Dual Boot With Win2K

[aldtech]

Dual Boot With Win2K

I currently have a system already setup with dual boot that is Win2k and Server 2003 (Trial) that I want to work with. The Server 2003 partition is past its 6 month cycle and I am no longer interested in reloading it. What I want is to load Linux, Fedora Core 8 maybe, over the Server 2003 partition and work with it instead.

My questions are:
Is it as simple as just installing over the 2003 partition, configure to suit and go? Now I do have Linux installation and setup experience (core 6) so I am aware of that process. What it really boils down to is will the primary partition OS (Win2K) detect the Linux OS so that I can configure the boot screen to offer both or are there going to be a bunch of hoops here?

Another question: Any suggestion of what flavor of Linux I should use? I ultimately plan to delete the Win2k partition once I am satisfied of the stability/usability of the Linux installation so obviously I would like to not have to go through any trial and error installation loops. Of course practice makes perfect.

A little background information: The PC – Intel P4, 1.5 Ghz, 768 Mb Ram, many hard drives. This system is my main file storage system, which I would ultimately like to configure as a multi-media server.

My Linux Experience – I took a course for Linux + last year and aside from messing with the installation on a laptop I had I have not messed with it since. I do still have the course materials as well as the Core 6 installation CDs so I am sure I can bumble through it, what ever “it” will be.

Thanks in advance for any and all help/suggestions.

AL

[KarmaKiller]

HI there..
As far as installing UNIX over the 2003 partition, that should be fairly straight forward. But I will say it's gonna mess up your MBR, so be prepared to fix that. I've downloaded the new version of Core, but haven't installed yet. So there is a chance they thought about this and will fix itself during the install.

As far as which distro, if your fairly new to linux, then I would suggest Ubuntu. It's by far the easiest to use. Plus there a couple of different flavors of it.
Ubuntu - Uses Gnome
Kubuntu - Uses KDE
Ubuntu Studio - Uses gnome also, but lots of audio and video software preloaded. This is my current fav. of the three.
With any of those^, you'll be able to select what partition you want to install it on. Plus it will configure the grub loader for you, so you won't have to mess with that. All you need to do is install, then after that when you restart a screen will come up so you can select which OS you want to load into. It's really easy..
Another nice Distro is Debian. It's fairly easy

Good luck! Hope I helped

[aldtech]

Yeah I was looking at Ubuntu but I was not sure of its application value as a media server which is ultimately what I want. I was primarily using the Gnome install of Core 6 when I was messing with that so if I where to go with Ubuntu I would get the Gnome version of that as well with the audio/video package. Now is that a different CD download for each version or is it all on the same CD just with different option snap ins like the core x installation process?

I am looking to downloading Core 8 right now (Bit torrent) and I want the Ubuntu as well. How is the download speed from their support site that you linked (thanks) or should I just BT that as well?

AL

[aldtech]

Also - My P4 1.5Ghz (1.6 actually) just got downgraded to a Duron 800. I decided to replace my wife's system with the Intel PC. I still plan to do a dual boot option with Win2k but now on the Duron system. Will the flavors of Ubuntu or Frdora 8 be functional on that platform (Duron 800)?

AL

[KarmaKiller]

Lots of questions, let me see if I can get them all..

Every flavor is a different download and different CD.
As far as media streaming server, I haven't set one up yet, so IDK about that. But I would think it would be easier then most other distros. Except maybe Core 8, but again I haven't installed that yet either..
As far as download speeds, I always use bittorrent to download everything, so I have no clue about their speeds.

As I'm almost positive that you'll have no problems with even the latest version of Ubuntu on your duron. It should work fine. I currently run it on a 866Mhz P3 box with 256Mb of ram, it it's pretty zippy.
But I also wanted to say if you have used gnome, KDE would be pretty easy to use also. You can always download it and run live cd, to play with it. You won't have to install it just to see it. I really recommend you try that. Also, Ubuntu Studio is really sweet, check that out also.

Good luck