Solved: use xp and ubuntu same time?

[cleardarksky]

i use win xp home edition on my main drive but i also have a second drive with win 98 se connected as a "slave" i'd like to know if i can install a third hard drive with ubuntu on it? i want to use the second and third drive for storage only, i don't want to boot into win 98 or ubuntu.

 

[Kitch]

If you only want the other hard drives as storage, why have operating systems on them at all?

 

[cleardarksky]

do i need to install an operating system if i want to use extra drives for storage only, or do i simply connect the extra drives and leave them blank (formated)?

 

[DoubleHelix]

Just leave them blank. Data drives do not need operating systems installed.

 

[cleardarksky]

the third drive i want to install currently has win98 installed but can i format the drive - leaving it blank- and then use it for storage or do i need to do something else?

 

[MrFixit52]

Just format it in NTSF and you can use it for storage.

 

[DoubleHelix]

You don't even have to format it. Once it's connected, it will just be seen as a data drive. The computer won't care that it has an operating system installed. Then you delete what you want or completely format it.

If you're going to be using it with both Windows and Linux, pick a file system compatible with both.

 

[JohnWill]

Which won't be NTFS.

 

[briealeida]

I'm lost on this, though.
You want to install Ubuntu on one of your hard drives but you don't want to boot to it?

Can you explain more what you mean?

 

[cleardarksky]

i have a hard drive with win98 se but the operating system does not work right, multiple viruses and spyware on it, i removed some but still have problems (let me also say that i use this drive for storage only) since i don't know much about computers i thought a drive needs an operating system in order to be used i didn't know i could use a hard drive without an operating system much like a flash drive that's why my initial thinking was to format the drive and install a free operating system like ubuntu.
...and now you know.

 

[Couriant]

As mentioned, if you are going to use only one operating system, you don't need to install other operating systems on the other drives.

Unless you are planning to use them that is.

When you have added the drives in (and assuming you are sticking with Windows XP), the drives will show up in My Computer (or the Manage console, which is Right Click My Computer > Manage > Disk Management) and all you need to do is format them before using them.

 

[emoric]

my initial thinking was to format the drive and install a free operating system like ubuntu.
...and now you know.

I agree!

 

[cleardarksky]

ok folks, i understand, i don't need an operating system if i use the drive for storage only, i get it now, thanks.

 

[JohnWill]

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