[a/b] Why is FAT32 necessary? There's an NTFS driver for FUSE that can do NTFS reading and writing. NTFS-3G has just gone stable and loads into the kernel as a module.... FAT32 is unnecessary.
[b] Old BIOSes can't boot external USB drives either. SATA does not need to be an array either, GRUB has a device map for that reason. [c/d] For a start Ubuntu will install GRUB by default.. which should offer you the choice between Windows and Linux. The bootloader will automatically be written to the Master Boot Record and all hard disks will be detected for the presence of other systems. In the case that no bootloader is installed, grub-install can quickly and easily sort it out. Also the Ubuntu Wiki has plenty of info on manually adding a Windows boot option if a Windows install is not detected. [e/f] Why not just install to a hard disk using Wubi in that case? It's easy to test the system while still keeping it up to date and secure. Easy to remove and doesn't come with the penalty that LiveCDs carry. [g] Good idea, find the distro that suits you not the distro with the biggest marketing hype =] [h] Numbers are sexier ;-p Regards, Martyn Hare On Friday 07 March 2008 20:45:30 substation wrote: > That approach implies that > > [a] if you have IDE drives - that linux and windows are installed on the > same drive; thereby implying that if you are still using IDE then your > bios will be so old that it will not support booting from optional IDE > disks. > > It also means that GRUB/LILO or Windows exist at the beginning of the > cylinder - if this was so, then i guess Mark woulnd' need to ask the > question? > > [b] if you have modern SATA disks - then you will need to setup an ARRAY > - thereby implying a re-install of all operating systems. Moving from 2 > SATA drives to 3 could imply the existence of a RAID feature but from 1 > to 2 disks implies no RAID ever existed. > > so i suggest you either: > > [a] Setup a FAT32 partition on your linux disk in order that you can > exchange data between windows/linux or > [b] Buy an external hard disk - partitioned as FAT32 to do the same as [a] > [c] Manually swap the drives over - i.e. open the box and change the > plugs everytime until you decide to stay with one OS or the other. This > is very eeasily done and saves alot of time/effort/money and headaches. > [d] reinstall everything, but this time install both OS to the same > drive giving you the boot option as required. > [e] run linux from a live cd until you are ready to make the change - > which for most people is about 30 minutes after they use ubuntu! > [f] run linux from a pen drive to simulate [e] above. > [g] Try the live CD for any linux distro to test drivers etc and kill > windows - just dive in the deep end, you will enjoy the ride! > > [h] consider any other ideas offered by anyone else! > > hope that helps > j. > > Phil Thompson wrote: > > Mark Rogers wrote: > >> I am at current using windows xp media centre. > >> I have contemplated the switch to ubunto for some time now but > >> reluctant to > >> as I use all my accounts and work items on my current OS. > >> I now have a second hard drive to install in to my PC, and my > >> question is > >> can I run win XP on my C\: and alternatively run ubunto on the second > >> drive. > > > > yes. You can even have them on the same drive if you partition it. > > > >> how do I get the option to pick one of the two to use. > >> will I get a short menu to pick from after post and before the C\: takes > >> over. > > > > this depends on your BIOS to some extent. I have seen PCs with a "Boot > > menu" option after POST where you can just select the relevant HDD. In > > other cases popping into the BIOS and flipping the boot order can > > achieve the same, though a bit clunky. > > > > If these aren't available or don't appeal then a boot loader installed > > on the primary hard disk will give you the option to select which OS > > to boot after POST. > > > > If you put "windows boot loader" into Google you'll see several > > options including GRUB, LILO, the windows boot loader itself etc. > > > > > > Phil > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Peterboro mailing list > > [email protected] > > https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/peterboro > > _______________________________________________ > Peterboro mailing list > [email protected] > https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/peterboro ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Get a free email address with REAL anti-spam protection. http://www.bluebottle.com/tag/1 _______________________________________________ Peterboro mailing list [email protected] https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/peterboro
