[Techtalk] Installing XP without affectin Linux

[Alvin Goats]

I multiboot so I've had some "fun" with Microsoft. When you install 
WindowsXP, it's going to find the Linux partitions and won't install 
unless you remove the Linux partitions.  Use the Linux fdisk to look at 
the partitions, write down what each partition was originally and set 
the Linux partitions to Solaris (Windows likes Solaris). After you have 
Windows installed, use a Linux Boot CD and set the partitons back to 
their original types.

Currently multi-booting Windows XP, Slackware 12.2, Kubuntu and 
OpenSolaris on a laptop.  Because of some kinks in OpenSolaris, you have 
to use their customized grub installer, so I can't help past that.

Alvin

David Sumbler wrote:
>  
> I suppose this isn't quite a Linux question, although it does relate to
> the fact that the OS I use for almost everything I do is Ubuntu 8.04.
>
> I got myself an iPhone a couple of weeks ago.  Great piece of kit, but
> if I had realized that Apple are as scummy as Microsoft when it comes to
> trying to make you do things *their* way I wouldn't have got it.
>
> There doesn't seem to be a way of backing up or syncing the iPhone with
> the computer except by using iTunes, which only exists for the Mac OS
> and Windows.  There is some Linux software which will allow you to sync.
> using wireless, but I use (and prefer) a wireless router, so it is no
> good to me.
>
> I eventually got iTunes working in Windows XP (service pack 2) in
> VirtualBox, but iTunes won't recognize the iPhone.  After spending many
> hours looking into this, I find that it is quite a common problem for
> users of VB, and although I have applied a couple of supposed solutions,
> they haven't worked for me.
>
> Another solution would be for me to install XP in a real partition, and
> boot it occasionally just for the purpose of running iTunes.  I have a
> partition available which could be used for this purpose.
>
> However, in the past, I found that Windows 95 and 98 would automatically
> commandeer the whole hard drive, so it was always necessary to install
> Windows first and Linux afterwards in order to have a dual boot set-up.
>
> >From installing XP Pro in VirtualBox I get the impression that perhaps
> it is not so greedy or arrogant as 95 and 98 were - but obviously I
> don't want to find out by experiment if my impression is wrong!  So does
> anyone know if I would be able to install WinXP Pro in the spare
> partition without messing up my Ubuntu partitions or making Ubuntu
> unbootable?
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> David
>
>