[Techtalk] Dual-boot machine (was re An Introduction)

[Megan Golding]

On Sat, Jan 10, 2004 at 06:18:55PM -0800, Charlie Paine wrote:
> my goal is to run win98se and rh9, idealy i'd like to swap 
> files between each partitian... and i'd like to get on the 
> net and flip back and forth between os'

To share files between Windows and Linux, you'll want to mount the Windows partition under Linux. I usually mount it at /dos or /c. All the files I want to share between the two go into a directory on that system (cause while Linux can read the Windows file system, it's not really possible in the reverse).

Here's a RedHat link for getting at a Windows partition from Linux:
http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-9-Manual/getting-started-guide/s1-q-and-a-windows.html

Using a boot loader, Grub or Lilo, you can set things up to boot into either OS. (but it sounds like you're already there) Unfortunately, switching requires a reboot. VMWare, Win4Lin, WINE, and CrossOver Office offer varying levels of Windows use while running Linux.

VMWare is easy to install but costs about $300US:
http://www.vmware.com/products/desktop/ws_features.html
You run Windows as a window on the Linux desktop (or vice versa). Nice app, but it's a little memory and processor hungry.

I haven't touched Win4Lin, but it's lots cheaper than VMWare, $90US:
http://www.netraverse.com/products/win4lin50/

WINE looked too difficult for me a few years back and so I've never used it, either. It's free:
http://www.winehq.com/site/download

If all you need is MS Office and a few key apps, check out CrossOver Office. It lets you run several Windows programs under Linux, at about $60US: 
http://www.codeweavers.com/site/products/cxoffice/?cw=fea75f557133a249250ed7c044f3183a

Best of luck, Charlie!

Meg
 
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