If you want to dual boot Windows and Linux on your PC, this guide will teach you an easy way to dual boot XP and Ubuntu.
Steps
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Step 1. Insert the Ubuntu CD
Considering that you have Xp already installed and you have downloaded and burned Ubuntu Desktop edition to CD.
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Step 2. Restart your PC
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Step 3. Enter the BIOS (usually just press F1, F2, ESC, or DEL) while the PC boots
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Step 4. Go to the screen to set the boot device priority, and set the CD as the first device by pressing the + key, so that it loads before the HD
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Step 5. Hello and Exit by pressing the F10 key
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Step 6. In the Ubuntu screen, press Enter to start Ubuntu
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Step 7. Double-click the Install icon on the Desktop
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Step 8. Follow the setup wizard (if you are using version 8.04 until you reach step 4)
Ubuntu 8.10 installs in dual boot by default.
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Step 9. If you are using Ubuntu 8.04, in step 4 choose the first option, then choose the partition-wizard and specify how much space to use for the new partition
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Step 10. Continue the setup wizard and click Install in step 7
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Step 11. Click Restart Now and remove the CD from the drive
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Step 12. Finished
Each time you start the PC you will be able to choose which operating system to use via the GRUB bootloader.
Advice
- Before doing this, defragmenting the HD can be useful.
- Download ubuntu from ubuntu.com and burn the image to CD.
- Ubuntu will present 3 options: the first is normal boot, the second is the recovery mode which is used to repair the operating system, the third is a memory test. Finally there is Windows XP.
- You can find the key to access the bios by looking at the screen that appears when you turn on the PC, or by reading the computer manual.