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
Step 1. Insert the Ubuntu CD
Considering that you have Xp already installed and you have downloaded and burned Ubuntu Desktop edition to CD.
Step 2. Restart your PC
Step 3. Enter the BIOS (usually just press F1, F2, ESC, or DEL) while the PC boots
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
Step 5. Hello and Exit by pressing the F10 key
Step 6. In the Ubuntu screen, press Enter to start Ubuntu
Step 7. Double-click the Install icon on the Desktop
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.
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
Step 10. Continue the setup wizard and click Install in step 7
Step 11. Click Restart Now and remove the CD from the drive
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.
