[Techtalk] Re: [prog] FW: Running XP and Linux

[Rasjid Wilcox]

On Saturday 28 February 2004 14:51, E. K. Lua wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I just bought a laptop, Pentium IV 2.0 GHz, with 768MB RAM, and 30 GB
> Harddisk.  It was installed with Microsoft XP HOME, and the harddisk is not
> partitioned, so I am unable to install Linux OS.
>
> Please could someone help to advise if I do not wish to erase the current
> Windows XP (since some of the software has been installed and I don't have
> their software CDs),i.e. to keep the current Windows XP, and be able to
> install Linux and perhaps do a Dual Boot.  I understand there's this
> PartitionMagix... Is this good?
>
> I need some urgent help here, as I couldn't proceed further...

Not an open-source solution, but I can recommend BootIt NG from TeraByte 
Unlimited.  The software is shareware, and can be downloaded free of charge.  
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html.  It is a small download and 
boots off either a floppy or a CD (the CD image requires a CD writer of 
course).

The main trick with BootIt NG is when it says "Welcome to Setup.  Click the OK 
button to install BootIt NG to the hard drive" click **CANCEL**. This will 
put you into maitainence mode, and you run the partition editor from there.

For open-source solutions, I believe that Mandrake has inbuilt NTFS resizing 
as part of its install.  Other distros probably have it now too.  I don't 
know how well they work, as I have not used them.  I have used the NTFS 
resizing feature of the SystemRescueCD.  I noticed some odd things in the 
filesystem after that, although they might have been there already.  I didn't 
check first.  :-(

Anyway, I hope this helps.

Cheers,

Rasjid.

PS.  I don't see what this post has to do with programming.  I have redirected 
to Techtalk, since that seems like a better place for it.  Unless the 
original poster says otherwise, other responders may want to cc them, since I 
don't know what lists they are subscribed to.

-- 
Rasjid Wilcox
Canberra, Australia (UTC +11 hrs)
http://www.openminddev.net