Reconfigure For Dual Boot

Pete B · External Since: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 6

I am currently running WinXP Pro on my stand-alone home PC, with the HDD
installation configured for XP as the only operating system. IOW, I only
have one NTFS partition on my HDD which contains the bootable XP operating
system. I also have a great amount of other MS and third-party Windows
software applications installed. (And I love XP pro too, this has nothing
to do with XP dissatisfaction, I think it is great.)

What I would like to do is to reconfigure the PC hard drive so that I can
install a second operating system (Ubuntu Linux). Is there any way to do
this without complertely removing XP, reformatting and repartioning the HDD
to two dual boot partitions, and reinstalling XP from scratch set for dual
boot? I cannot simply image the drive and redo it because that would just
reinstall the system the way it is now. I have a 120G HDD and I have about
70G free space now, so HDD capacity is not a problem. From what I have read
in the Help file and the MSKB, the only way to do this would entail losing
all my current software installations permanently, and above all I do NOT
want to go through the ordeal of reactivating my WinXP and other MS and
non-MS software licenses if I have to redo everything from scratch.

If it is not possible, I am considering two alternatives:

1) I could buy software like Partiton Magic or similar, and use that to
make virtual partitions and transform to dual boot. I actually have an
older version of Part Mag, which I intended to use back in my Win 98 SE
period on a previous PC, but I never actually used it because I was always
afraid it might end up causing a HDD meltdown nightmare somehow . Is that
software reliable for something like this if I were to get the current
version? Meaning is there any reasonable chance it would corrupt my HDD
rather than do what it is supposed to do, and would it in any way cripple my
system in some respect?

2) I have that old W98SE PC sitting around unused, an older but suitable P2
system, which I could simply redo by deleting the W98 and reformatting etc.
and make it a totally Linux machine, and I could then get the necessary home
network hardware to network it to my current PC so that it shares the
internet and printer capabilities of my present system. Would this be
preferable to the other two choices, even though I would have to buy the
wireless networking hardware for it? I really just want to learn about
Linux (I am the world's biggest MS fan so that is not the purpose here), and
I may find an occasional use for Linux sofware apps, but it is mostly just a
retired VB programmer's curiousity about the Wonderful World of OSS that my
son, who has the MS in CSG (Computer Science Geekery,) keeps touting to me
:=). And a sidebar dumb question: can you network a Linux PC to a MS system
like that, does Linux have the same capability that MS does for such stuff?

Any help or advice would be appreciated. Of the two alternatives, I would
rather go with the PM software and use just the current PC than with two
actual PC systems networked together, because I may have other uses for the
old PC in the future.

--
Pete B

Jerry · External Since: Feb 05, 2007 Posts: 164

Partition Magic may do it. Should be at Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. Read
box to verify its particulars.

"Pete B" <petescastle RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:u4bNNuzXHHA.4008@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I am currently running WinXP Pro on my stand-alone home PC, with the HDD
>installation configured for XP as the only operating system. IOW, I only
>have one NTFS partition on my HDD which contains the bootable XP operating
>system. I also have a great amount of other MS and third-party Windows
>software applications installed. (And I love XP pro too, this has nothing
>to do with XP dissatisfaction, I think it is great.)
>
> What I would like to do is to reconfigure the PC hard drive so that I can
> install a second operating system (Ubuntu Linux). Is there any way to do
> this without complertely removing XP, reformatting and repartioning the
> HDD to two dual boot partitions, and reinstalling XP from scratch set for
> dual boot? I cannot simply image the drive and redo it because that would
> just reinstall the system the way it is now. I have a 120G HDD and I have
> about 70G free space now, so HDD capacity is not a problem. From what I
> have read in the Help file and the MSKB, the only way to do this would
> entail losing all my current software installations permanently, and above
> all I do NOT want to go through the ordeal of reactivating my WinXP and
> other MS and non-MS software licenses if I have to redo everything from
> scratch.
>
> If it is not possible, I am considering two alternatives:
>
> 1) I could buy software like Partiton Magic or similar, and use that to
> make virtual partitions and transform to dual boot. I actually have an
> older version of Part Mag, which I intended to use back in my Win 98 SE
> period on a previous PC, but I never actually used it because I was always
> afraid it might end up causing a HDD meltdown nightmare somehow . Is that
> software reliable for something like this if I were to get the current
> version? Meaning is there any reasonable chance it would corrupt my HDD
> rather than do what it is supposed to do, and would it in any way cripple
> my system in some respect?
>
> 2) I have that old W98SE PC sitting around unused, an older but suitable
> P2 system, which I could simply redo by deleting the W98 and reformatting
> etc. and make it a totally Linux machine, and I could then get the
> necessary home network hardware to network it to my current PC so that it
> shares the internet and printer capabilities of my present system. Would
> this be preferable to the other two choices, even though I would have to
> buy the wireless networking hardware for it? I really just want to learn
> about Linux (I am the world's biggest MS fan so that is not the purpose
> here), and I may find an occasional use for Linux sofware apps, but it is
> mostly just a retired VB programmer's curiousity about the Wonderful World
> of OSS that my son, who has the MS in CSG (Computer Science Geekery,)
> keeps touting to me :=). And a sidebar dumb question: can you network a
> Linux PC to a MS system like that, does Linux have the same capability
> that MS does for such stuff?
>
> Any help or advice would be appreciated. Of the two alternatives, I would
> rather go with the PM software and use just the current PC than with two
> actual PC systems networked together, because I may have other uses for
> the old PC in the future.
>
> --
> Pete B
>

Tokyopete · Joined: May 17, 2005 Posts: 6

First point:
PM4 which is your current Partition Magic prog. does not work with XP. I hope you have XP2SP2 or SP3 installed. By the way, Via's USB2 hardware requires approval from Micros...t which is a pain in the neck. Use NEC's USB2 as they told Microsoft to go fly a kite.
PM8 will do the job perfectly but you do have to follow explicitly the instructions.
Your best bet, however, is to use the old 98SE comp. Ubuntu will install on it with minimum problems. But once again you have to find the correct version of Ubuntu. Means reading up and lots of head scratching.
Yes, it is possible to network Linux and Windows to use the one outlet. BUT, I would go with wired NOT wireless. I'm assuming that both units will be close together sharing the same monitor, keyboard and mouse via a KVM unit.
You will need a D Sub from the Monitor to the KVM unit. Plus printers, scanners etc. can all work through two-way mechanical switches. Press the button and print from Linux, press it again and print from XP. I use thes at home as wifie has her own setup at one end of the room and mine is at the other end (space constraints in Tokyo rooms). So much easier than trying to use a wireless set up. If you have notebook and using it in town etc. then wireless is essential. Often see business in Dennys etc. having a coffee and working madly on their laptops. Sad, really, as their is no escape from the Devil.
Hope a few comments in the above screed help you.
Best wishes from Tokyo,
Pete B. aka Tokyopete
It will all fall into place when you actually do it BUT understanding exactly what to do when! is the tricky bit.