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Joined: Jun 03, 2008 Posts: 2
Location:New Delhj,India
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Posted Jun 09, 2008 at 12:31:52 PM
Subject: Can I return Back to Winows XP, in case I mess up my PC by?
I've not yet installed or downloaded linux even though I'm very keen on it. Now before I start on Linux, then if I download and save linux on a different partition [Not the boot one], then in that case will I have a DUAL OPERATING SYSTEM or will everything crash into nothing resulting in formatting my boot drive and reinstalling WINDOWS XP. Folks have scared me so much about complexities of linux, that before I start on it, I would want to make sure that experts here would guide me properly. I WOULDN'T TRY BOOTING IT FROM A CD AND SLOW DOWN the system overly. However even there I'm not sure from the available resources[FAQ etc] whether desktop linux burning on a CD implies saving it in a difrent partition....help needed.
Neil(Nick)
Anil Mahajan (real name)
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Drunk_Mexican
Joined May 29, 2008
Posts: 36
Location:The Great State of Texas
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Posted:
Jun 09, 2008 2:16:49 PM
Subject: Can I return Back to Winows XP, in case I mess up my PC by?
If when you install you put Linux on a separate partition then yes you will have a dueal boot system. When you turn your computer on it will give you the option to pick which OS you want to boot up.
I am not going to lie either. Linux is complex but only because it is a different way of doing things. If you are a windows user you would have the same issues if you were switching to a Mac. The important things are patience, knowing where to go for help, and willingness to learn something new.
There is nothing wrong with booting a Live version Linux from CD. You can explore Linux without worrying about changing anything to your system or messing anything up because after you eject the CD everything goes back to the way it was before you put the CD in.
When you are ready to install and keep Linux for good if you want to keep windows also you will need a partition for Linux to use. If you dont want Windows anymore get rid it by just letting Linux take all available hard disk space.
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Shashank Sharma
Joined Jan 01, 1970
Posts: 1657
Location:New Delhi, India
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Posted:
Jun 09, 2008 4:33:31 PM
Subject: Can I return Back to Winows XP, in case I mess up my PC by?
Neil, allow me to settle some of your nerves.
1. Linux and Windows can't co-exist on the same partition. So, you will have to install Linux on a different partition, otherwise you will lose Windows and all your data. This is completely safe if you are attentive and careful.
2. Linux can do almost everything Windows can. So, you get all your office documents, presentations, spreadsheets, etc. that will work in Linux, and you also get to enjoy all sorts of multimedia. There is support for just about all multimedia formats on Linux, including DVD, MP3, wav, OGG, etc. You can even install VLC or Real Player on Linux.
3. Use a Live CD. With Live CDs you can get acquainted with Linux, at zero risk. Use the applications, enjoy the look-and-feel of Linux, and slowly expose yourself to Linux.
4. You can dual-boot without hassles, and you will be able to access your Windows partitions from Linux.
5. There is good support for webcams, graphics cards, wireless cards, etc. You can google search if your hardware is supported on Linux.
6. If after using Linux and the available applications, you still feel the need to use some Windows applications, you can install Windows applications within Linux using Wine or Crossover:
http://wine.org
http://www.codeweavers.com/
7. Virtualization. Virtualization applications like VMWare and MS Virtual PC, allow you to install Linux within your existing Windows installation. So, NO PARTITIONING is required. You won't have to dual-boot and this is completely safe. We've often reviewed VMWare and other virtualization tools here at Linux.com so you can search the site.
As far as your concern about everything crashing, and you losing data, because of dual-booting, let me assure you nothing will go wrong if you're careful. Dual-booting is very safe. It's the steps leading up to it that scare people. First and foremost you need to have a free partition on your disk. If you don't have a free partition, you can either get a new disk, or you can resize your hard disk to create a partition.
Many current Linux distributions allow you to resize your hard disk during installation itself, so you can imagine how easy it is to do things nowadays. Once you have free partition or a second disk to install Linux on, you install Linux on it. Just carefully select the partition or disk where you wish to install Linux and you won't lose your Windows or data.
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Coauthor of Beginning Fedora: From Novice to Professional published by Apress.
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Shashank Sharma
Joined Jan 01, 1970
Posts: 1657
Location:New Delhi, India
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Posted:
Jun 09, 2008 4:39:56 PM
Subject: Can I return Back to Winows XP, in case I mess up my PC by?
I re-read your post and here's more on dual-booting:
1. You download Linux.
2. You burn a disk. That is, you burn the ISO image you downloaded to a CD/DVD depending on what you download.
You can't just copy what you downloaded into a different partition. That's not how Linux is installed. You need to make a disk and then install from that disk, just like you install Windows.
3. You restart your computer and change the BIOS boot-order. On most machines, you enter the BIOS setup by pressing either the F2 or the Del key. Once inside the BIOS setup, change the boot-order such that your CD/DVD drive is read first, before the hard disk.
4. You put in the Linux CD you just burned and restart your computer.
5. You install Linux from the CD.
6. Follow the installation instructions on screen. Helps to also look through some of the reviews etc. of the distro you are installing. Also, many sites put up detailed installation screenshots, so you can refer to those to guide you.
7. During installation, you will be asked whether or not to install the boot-loader. Please install the boot-loader. The boot-loader will provide you a menu to choose whether you wish to boot Windows or Linux everytime you turn on your machine.
Cheers!
Coauthor of Beginning Fedora: From Novice to Professional published by Apress.
Please follow the Forum Guidelines
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Neil
Joined Jun 03, 2008
Posts: 2
Location:New Delhj,India
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Posted:
Jun 10, 2008 3:25:59 PM
Subject: Can I return Back to Winows XP, in case I mess up my PC by?
I find very helpful folks out here. Thanks for the advise. My windows is on Boot drive and all other expensive software on two other partitions which I lose [many] everytime I have to format. Anyway, I'll take the risk and download it in a folder on a second or the third partition and see what happens. I don't quite get this CD burning stuff. I presume I download it on a second partition and burn the CD from there and then load Linux and run it from the CD. I'll try and see what else I can find here or elsewhere.
Thanks once again.
Neil
Neil(Nick)
Anil Mahajan (real name)
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proopnarine
Joined Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 590
Location:San Francisco
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Posted:
Jun 11, 2008 6:45:32 AM
Subject: Can I return Back to Winows XP, in case I mess up my PC by?
Anil,
You can download the live CD iso image anywhere that you can burn a CD from. It does not have to be on a separate partition. Then, once burned (iso burning, not copying), place the CD in the drive and re-boot. If your BIOS is set to allow booting from CD, then you will soon have a functioning live Linux system for testing.
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lametike
Joined Jun 20, 2008
Posts: 4
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Posted:
Jun 20, 2008 12:58:22 PM
Subject: Can I return Back to Winows XP, in case I mess up my PC by?
as long as you dont install the linux, the hard disk will shu down in a few minutes and your cd will take over.
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