Two hard drive questions

[redcogs]

Hi.

i'm about to switch to a different ISP, and i'm considering taking the opportunity to wipe (format) my two hard drives and have a fresh start.

Currently i'm a windows xp person, but detest aspects of it. However, kids and partner will require it, and i suspect i will also, so i'll reinstall. i would also like to try Ubuntu.

Will it be best to have one operating system on each HD? And if so, is it a straight forward task sorting it please. i'm not brilliant at PCs, so any advice from the boffins please?

 

[marinyork]

Dual booting isn't too bad, but some people have difficulty.

http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/2006/06...6-dapper-linux-desktop-along-side-windows-xp/

 

[johnnyh]

you can always boot the Linux environment from a CD/DVD or USB device to try it out.

 

[tyred]

If you are setting up a dual boot set up, install the Windows first and then Linux. Linux will then recognise Windows and provide a options on which system to use when the computer boots up. Windows won't and you'll have to sort this part out manually.

Also when I set up my dual boot laptop, I made the majority of the hard drive into FAT32 partitions which could be recognised by both Windows and Linux giving yourself access to the full hardrive. Windows won't recognise a Linux EXT2 or 3 partition without special software.

 

[beanzontoast]

you can always boot the Linux environment from a CD/DVD or USB device to try it out.

Was going to suggest this, There are 'live cd' versions of some Linux flavours so you can at least try it without actually having to install on your hard drive.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

..see those questions weren't so hard were they.

 

[barq]

You can put an OS on each hard drive and use the BIOS (or a bootloader) to choose between them. Or put Windows and Ubuntu on the same drive and then all your data (the My Documents folder and Ubuntu's /home directory) on the 2nd drive. If, like me, you are the kind of person who periodically needs to reinstall the operating system it can be handy.

Either way, put Windows on first then Ubuntu.

 

[redcogs]

Thankyou.

 

[Piemaster]

I'm currently writing this using firefox running on a ubuntu liveCD. First time I've used linux as well
Bit slow but then it is off a cd on my laptop with dial-up speed connection so wasn't expecting too much.

Give it a try.

for the record:
Advent 7036

CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.60 GHz
BIOS: PhoenixBIOS. Press F2 to enter
Chipset: Intel 865PE
Memory: 512MB TwinMOS PC2700 DDR SODIMM (2 memory slots. Max 2GB)
Hard Drive: 40GB Hitachi Travelstar
Optical Drive: HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GWA-4040N
Screen: 15" TFT (Native Resolution 1024x768)
Video Card: nVidia GeForce FX Go 5300
Sound Card: Realtek AC'97 audio
Modem: Intel 537EA
Network Card: Realtek 8139 / 810X (onboard) &
Wireless: Prism 3890 802.11g
PC Card: Will take either 2x Type I/II or 1x Type III

 

[Carwash]

Good advice, all.

Just out of interest... why has changing ISP prompted you to format your hard drive? Are they really *that* bad?!

 

[redcogs]

i'm formatting because there is an accumulation of unused programs etc that i can't seem to remove. Plus i like the idea of a totally fresh start. Windows xp always seems to function better following a reinstall?

 

[Sittingduck]

When was the last time you ran ad-aware or defragged your harddrive?

 

[Carwash]

When was the last time you ran ad-aware or defragged your harddrive?

You wacky Windows-users with your 'defragging' and 'ad-aware'. Gawd luv ya!

 

[mr Mag00]

thats 3 questions

Hi.

i'm about to switch to a different ISP, and i'm considering taking the opportunity to wipe (format) my two hard drives and have a fresh start.

Currently i'm a windows xp person, but detest aspects of it. However, kids and partner will require it, and i suspect i will also, so i'll reinstall. i would also like to try Ubuntu.

1 Will it be best to have one operating system on each HD?

2 And if so, is it a straight forward task sorting it please.

3 i'm not brilliant at PCs, so any advice from the boffins please?

 

[barq]

Windows xp always seems to function better following a reinstall?

Yep. You can clean up a system to a certain degree (cleaning the registry helps) but a clean install of Windows often feels significantly faster.