dual booting

[77platoon]

Hi, am new to Linux. Have been running Windows till i got this new interest.
I would like to dual boot my XP home with the new Mepis 6.0 that i downloaded lately.
But am afraid i may lose all my drivers and files. Are there issues that i specifically may have to look out for?
Is there a manner in which i can safely do this, somebody?

 

[jakec]

the Only way to be Completely safe is to Get another HDD and put Linux on that. or alternativly you can resize your existing partitions using Gparted Live CD. you will need to backup all your files and make sure you have all your drivers (most of them are availible for download via internet at Manafactuers sites anyway) but backup just in case

In fact I think Mepis come pre-installed with Gparted (partitioning program) but just in case here is the link to the Live CD:http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php

The first Link will tell you how to install Mepis using Customized partitions: http://www.mepisguides.com/install/install-custom/Install-Custom-Partitions.html

and this tells you how to install Mepis alongside Windows: http://www.mepisguides.com/install/install-dual-drives/Install-with-dual-boot-and-clear.html

hope this Helps,

Jake

 

[77platoon]

You talk about a Gparted Live CD so am wondering whether my windows partition will do just fine or not.

 

[macdude425]

GParted's support for resizing NTFS partitons is quite good so I wouldn't worry.

 

[77platoon]

but my issue is that my hard disk is already partitioned. just wanted to know whether it is of paramount importance to partition it afresh with Gpart LiveCD before i start the Mepis installation or whether the Windows partition will be sufficient.

 

[Law]

If it's already partition, and you want to keep that size, then leave it alone. Just install Mepis, it should format for you to prepare the file system that you choose (ext3, reiserfs).

Else create another partition if you want to dual boot, because you need Windows in one partition and Linux in another.

GpartEd is only used to resize or create another partition. Really good tool if you ask me.