[odat92388]

Below is a school project I have to do. I have not been able to find specific instructions on how to install, partition and run Red Hat Linux ver 3 and Win xp on the same computer. Can you help please? Thanks!


You have been hired to set up a computer system with Microsoft Windows XP. The system requires several software applications to be installed on it as well as an area of the drive storage media to be set up as an organized space to store all of the user data. You are also asked to make this system able to boot using the Linux operating system as well and to install applications required on that platform.

You want to maximize your file system capabilities with this system. There is currently an 80GB hard disk installed in the computer which will provide plenty of storage space for all of the systems, applications, and data that will be installed. There is also a tape backup drive installed in the machine that will be configured to perform regular backups of the drive(s).

For this exercise, please explain how you plan to partition the drive and which file formats you will use when formatting the drive partition(s).

[jiml8]

You have many choices. From the wording, your instructor is thinking in terms of dual-boot but this is a sub-optimal choice. A better choice is to use a virtual machine. Install one or the other OS on the HD, then install a virtual machine package (I would recommend VMWare) then install the other OS in the virtual machine.

This gives the capability to run both operating systems simultaneously in the same box. You gain points for flexibility. Also, the setup is a bit easier since you don't have to worry about boot loaders getting messed up.

I routinely run Windows 2000 as a virtual machine in my Linux system. At this moment, my Windows development environment is loaded in windows on Windows, which is in a window on my Linux box, and I am entering this message in Linux Mozilla. Very cool.

Also, when using the virtual machine mechanism you don't have to worry about file systems at all. The two operating systems communicate with each other using the Windows networking environment, so you simply share any partitions or folders that you want available to both machines.

It is a superior solution. If your instructor insists on dual boot then he probably expects you to set up a FAT area for data that is to be available to both systems, but you could cross him up by setting up ext2 (a much superior choice) and installing the freely distributable ext2 drivers on the Windows XP system. Or you could tell him you will be using Linux kernel 2.6.14 and the Captive-NTFS system to allow Linux to read/write NTFS. No one should be forced to use FAT for anything.

[rayek4eq]

I would install Windows XP first, as most Linux installers can resize a Windows partition. Set aside the rest of the drive as Fat32, as both platforms can easily read and write to that type of file system. After XP is installed, resize the Fat32 volume to allow the same size of Linux volume as the Windows volume (so as not to give one OS a benefit over the other). Install Linux on that space, and set up the swap partition and everything and you're set. If you want more detailed instructions, you'll have to refer to an online RedHat installation guide, because I'm only experienced in installing and maintaining SUSE.

Edit: Also forgot the bootloader... GRUB is an excellent bootloader and automatically recognizes that a Windows partition is on your computer, and will set up an option screen wherein you can select which OS to run on that session. That is why it's near essential for you to install Windows XP on the computer first.

[lynch]

There: they did your homework for you.

[jiml8]

Originally Posted by lynch

There: they did your homework for you.

I don't have a problem with steering someone in a proper direction. Should he take my advice, he still has a fair amount of work to do and will still learn a lot. What he won't do is flounder trying to figure out where to start.

[lynch]

Originally Posted by jiml8

I don't have a problem with steering someone in a proper direction. Should he take my advice, he still has a fair amount of work to do and will still learn a lot. What he won't do is flounder trying to figure out where to start.

It was a joke.

For this exercise, please explain how you plan to partition the drive and which file formats you will use when formatting the drive partition(s).

Yeah, reads like the instructor wants a standard dual-boot setup. I be curious to see if the instructor would go for the VMWare suggestion. He could use VMWare Player, could'nt he? Doubt a student could afford the full-blown VMWare package.
lynch

[odat92388]

I have installed xp and I have install directions with the disks for Linux, but I didn't know where to start and couldn't find the info. for a dual boot with xp and linux with any specifics. The next unit of my online class is actually installing both os on my older spare (but meets the requirements) computer. The really frustrating part is I do not see, in the textbook, any instructions for a dual boot.
Thanks again!
Karen

[lynch]

What version of Linux do you have?
lynch
ps. Karen, sorry for the "he" references.

[rayek4eq]

Normally, Linux (especially if it is a newer distro) will automatically detect the NTFS volume on your computer. I had trouble with this, too, at first, just because I didn't think it possible without some great knowledge of the setup util, but when you do the installation and you set up the partitions in the Linux setup, you should see the Windows partition somewhere. If it doesn't show it, then you have a problem. If it does show it, nothing regarding a dual boot will happen until nearly the last phase of installation, wherein it sets up the bootloader. SUSE automatically detected a Windows partition when I installed it on my computer, so it's set up as an option during boot. Really, you have absoultely nothing to worry about. Just make sure that when the bootloader sets up that Windows is an option.

BTW, how is the drive partitioned so far?

[odat92388]

Fedora. Came with the textbook. Don't see a version and never dealt with any Linux. Haven't used the computer, I plan to install on , in a long time so I don't remember how it is partitioned. Still has win 98 on it and it needs help!

[saikee]

And there is nothing but booting tips at my signature tail, including method of making XP booting Linux.

Generally you need to do 10 times more work to make XP to boot a Linux than the other way round.

Like rayk4eq said the under normal circumstance the Linux will arrange the dual boot automatically without the user lifting a finger but there are some bad Linux around.