Easiest Dual Boot Linux

Geffen

Geffen

Geffen

Associate
Joined
28 Dec 2002
Posts
1,009
I thought i'd give Linux ago again and have been trying to set up a dual boot of XP and Ubuntu and it's proving more difficult then i thought it would*. So was wondering if there are any software that would help me set up a dual boot version of Ububtu (i like the look of it) or if there are any versions of Linux to dual boot. Linux will primarly used for email and surfing in the short term.

* have been following an online guide.
 
All distro's will dual boot and its usually VERY easy to set up. What problems are you having as you make it sound like an exception :D
 
I've installed *nix alongside a Windows installation on numerous occaisions, and haven't run into any problems yet.

What issues are you having? I'm sure we'll be able to work through them together.
 
It's probably me being lazy but when i tried Mandrake a year or so ago it automatically partition the hard disk without destroying the Windows install i had and set up a boot manager. When trying it with Ubuntu there is none of this software help. So i've been following the guide link but just seems more complicated then i hoped. Really looking for a piece of software that would help the install if none exist then will just continue using the guide have got to point 2.6 on my third attempt.
 
Edgy (and Dapper for that matter) comes with a very easy to use partitioner and installer. This guide is overcomplicating things as it was written for Hoary. The new installer is based on a LiveCD. It does its thing while you surf the net. :p

If you've already partitioned then it's simply a matter of telling it where to install and it will take care of everything else, including installing the Grub bootloader with an entry for your Windows installation.

What specific problems are you having?
 
The basic problem is the both OS overwrite the other OS bootloader. So while both are installed on the hard disk i can either get access to one or non of OS.

May have a go with SUSE and see if it's easier to use. Pitty as Ubuntu looks quite nice.
 
Geffen said:
The basic problem is the both OS overwrite the other OS bootloader. So while both are installed on the hard disk i can either get access to one or non of OS.
Click to expand...

This is correct and to be expected. However GRUB should be able to boot Windows and Linux. What exact issues are you experiencing?

Geffen said:
May have a go with SUSE and see if it's easier to use. Pitty as Ubuntu looks quite nice.
Click to expand...

It may be easier to set up but seeing as it (and most modern distros) uses GRUB as it's bootloader theres a) little reason to switch b) you may experience exactly the same issues.
 
I've never befr seen a case where Ubuntu's installer neglected to make a Grub entry for an existing Windows installation, however if that's the problem you're seeing it's marvelously easy to fix. You can simply add an entry for the Windows installation and move on with your life.

This example will assume that /dev/hda1 is the location of Windows partition.

Code: 
sudo cp /boot/grub/menu.lst /boot/grub/menu.lst_backup
gksudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Append the following lines at the end of the file

Code: 
title		Microsoft Windows
root		(hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader	+1

Save the edited file
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom