Installing linux

jaddy

Hi,

I am intending to install Linux (Red Hat V7.0) on my PC, but I am newbie in Linux and I don't know anything about the installation process.

My PC currently using Windows XP, and I have 11 Gigs hard disk space which is only one partition. I need to still access my Windows XP tools, so I need the 2 operating systems (Windows and Linux) to be operating on my PC.

Can any body advice my what to do and where to start? Can any body give me a clue?

Thx.

bimmer528

Tough but Ill give it a shot.

Backup windows xp
Download a partition tool that allow's you to create a partition without affecting your operating system. Partitian magic works well I think.
Load up disk 1 of redhat and start the comp up. Install redhat to your other partitian. Notice when you are installing Redhat gives you an option to have a duel boot system. I have never messes around with it but just follow the Red hat install instructions on how to install a duel boot system.

It shouldn't be that hard to get them both going.

jaddy

Thx,

Could anybody giude me so I can download Mandrake 9.1. or Red hat 9 freely?

Thx in advance...

Sxooter

The best way to download them freely is to find an ISO mirror (i.e. cdroms). Note that RedHat 9 is now 5 discs, so even at work, behind a hug fat pipe it takes a while for me to downlaod it.

http://www.linuxiso.org/

largo

Does windows not require it's installation to reside in the first primary partition or the first 1024 cylinders of the drive... I remember some such detail....

As you need to re-install everyhing to get this going, I would recommend using fdisk or cfdisk to create a windows parition first, then a linux boot, swap and other partitions that you need.

Once you have written the partitions, reboot with your windows cd, install the OS on the assigned partition and then move to linux. I did this some while back so I am not sure how accurate the above sequence is.

Reference URL:

http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Linux+Windows-HOWTO/

hths.

Sxooter

I'm not sure about windows needing the first 1024 sectors. The requirement for linux needing to have the kernel in the first 1k sectors went away a while ago.

If you've got a spare drive, install the one you want windows on as the only drive and as primary master. Install Windows. Shutdown, move the Windows hard drive to be the seconary master, and install the drive you'll be putting linux on as the new primary master.

Install linux, and it should pick up the Windows drive and configure LILO or Grub to let you boot from it.

Should you want to move your linux install to another box, simply remove that drive and move it. linux about 99.9% of the time will just reconfigure automagically (or with a small amount of help from you) to the new hardware and go. Plus, the Windows harddrive has only windows and windows boot sectors, nothing from linux left over.