Member Avatar for smith78

Hi Friends,
I am so tried ti dual boot in my system . i m using windows xp but i m installed new opreating system linux. but i m not installed linux in my system.
mu pc configuration.
intel chipset dual core.
1gb ram
320 gb hdd
pls give me any sugeestion.
how to installed linux in my system,?

Edited by crunchie because: remove fake sig
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  • Latest Post Latest Post by sanjeevarao

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Quick practical checklist for dual-booting Windows XP and Linux on an older PC (useful follow‑up to the tips already posted by , , and others):

Back up everything first. Create a full disk image (so you can restore Windows if something goes wrong) and make Windows recovery/media discs. Run a filesystem check and defragment Windows before resizing—on XP you cannot shrink NTFS reliably from the XP Disk Management UI, so prepare a bootable partition tool instead.

Prepare and test before you commit. Boot a live Linux USB/CD and use the "try" session to confirm hardware (video, network, disk) works. Use a modern partition tool such as GParted (bootable) to shrink the Windows partition and create free space. For a 1 GB RAM machine choose a lightweight distro; keep a simple layout if you are new to Linux: one ext4 root partition plus a modest swap (1–2 GB) or a swapfile. Leave a separate /home only if you know you will reuse it across reinstalls.

Bootloader and recovery notes. Most installers will install GRUB2 to the MBR by default—this makes dual booting automatic. If Windows overwrites GRUB or the system boots straight to Windows, reinstalling GRUB from a live medium fixes it. Minimal recovery sequence (replace sdaX with your Linux root partition):

sudo fdisk -l
sudo mount /dev/sdaX /mnt
sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev
sudo mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc
sudo mount --bind /sys /mnt/sys
sudo chroot /mnt
grub-install /dev/sda
update-grub
exit

Notes tied to the thread: ’s space problem shows installers can fail if free space is too small; ’s detailed partitioning is useful for advanced setups, but for beginners a single root + swap is simpler. Always keep your Windows recovery media and a disk image before changing partitions.

Recommended Answers

All 7 Replies

Member Avatar for Insomaniacal

You need at least two partitions on your hard drive. During the Linux installation process, it will allow you to choose where you want to install Linux to. Select the empty partition you created, and you're all done.

Member Avatar for virtualmk

As advised before, at least two partitions are necessary on your hard drive, one of which will be only for Linux, it will be your choice in which of the partitions you want to install Linux. This can be easily done with the software PartitionMagic, which allows you to create,resize and merge partitions. The size of the partition in which Linux is to be installed depends on the Linux distribution chosen. If installing Ubuntu 10.4, well you need to have a lot of space on that partition where it is to be installed (i had to keep resizing and resizing with the PartitionMagic because every time I tried installing it, it never worked because I didn't have enough space on the partition disk), finally i got through when i made the partition space 10 G! Install and then restart, when computer comes on, you will see the option to choose either Windows or Linux, with arrow keys select quickly which you want.

Member Avatar for Mantas450

Nice info about dualbooting here

Member Avatar for helioptra

Any modern GNU/Linux distribution will have a graphical installer. If you follow the steps of the instaler the only part that is the most critical is setting up a partition for linux. If you are using Ubuntu or Debian it is easiest to chose the option "Run them side by side" when you get to the partition part of the install. It would be best if you know how much space you want to set aside, and then resize the windows partition while in the installer and setting up atleast a root partition and a swap partition, there are several good tutorials on partitioning on the internet. It is possible to let the software set it up for you. Though the best way is to use the custom option as you will have more control over how its done. There is no substitue for learning partitioning, it will reduce your chances of having to reinstall windows and try again....

Member Avatar for helioptra

Any modern GNU/Linux distribution will have a graphical installer. If you follow the steps of the instaler the only part that is the most critical is setting up a partition for linux. If you are using Ubuntu or Debian it is easiest to chose the option "Run them side by side" when you get to the partition part of the install. It would be best if you know how much space you want to set aside, and then resize the windows partition while in the installer and setting up atleast a root partition and a swap partition, there are several good tutorials on partitioning on the internet. It is possible to let the software set it up for you. Though the best way is to use the custom option as you will have more control over how its done. There is no substitue for learning partitioning, it will reduce your chances of having to reinstall windows and try again....

This is also a good guide for installing Ubuntu:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot

Member Avatar for sanjeevarao

Hi,
Here i will give step by step procedure for linux installation already if your machine is loaded with XP.

1. Delete one of your existing logical partition and make it FREE memory space at least 6 GB.
2. Put the LINUX CD and Select the option boot from CD-ROM Mode.
3. Here you can install in two ways
(a) for GUI mode > LINUX (just press Enter)
(b) for TEXT mode > LINUX Text
4. It will ask for the size of partitions in manual mode with the help of DISKDRUID (partition tool).
5. Create and give the sizes for mandatory directories
(a) / 4000MB
(b) /boot 100 MB fixed
(c) /home depending up on number of users
(d) /usr depending on your applications
(e) /var
(f) swap double of the RAM.
6. Choose the boot loader GRUB/LILO.
7. Give the root password
8. After installing all CDS it will ask for first CD again.
9. Reboot the System.
10. WELCOME TO REDHAT linix......

SNIP

Regards
Kolla Sanjeeva Rao

Edited by happygeek because: spam link removed
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