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Possible Duplicates:
Dual Booting Linux and Windows XP
Booting Multiple Operating Systems

I have a machine with Windows on it, and I would like to be able to reboot to Linux. I am certain this is possible. How can I achieve this?

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2 Answers 2

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Which Operating System do you want to run?

You'll need to partition your hard disk for other OS. For details on how to do this, you can check out this guide.

I would advise trying out Linux, especially Ubuntu. Thus, let's assume that the OS you want is Ubuntu.

Two easy ways: the first method is to use Wubi Installer. Try this guide.

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Alternatively, you can try with a Live CD. You'll need to follow these instructions.

You can try multiple Operating Systems in Virtual Machines such as VirtualBox (free), VMware Workstation and Microsoft Virtual PC.

There is corresponding documentation on their websites.

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  • Sweet, thanks! Yes I want to install Ubuntu on my Windows machine, and I think the partition idea is good. Doing a partition will make sure that files cannot be accessed between the two, correct? Say I wanted to share files between the two, would that even be possible? Thanks again! Mar 18, 2010 at 13:32
  • That Wubi web site is having some serious problems Mar 18, 2010 at 13:34
  • if you can't get wubi from its official webiste, you can try other mirrors (ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download-wubi, softpedia.com/get/System/Boot-Manager-Disk/Wubi.shtml ) Mar 18, 2010 at 13:36
  • Sharing files will be possible if you use the right file system. Windows ignores partitions with linux-specific file system (like ext3/ext4/reiserfs) but linux is able to read and write nearly everything (meanwhile even ntfs). So you would just have to create a fat32 or ntfs partition in order to access it from windows and linux.
    – Ham Vocke
    Mar 18, 2010 at 13:50
  • I don't think I can try Wubi on Windows 7 :( Mar 23, 2010 at 14:29
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This is very easy. Moden Linux distributions generally install a bootmanager, i.e. a piece of software that shows up on startup and lets you choose which operating system to boot.

It looks like this:

grub bootmanager

To get this, you simply download a Linux-distribution of your choice and install it according to the instructions. Along with the install a bootmanager will be installed and you are free to select the desired operating system on reboot.

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