linux and windows on same hdd

llwayneio · 4 Jul 2008 at 16:09

okay so i have been messing around with xubuntu in virtual pc for a bit and it seems pretty cool, I was just wondering how easy it is to install linux and windows on the same hdd so i can just choose which to boot. And also which distro should i go with? what will contrast nicely to xp? I play quite a few games so im not sure its a good idea to have JUST linux or can linux with wine run most games well? thanks

manic111 · 4 Jul 2008 at 17:41

If you're playing games leave Windows on there, dual booting is very easy! I've only used Ubuntu and its derivatives, and have found them to be fantastic. Personally my favourite is the KDE one, Kubuntu. Others on this forum will recommend Mint, which is based on Ubuntu but works better "out of the box", or Arch which is much more customisable but more difficult for beginners.

Either way, decide on a distro first then look online for some dual booting guides-it's really very easy, done it a couple of times now.

llwayneio · 4 Jul 2008 at 17:44

manic111 said:
If you're playing games leave Windows on there, dual booting is very easy! I've only used Ubuntu and its derivatives, and have found them to be fantastic. Personally my favourite is the KDE one, Kubuntu. Others on this forum will recommend Mint, which is based on Ubuntu but works better "out of the box", or Arch which is much more customisable but more difficult for beginners.

Either way, decide on a distro first then look online for some dual booting guides-it's really very easy, done it a couple of times now.

do you recommend a clean xp install first as well?

wesley · 4 Jul 2008 at 17:52

http://wubi-installer.org/ you're better off with wubi, seriously, if you're newbie to linux, use wubi. it wont touch your XP partition. speed wise, i cant tell the different if use linux parition

linux is well known for mess up XP that's only cos newbie doesnt know how to config dual boot between XP and linux.

GarethDW · 4 Jul 2008 at 18:05

llwayneio said:
do you recommend a clean xp install first as well?

Not really necessary, however I'd suggest you defrag your Windows drive beforehand.

llwayneio · 4 Jul 2008 at 18:05

okay il try it, but wont it be just like using virtual pc?

manic111 · 4 Jul 2008 at 18:16

wesley said:
http://wubi-installer.org/ you're better off with wubi, seriously, if you're newbie to linux, use wubi. it wont touch your XP partition. speed wise, i cant tell the different if use linux parition

linux is well known for mess up XP that's only cos newbie doesnt know how to config dual boot between XP and linux.

I've had a couple of Wubi installs, and both have become corrupted and stopped working for no apparent reason. Personally I think you are better off partitioning; just back everything up first and defrag your HDD.

llwayneio · 4 Jul 2008 at 18:25

well i dont have anything on my computer of any real value so il just put some stuff on a usb do a clean xp install and then a ubuntu one. Or would it be easier doing the other order?

Una · 4 Jul 2008 at 19:09

llwayneio said:
well i dont have anything on my computer of any real value so il just put some stuff on a usb do a clean xp install and then a ubuntu one. Or would it be easier doing the other order?

Yeah install Ubuntu after you have installed windows. It should automatically put an option in your grub bootloader menu to boot windows if you partition it correctly.