by Marie J Kelley

Created on: May 20, 2008   Last Updated: July 09, 2008

Dual booting, also called multi-booting when using more than two operating systems, allows you to choose what you'd like to run each time your computer starts up. If, like many, you are considering using Linux but would also like to continue using Windows XP or Vista there is an option available. Instead of having to choose between learning Linux and keeping Windows, you can dual boot both and be able to switch between the two whenever you need to with just a few easy steps.

The first thing you need to do is back up your files. Even the most experienced computer users find themselves in sticky situations with installs and changes and they know that having their computer backed up is the most important thing they can do for themselves. In XP, simply click on your Start menu, then to Accessories, then System Tools and finally click on Backup. Follow the prompts and choose what information you'd like to back up and where you'd like to back it up to. Unfortunately you won't be able to choose a CDRW, but you can choose an external hard drive or a shared network drive to back your files up to instead. Once you are sure you have backed up anything you feel is important, you can move onto the next step.

Partitioning your hard drive is the process of separating your hard drive into two or more sections. By using a program called PartitionMagic, the process is relatively simple and fast. Start the program and choose the partition you want to make changes to. It's very likely it will be called "Local Disk: C". Choose next and make sure you have selected correctly. Once you have made sure you have chosen correctly, click on Pick A Task and then Resize A Partition. This will make the location that Windows appears smaller so you can fit Linux on. Choose the size you'd like to make your Windows partition and choose the size you'd like to make your Linux partition. For example, if you have a 120 GB hard drive and you want to split it in half you'll have 60 GB for each operating system. Multiply the 60 by 1024 and type that number into the New Size for Partition box and click next.

Now that you've resized your Windows partition, it's time to add a new partition for Linux. Click Pick A Task and then Create A New Partition. Click Next and then it will ask you where the new partition should be placed. Make sure to select Before C so that the partition housing Linux is first in the list. As before, multiply 60 by 1024, type that number in to the Size box, select Primary in the Create

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