[Ubuntu-users] did I miss something? (installing Ubuntu along with Windows XP)

[Rashkae]

Gryllida wrote:
> Windows XP now boots from disk C: . It is the only partition I have.
> Mu user's files and distributives of the apps I have installed are at
> another computer. I have to to shrink the partition to install Ubuntu
> and found these steps to do:
> 
> 0) burn Ubuntu CD
> 1) empty recycle bin
> 2) defragment the hard disk in Windows XP Safe Mode (it'll be faster
> and will be able to move the files which would otherwise be in use by
> some apps in normal mode)
> 2.1) reboot Windows XP twice after the defragmentation for it to
> notice properly that the defragmentation occurred
> 3) insert the Ubuntu CD
> 4) start the installation and tell it to shrink the existing partition
> 5) ...
> 
> Did I forget / miss / don't I know something? I mean, are these the
> right steps to do?
> 

Backup any important data from your Windows system before you do the 
partition shrink.  I'm not aware of any particular problems, but by it's 
very nature, filesystem shrinking is a sensitive operation, and 
unexpected interruptions, including but not limited to the cat tripping 
on the power cord, can make recovery very difficult.