store it on a partition, I assume it then can be access in the windows O/S upon restart?

3) Can the latest LInux Ubunto be skinned a little bit as *** brown/creamish look is a little dull and drab in my opinion.

4) I have a 200GB HDD. How much do you think should be assigned to Windows (games)/Ubuntu (applications and websurfing) /other partitions:
- Windows: 90GB I install all software at the moment on the O/S partition rarther than a seperate partion for games/applications.
- Ubuntu: 40GB
- Data - 20GB
- Music: 20 GB
- Videos 10GB
- Downloads 10GB

5) What advantages does "Dapper Drake" have over XP?

At the moment I must only have about 50GB stored on my HDD.

Hope you guys understand that lol and thanks for any help.

 

[Unconditional]

Can't answer all your questions but...

1) Shouldn't matter where each partition is, I keep them on the same drive though, because if they are on seperate drives and I need to take one of the drives out, then it messes up my dual booter. Shouldn't matter which is installed first either. I always install Windows first though.

2) I don't think Linux/Windows partitions can access each other. They just won't recognise the partition.

3) Only ever used Fedora Core. but probably.

4) Not really sure, I only give 10GB to Linux because I don't do a lot with it except for email/web/programming.

5) Not a clue

I'm no expert so I'm sure someone else will be able to help you out a bit better.

 

[BillytheImpaler]

I too cannot answer all your questions but I'll help where I can.

1. Windows should be installed first. When Windows installs it puts its bootloader on the Master Boot Record whether you like it or not. If Linux is installed first, you'll have to use a Live CD to restore the bootloader that lets you pick which OS to boot when you switch your machine on.
2. If your Windows partitions are formatted NTFS, as they parobably are, Linux will be able to read them but not write to them. This is becasue Microsoft guards closely the information needed to write to NTFS. If anything is formatted FAT32, both operating systems should have no problem reading and writing. Windows will not be able to read anything written in a proper UNIX-y file system like ext3 or ReiserFS. It is reccomended that you use a journaled file system for your Linux operating system and use FAT32 for media that needs to be transferred between Windows and Linux.
3. Of course it can! Go to http://art.gnome.org/ for ideas. This is what my Ubuntu desktop looks like:
   
   If you like eye-candy in your windowing system, you should definitely check out Xgl.
4. That looks Ok to me. Be aware that if you want to share media files between the two you'll need to use the FAT32 file system for that partition. Windows does not allow files in FAT32 file systems to exceed 2 GiB. also be aware that Ubuntu will not have the necessary proprietary codecs to play many media files pre-installed, especially the mp3 codec. You'll have to install them yourself using somehting like easyubuntu.
5. It's powerful, lightweight, configurable, stable, expandable, well-designed, free as in freedom, free as in beer, and easy to learn. It might seem awkward at first but I think part of this is becasue you're used to the Windows way of doing things. You know where to find oddball-settings locations not becasue Windows had them placed somwhere they were ewasy to find, but, rather, becasue you've found them in the past and remembered how you did it. Remember that Linux and Ubuntu have wonderful communities around them. Feel free to ask us or other forums whenever you encounter a problem.