The Reg guide to Linux, part 2: Preparing to dual-boot

[Nod]

TheRegister

On Monday, we suggested Ubuntu as a good starting point for experimenting with desktop Linux. If you have the option, dedicate a machine to it – by 2010 standards, even a modest-spec PC will run it fine. You'll be very pleasantly surprised by the transformation from a lumbering old XP box burdened with years of cruft to one with a fresh install of an OS that doesn't need multiple layers of security software.

If you don't have that option, though, you'll have to run the two systems side-by-side. There are three main ways:

1. The traditional dual-boot arrangement, using multiple disk partitions.
2. Wubi, which means installing Ubuntu inside a file in the Windows filesystem.
3. Virtualisation.

Option 3 is for weenies. You don't learn anything about the performance or feel of the OS on native hardware running it in a VM, and you might lose the joyous experience of hunting for drivers – although there's a pretty good chance these days that you won't need any. The second option, Wubi, works fine, but it's a bit slower and less flexible than a native install, and if you decided to “go native” and switch to Ubuntu full-time, you can't get rid of Windows later – you're lumbered with the virtual-hard-disk-in-a-file arrangement.

We recommend the old-fashioned way: shrink your Windows partition to free up some space, create some new partitions and put Linux in there.

Before you do this, though, it pays to do some preparation and do a little housekeeping on your Windows system. The following assumes you're on XP – some of these steps are significantly harder work on Vista or Windows 7.

Lots more info at link ...

 

[Adv_Tech]

I gave Linux a (few) try/ies (am prepared to return to it when I have some free time later - holiday/leave); my gripe is that for neewbies it seems so difficult to play music, videos, connect printers (especially your fax/scanner/printer models - which is what I have at home); it seems virtually impossible to install wireless 3G devices like your huawei (Telkom issue) modems or vodafone modems - even if you call the service providers (in this case Telkom & Vodacom); they tell you straight that there is no support for Linux. I know I have tried - Linux is wonderful if you just use straight ADSL connectivity, but frustratingly difficult if you deviate from adsl.

 

[ponder]

I gave Linux a (few) try/ies (am prepared to return to it when I have some free time later - holiday/leave); my gripe is that for neewbies it seems so difficult to play music, videos, connect printers (especially your fax/scanner/printer models - which is what I have at home); it seems virtually impossible to install wireless 3G devices like your huawei (Telkom issue) modems or vodafone modems - even if you call the service providers (in this case Telkom & Vodacom); they tell you straight that there is no support for Linux. I know I have tried - Linux is wonderful if you just use straight ADSL connectivity, but frustratingly difficult if you deviate from adsl.

Try Linux Mint, it's a polished Ubuntu & includes all the multimedia codecs & stuff.

I tried Ubuntu 10.04 the other day and it picked up my multifunction hp printer device connected via lan up with no problems. I know for a fact that the Huawei E220 works (only model I have ever tried) out of the box as well since several versions ago.

 

[SlickNick]

Try Linux Mint, it's a polished Ubuntu & includes all the multimedia codecs & stuff.

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