by Tenebris

Created on: May 21, 2008

With the release of Windows Vista, many Windows users suddenly found themselves seeking alternatives yet at the same time many were reluctant to let go of a familiar operating system altogether. Adding the Linux operating system without deleting Windows, so that both are available as bootable options, allows experimenting with Linux without going completely cold turkey. This process is commonly known as dual-booting.

However, it is very important that Linux be added correctly, so as not to overwrite your existing data. Whenever installing two operating systems intended to be dual-booted on a single computer, it is crucial that one system neither overwrite the other's boot menu nor oppose it, so that both operating systems are recognised as bootable options and work together smoothly. The easiest way to do this with Windows and Linux is to use the free Linux-based Ubuntu 8.04 application, which also includes a beautiful range of tools from standard Office Suite material (OpenOffice) to its own Internet browser. You can choose to download it directly from the Ubuntu website, or you can order a free CD (up to ten weeks to arrive). It requires 256 Mb RAM and 4 Gb disk space.

Most important for our purpose, Wubi (short for "Windows Ubuntu installer", bundled with Ubuntu since the 8.04 release) is specifically designed to be able to dual-boot the appropriate version of Linux with Windows, providing that Windows is the first O/S installed.

Whether you are working from the downloaded .exe file or from the CD, you first want to pull up the option to install from the Ubuntu menu. Follow the instructions, choosing the options you want: but when you reach the screen which asks about disk partitioning, DON'T choose "use entire disk". Remember, your Windows O/S is already using some of that disk space! If you tell Ubuntu to use the entire disk space, it will overwrite Windows automatically. Instead, choose one of the partition options. You can choose to let Ubuntu do this partitioning automatically, or you can do it yourself manually.

Finish the rest of the installation following the instructions, making sure to stay within Windows until the installation is complete (the computer may reboot once or twice during this period), and then restart your computer. When the computer reaches the stage of booting up the operating system, you will be given a choice between whether to continue in Ubuntu or Windows. This choice will be given to you anew, each and every time you reboot. Note that Ubuntu will now be the new default O/S. If you find it relevant, it is possible to restore the default option to Windows, though you will now have to do it from within the Ubuntu bootloader (sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.1st).

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