installing ubuntu on seperate partition

Question

hi guys.. i have windows xp and a 100 gb harddrive.. using partition magic, i set aside 10 gb to use with ubuntu but i do not know how to install it.. i boot from the ubuntu cd and it loads ubuntu but when i go to install it i am stuck... i want to keep xp and have ubuntu on it as well... can someone provide me a walkthru on how to install ubuntu as a second operating system on the same hard drive?

tor528 · Answer

I'm giving general directions from memory here, and I'll try running an Ubuntu install tomorrow so I can give more thorough directions. But, here is essentially how it's gonna go down:

When you are in the installer, it will ask you how you want to partition your disk. Select the manual partitioning option. You should see your 90GB partition plus the free space that you created. Create a new partition in the free space, make it about 9 - 9.5 GB, making sure that you will still have 500 - 1000 MB left over. The mount point for the 9 GB partition is going to be / (root). Then, you will want to use the remainder of the space to create a swap (analog to Window's virtual memory). At the end of this process, make sure that your 90GB partition is NOT set to be formatted. Then, you should be ready to move on to the rest of the installation process.

Some people (myself included) choose to create a separate filesystem (partition) for /home. Since you have allotted a fairly small space for your Linux install, and because I want to keep things simple, I chose not to discuss that option.

Also, this is my first post to these forums. I am happy that Dell is starting to embrace Open Source Software, and will be recommending Dell to friends and family.

bhav23 · Answer

thanks.. i have gotten the ubuntu to install with more or less the same way you described... i still have a few a few questions about this os that hopefully you can answer for me... is there a way to hide the icons that came up on my desktop after installation (all the different partitions such as dell backup partition, my other 90 gb partition, and a smaller dell partition idk what it is)? also what are some apps that u recommend i install and where can i get them from? i heard of something called beryl that allows transperancys and other cool effects.. do u know where i can get that from and how do i install that??   thank you

bhav23 · Answer

also is there a way to install microsoft office on ubuntu?

tor528 · Answer

If you don't plan on using the extra partitions that are showing up on your desktop, you can just right click on them and select "unmount". However, you might not want to do this with the 90GB partition, as there are probably some files in there that you'd like to access.

To get apps, you will first have to edit your repository list. Instructions can be found here:
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Feisty#How_to_add_extra_repositories

There are two ways to get applications. One way is to use Synaptic Package Manager. (System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager). The other way is to use "apt-get install" from a terminal.

For Beryl, you will first want to make sure it will actually work. Go to System > Preferences > Desktop Effects, hit Enable, and turn on the two options of cube and wobble. It may ask you about installing restricted drivers, which is fine. If after doing this your windows wobble when you move them, beryl should work.

Just install "beryl" and "emerald" using Synaptic Package Manager, and all prerequisite software should be installed automatically.

Alternately, you can do a "sudo apt-get install beryl emerald" from the terminal.

To start Beryl, open a terminal and type "beryl-manager" (without quotes).

Other apps that I'd recommend are Amarok and VLC. Also, try browsing around Synaptic. Instructions for installing various apps can be found at
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Feisty

As for Microsoft Word, there is not a Linux version. You will have to use OpenOffice (Applications > Office > OpenOffice.org Word Processor). Just be sure to save your documents as .doc or .rtf so that you can open them from your Windows install.

bhav23 · Answer

thank you very much for your response.. is there anyway i can install itunes on ubuntu or is there any program that manages my ipod music on this os? if i can get this working properly. i will probably do a complete installation of ubuntu on my whole harddrive and get rid of xp.  would you recommend this? the programs i use on a daily basis are aim, vlc, itunes, and ms word.

tor528 · Answer

Here are the programs that can be used instead of what you are using in Windows:

Aim: Gaim (Applications > Internet > Gaim Internet Messenger) or meebo (http://www.meebo.com)

VLC: VLC

iTunes: Amarok (supports iPod)

MS Word: OpenOffice.org Word Processor

As for getting rid of Windows, you may want to mess around with Ubuntu exclusively for a month or so to make sure you can live without Windows. I still have a Windows partition, but I very rarely boot into it.

Message Edited by tor528 on 07-04-2007 01:03 PM

Linux General

installing ubuntu on seperate partition

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