Linux on already installed XP

[Mr Possibility]

Hi,



My laptop CD is bad and want to install Linux on the newly created partiton using parition magic

Want to hear you professional responses

Thanks

[Vernon Brown_4]

You will need some kind of media input for Linux install. Easiest is the CD. It might be possible to install through a local network but this would need a special setup.

[Jerome Henry]

Agree with Vernon.
Don't forget that PQ magic signs the MBR, so you won't be able to uninstall it (PQ magic) from your windows once you used it, otherwise win will complain.
You may also have your linux install complain about partition alignment because of it, but you may safely ignore the warning.
I personnly like Redhat family, AS or the free fedora, teh latest is fedora core 2 , on 2.6 kernel.
To get it smooth, you need something like 2GHz CPU, 256 Mb min of ram, and 6 Gb HD.
If you have less, let us know, we'll advise you about another linux distribution.

Hope it helps

jerome henry

[Jerome Henry]

Forgot to add that, as your question is related to secure OS software, Fedora 2 is SE enabled...
(security ehenced : http://www.nsa.gov/selinux/index.cfm )

[Steven E. Protter]

Assuming you have a network card you can install any freely distributed linux by ftp connect.

All you have to do is find a source site to get the software and input enough network setup to get your box on the Internet.

1) Identify the distrbution you want
2) Identify the ftp address to connect to
3) Build a boot floppy from the distribution site that will let you connect.

There are instructions on the linux sites how to do this.

SEP

[Jose Antonio Orozco]

Maybe you can try either vmware (www.vmware.com) or virtual pc (microsoft)

I'm using the first for tests for linux, win98, servers, etc. and i'm glad to avoid installing grub or lilo on the MBR, as i did before, and you will have access simultanously to both or several OSs.

I like RedHat too.

My best regards

J.A. OROZCO

[Fred Ruffet]

VmWare will need a little bit more resources to run an other OS under XP. It may also make you encounter problems you usualy don't have with a standard installation.
Another point about VMWare : I believe new versions are commercials...

Distribution choice depends on your own experience on Linux or more generally on Unixes. I would personnaly go with Slackware without any doubt (secure, stable, Unix touch). I could also suggest Debian but RH or Mandrake are surely more Windows-Users-Friendly...
Best thing is to test them all.

Most of official sites give you access to iso downloads by FTP. The only problems may be time and bandwidth ;)

Regards,

Fred

[Mr Possibility]

Thanks all,
I am thinking of buying a USB external CD drive and Install Redhart ver 8 or 9

Further suggestions will be appreciated

Regards

[Mr Possibility]

Thanks All,

Based on Brown's response, what are those setup that need to be done to install via Network. i have shared a client CD drive, with permisssion but seems to have nothing working

let me have the settings or any onther setup that will support installing via network

Thanks

[Jerome Henry]

Hi,

If by 'share' you mean windows share, then it won't work. You need ftp or http or NFS share.
Then make a boot diskette with bootnet.img, here is the way how :
http://www.europe.redhat.com/documentation/rhl9/rhl-ig-x86-en-9/s1-steps-install-cdrom.php3#S2-STEPS-MAKE-DISKS
http://www.europe.redhat.com/documentation/rhl9/rhl-ig-x86-en-9/s1-begininstall-ftp.php3

Boot from the diskette, you'll be asked where to install from, and here you go.
Thanks to assign points if useful.

Jerome henry