What security are you using?

[Stonehenge]

This is sounding interesting. So I can just buy mandrake off the shelf, install it on my hd and it'll set itself up and partition the hd? Now what about picking which one I want to start from? Lets say I install linux and partition off 10gb for that. I have over 30gb available so that should be no problem. When I turn on the computer, does it automatically start up in windoz like usual or does it give me a choice? Would I start in win and then restart in linux? Any of those would work for me. The bootloader sounds like a nifty option but do I need it? crossbreed, you've done it so I think you know the answer.

If that's all there is to it I'll get linux for sure. I'd love to do all my browsing in the linux partition and keep the other part for running progs and storing my pics and data. I could save stuff in a temp file in linux and transfer it over to the windoz side and delete it from the linux side. Does that sound like a good plan? I'm thinking if somehow a trojan or spyware did get picked up, it would be on the linux side since that's where I would be browsing from and it could only access my files there which would be little or nothing. Linux is supposed to be a lot safer anyway. Are there issues in using mozilla, netscape or ie with linux or is that a whole big subject you'd rather not get into?

Stoney

Stoney

[Indra]

yes, you will be using a bootloader.  the way they work is that it will load up with the OS's you have installed and you select the one you wish to boot into.  it also has a count down timer, so you if dont press any keys for 30 seconds (for example) then the default OS loads automatically.

though you certainly can support the mandrake team and pay for their OS, you can also DL it for free.  check out //http://linuxiso.org/ to find images of all your favorite linux distros.

good luck.  you'll have fun and learn a ton doing the installation.  the first time you succesfully dual boot will be triumphant!

[crossbreed]

I could save stuff in a temp file in linux and transfer it over to the windoz side and delete it from the linux side. Does that sound like a good plan?

I don't know which version of windows you are using, but windows 95 and 98 will not recognize the linux partition.  
However, the windows partition can be accessed from within linux.

Are there issues in using mozilla, netscape or ie with linux or is that a whole big subject you'd rather not get into?

It might be possible to run IE in linux with a windows emulator(ex. wine), but why would you want to?
I use Firefox in both windows and linux.

[Stonehenge]

crossbreed wrote:

>I don't know which version of windows you are using, but windows 95 and 98 will not recognize the linux partition.

What about win2k? Are bootloaders freeware?

[TroutMask]

More great news about Windows XP:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,17 ... X1K0000594

"Microsoft Corp. on Monday confirmed it was investigating a claim by a Russian security researcher that two key security technologies built into Windows XP Service Pack 2 could be easily defeated......."

-TM

[TroutMask]

Hm, shut down and boot into a new system... With Virtual PC, there is no need to shut down to start a new system. You can run OS X, several varieties of Windows and Linux simultaneously on one Mac, dragging files between each OS or whatever. You wouldn't want to play any graphic-intensive games but everything else is fully functional.

Virtual PC is also available for Windows to run other OSs simultaneously on PC hardware as well, but since the base OS is Windows you wouldn't gain security that way.

-TM

[jonah]

When it comes to linux flavors, I recommend trying Knoppix or maybe MEPIS live cd's before making the migration.

i've had problems with the GRUB boot loader when trying to dual os.

Keep a copy of your windows cd handy, just in case.  If you get a problem with GRUB you can fix your boot sectors by booting up the cd, running a recovery console and then after entering the prompt typing "fixmbr" and then "fixboot"


-j.

[Indra]

no need to run virtual PC and emulate an OS as you would with a PPC system trying to run an x86 OS, since your running two OS's that run natively on x86.  and you get the added benefit of not having to deal with the sluggish performance of an emulator.

it is neat on my G4 how i have the ability to boot into OS X, and then load x-windows.  i can switch between OS X and gnome/kde with a few keystrokes.  i suppose that's the benefit of having the *nix based OS X.  basicallly just switching window managers (aqua for kde, for example), and it "feels" like your switching operating systems.

[crossbreed]

i've had problems with the GRUB boot loader when trying to dual os.
-j.

I have also had problems with GRUB.

Suse has a Live-Evaluation cd or dvd if you want to try linux before you start modifying partitions.
If you can find the december issue of Linux magazine, it comes with a Suse 9.1 Professional DVD.  
The installation is incredibly easy and the OS is very easy to navigate.

[Stonehenge]

I'm going to be buying a computer soon. Can I have it preloaded with windoz and partition it later and put on linux? Or do I have to set all that up at the beginning? They usually come with the os already installed so it would be nice to be able to add linux later if I could.

[Alfie.Ilkins]

Hi Stone,

There are a few vendors out there that will sell pre-installed linux PCs, very few but then I have never looked to any great depth.  You could always go for a self build but that isn't everyones cup of tea.  That would put Windows out of the equasion.  

If you are looking to have a dual boot so that you have the Windows that you are familar with and the GNU/Linux that you want to experiance I would recomend you ask the vendors to be precice on answering one particular question, does it come with a Windows restore disk or a Windows install disk.  In fact, I think most supply the install disk these days and I have made it up about some vendoes only having restore disks.  

Dell I know for certain (in the UK at least when you buy from the business outlet) give you a full install disk.   Nuke the HD, repartiation using the Windows installer and install Windows in the new sized partition.  Once running, get your GNU/Linux distro of choice and install in the remaining diskspace.  Beware on Dells, there is a partition that contains the factory reset data, only remove this partition if you are absolutly sure you never want the preconfigured Dell set up.  It is no great loss to leave it be, it will only occupy 50Mb of space.

If all else fails, you might want to invest in a copy of Partition Magic.

[Stonehenge]

I just ordered a computer and it's got the system restore on it. If I got partition magic would that allow me to partition it without formatting the hd? I really don't want to format because there is always trouble with drivers or some damn thing and I will end up having to pay $100 an hour to have it fixed. Hmmm, anybody got a copy of partition magic?

[crossbreed]

If I got partition magic would that allow me to partition it without formatting the hd?

Most mainstream linux distributions have partitioning software built into the installer.
You can partition without having to format the entire drive, but you still have to format the linux partition you created.

I would recommend using a live evaluation cd before trying to partition your hard drive.
In another post you said that you wanted to browse in your linux partition.
Unless you ordered your computer with a hardware modem instead of a winmodem, that might be a problem.
If you have a cable or dsl modem there shouldn't be a problem.

[Stonehenge]

Thanks, crossbreed. That sounds very good. I'll look for a copy of mandrake or redhat and see if it has the partition software built in. I don't even have a modem on my new pc but I have an nic card and a stand alone cable modem. If it screws up, the system restore should be able to untangle things. On my old 40 gig hd I had about 90% unused and my new one has 80 gig so I shouldn't run out of space.