installing new os

i just got a free copy of linspire.... check out ******** .... and i want to no how to install it but not overwrite windows... i tried looking at the support site for linspire but i dont really understand. i dont want to boot from the cd... well maybe but im not sure... help!

 

Dual Boot WIN 2000/XP & Linux
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1. Use fdisk to partition your drive properly.

NOTE: If you already have Windows installed use QTParted from the Knoppix Live CD to reduce the size of your Windows partition. Leave at least 10 GB of drive space for Linux.

2. Install Windows 2000/XP on the first partition.

NOTE: Skip this step if Windows is already installed.

3. Start your Linux Installation and install the /root directory into the second partition. Install GRUB/LILO into the first sector of your boot partition (usually /boot) and NOT in the MBR.

4. Reboot into Windows 2000/XP.

5. Download & install Bootpart.

NOTE: Install Boot part to C:\BootPart

6. Run Bootpart by doing the following:

Start -> Run
CMD
OK
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Command Terminal will open, at the command prompt type the following command, pressing enter after each command.

cd \bootpart
bootpart
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When you run it, you get a report similar to the one below:

Physical number of disk 0: ffff6a32
0 : C:* type=42 , size=22659651 KB, Lba Pos=63
1 : C: type=42 , size=17358232 KB, Lba Pos=45319365
Physical number of Disk 1 : ca1dca1d
2 : D: type=83 <Linux native>, size=6184993 KB, Lba Pos=63
3 : D: type=82 <Linux swap>, size=522112 KB, LBA Pos=12370050
4 : D: type=83 <Linux Native>, Size=1542240 KB, LBA Pos=13414275
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7. Since GRUB/LILO was installed in the first Linux partition, the command for modifying BOOT.INI in this example is: C:\BootPart\bootpart 2 bootlinx.bin Linspire

NOTE: Substitute you Linux Distribution name for Mepis in the above command, i.e. Debian, RedHat, Fedora, Gentoo, CentOS, Mandrake, Mandriva, Ubuntu, Slackware, Suse.

Your boot.ini should be similar to this one:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
C:\BootPart\bootlinx.bin="Linspire"​

 

um in english plz

 

I'm sorry, but these are the clearest and simplest instructions you'll find anywhere on the net. Configuring a dualboot Windows/Linux system is not easy. If you are having problems with these instructions, then you are going to have problems using Linux.

 

For Linspire specific installation:

Install Windows
Allocate 10 GB secondary partition for linspire format as fat32.
Boot Linspire from CD(boot from cd in bios)
Choose advanced install from linspire install screen
When all the partitions are displayed choose the allocated 10 gb fat32 partition to install linspire
Set user name password etc Linspire will install
Restart and you will get to the bootloader to choose windows or linux

 

Hey SPD what do you think of the write mbr checkbox in this screenshot?

 

I normally don't allow Linux to rewrite the MBR, more often then not it will cause problems with the 2000/XP install.

 

SPD:So we leave the write mbr unchecked and use bootpart and modify boot.ini?So the windows bootloader will load before grub?

 

It is best to leave the MBR alone, and leave NTLDR in control of the boot process. Using partpart to modify the boot.ini, always works. What bootpart does is copy the Linux bootsector to the c:\ drive, then when Linspire is selected from the boot menu, boot.ini loads the bootsector and passes control to GRUB or LILO which ever is installed.

 

Linspire is too much like Windows. You should try Ubuntu, if you lean towards Gnome, or Mepis if you prefer KDE, desktops. I like the KDE. You can download the Mepis ISO to a CD and run it live from your CD drive. Once loaded, you can play with the Live CD, and if you like it, you just click on the Install Icon, and it will run you through the steps.

I am glad you are considering running a Linux based system, once you do, you will never turn back.