Learning to Dual Boot Linux Ubuntu 9.04 on a Vista FIRST pc.

johnny rawk · May 27th, 2009, 11:27 PM

Is it possible for me to install Ubuntu 9.04 for dual boot on a windows vista based PC???

Also is it possible to install Ubuntu on the second hard drive of my pc while keeping Vista on the origional drive it's on right now and still be able to dual boot???

carl33p · May 28th, 2009, 12:14 AM

Yes.
How to dual-boot Vista with Linux (Vista installed first) -- the step-by-step guide with screenshots

If you use a 2nd hard drive you wont have to partition.

johnny rawk · May 28th, 2009, 12:29 AM

I'm not a noob it's just my first time installing a dual boot and I don't want to mess up my comp.
so at the risk of sounding like an idiot i need to ask, Do i still shrink volume on the 2nd hardrive??? and after everything is installed and I reset my computer will my vista be "untouched"??

Thanks again, the article u sent was very helpful.

ImOdPsP's

Johnny rawk

Nude_Lewd_Man · May 28th, 2009, 07:42 AM

Hi, and WELCOME TO TECHIMO...!

If you don't use the second disk for anything else, then you don't have to do any shrinking. If you have other partitions on that disk, and you want to keep the option to use them, then you will need to.......

**RobRich** · May 28th, 2009, 10:59 AM

You don't even partition a drive. You can do a native install of Linux right from Windows by mounting a drive image as a loopback device. Wubi automates such an install scenario, so it is largely a point-and-click process.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobRich

You can install Linux from Windows without partitioning the drive. I suggest looking into Wubi. It will create disk image on the existing FAT32 or NTFS drive, then allow you to dual boot to Linux by mounting the disk images as a loopback device.

Wubi - Ubuntu Installer for Windows

I would not run a dedicated Linux server on such a loopback setup, but for standard Linux desktop use, there is not enough performance or reliability penalty to matter IMO.

Source: Kubuntu Kernel Issues

Also mentioned in the same thread is a a virtualized install under VirtualBox or similar, which is fine if you are not interested in a native install.