Installing Ubuntu as 2nd OS

[Peter Domanski]

Ilya Vishnyakov wrote:
> Thank you. This was probably the best advice I've heard so far.
> Shrinking Windows seems to be a good idea. (The last time I tried to do
> that, didn't work out for me on my home desktop machine. I messed
> everything up :) ). Virtualization doesn't fit me. I don't like the idea
> of sharing the resources. I'm very cautious about the "new" feature
> which will available in the new Ubuntu.  
>
> Probably, I will choose shrinking. My home desktop dual boots Ubuntu
> with Windows (2 partitions) and I'm very happy with it (Ubuntu).
>
> Thanks again.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ubuntu-users-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com
> [mailto:ubuntu-users-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com] On Behalf Of Peter
> Domanski
> Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 2:22 PM
> To: Ubuntu user technical support,not for general discussions
> Subject: Re: Installing Ubuntu as 2nd OS
>
> Ilya Vishnyakov wrote:
>   
>> Hello Lucky Ubuntu Users!
>>
>>  
>>
>> I have a Dell laptop with Win Xp and 1 partition on it. This laptop 
>> has very valuable information for me, personally. I was wondering if 
>> will be able to install Ubuntu as second OS on my laptop, without 
>> reformatting the hard drive. I need to keep the data on it intact.
>>
>>  
>>
>> Thank you for your advice.
>>
>>  
>>
>> Ilya.
>>
>>  
>>
>>     
> There are a few options but all of them will require some work if you 
> actualy want to install ubuntu on the pc. One way is to shrink the 
> current windows partition and alocating some empty disk space for second
>
> operation system. Second options is wait untill Ubuntu 8.04 will come 
> out and then install it temporarly on your windows partition (new 
> feature in Ubuntu 8.04). You can also look into downloading a virtual PC
>
> software from microsoft and installing ubuntu on a virtual machine. No 
> matter which way you want to go there will be some draw backs and keep 
> in mind that you will have to get your hands dirty a little one way or 
> the other.
>
> Good luck.
>
>   
Shrinking the windows partition and dual booting is prabobly the best 
way. As long as you specify during the install for linux not to modify 
the windows partition it should't have any effect on your windows OS and 
programs that you have installed. The only thing you have to keep in 
mind is that linux will install a linux boot loader through which you 
will be able to boot either into linux or windows, but if you ever 
decide to get ride of linux and just use windows that boot loader will 
remain on the HDD even after you delete Linux partition. To get ride of 
linux bootloader all together you will have to erase Master Boot Record 
on you HDD which can also get a bit tricky, but as long as you don't 
delete the windows partition you will not be loosing windows or any data 
stored on it, it will just be a matter of playing around and learning 
how linux and windows both work.

Hope I didn't scare you too much. =)

Good Luck