Linux

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@bpr22 wrote:
Can I have linux and windows on the same system and if so how can i do it? Is it worth downloading linux?

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You should consider re-posting your software issue at the Software - Linux forum, as opposed to here, the Dimension - Upgrade Hardware forum.   Good luck in your quest!

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board?board.id=sw_linux

HTH, :smileyhappy:

B4runo

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Courteous Dell Community Forum members search first, then post.

(edited for typos)

Message Edited by B4runo on 02-17-200503:01 PM

Message Edited by B4runo on 02-17-2005 03:02 PM

Yes, you can have Linux and Windows on the same system. Basically, you need to use something like Partition Magic to shrink your Windows hard drive partition (or use another drive for Linux) and leave the extra space unpartitioned. When you go to install Linux, it will let you put it in the unpartitioned space, and it will install a bootloader that will come up each time you turn your machine on, giving you a choice to continue by booting into Windows or Linux.

I would suggest that you start looking into Linux by downloading a "live CD" version that you burn to a CD. These are CD-bootable versions that run completely off the CD, without touching your hard drive at all. So you can explore Linux and decide if you actually want to install it without messing with your present system. There is a Linspire Live version, and one called Knoppix, and many more.

Mandrake is another option to Partition Magic, if you are financially challenged and/or not as technically knowledgable as you will be in a few weeks or months; it successfully resized my Win2K partition without a hitch and left it completely unchanged except smaller.

Please do back everything up before you attempt this, though, as I have heard that not everybody is as lucky as my illustrious self, especially those using an NTFS file system (as I was) and with a larger hard drive (mine is only about 8 gigs total).

I would have to say that you have already been given the best advice; try out several live CDs before you decide on a particular distro, as I am doing with my P4. Although I am hardly dissatisfied with my Mandrake and it was the best option for my budget, it is rather heavy as far as Linux goes and you might prefer something with fewer bells and whistles.

Slackware and Darned (sic) Small Linux have live CDs. Knoppix is the best known run-from-CD distro, but I have heard that it has minor issues with the Dell Bios--nothing you can't handle, in all likelihood, but something you might want to educate yourself about first.

Best of luck and welcome to the revolution.

I have FC3 and Win Xp set up as a dual boot.I used Knoppix to partition my HD and when FC installs it installs a boot loader which will allow you to chose which OS to boot into.Don't waste your time with partition magic.