How To Dual Boot Linux With Windows?

           To dual boot two operating systems you will require a boot manager. Microsoft’s boot manager has all the extra functionality of a brick. It allows you to boot to…yup, you guessed it…Windows only. However, Linux distros usually include Grub or Lilo to carry out this function. They both let you select which ever operating system you wish, as long as it’s installed obviously.

           We’ll assume you already have Windows installed and want to add Linux. The first step in the process is to sort out the partitions. Each physical computer disc can be split into partitions, which can be formatted in specific and, if necessary, different way. To set up a system that dual boots will require at least three partitions. One is for ‘swap’ which acts as virtual RAM for Linux, and one each for Windows and Linux. The formats of the partitions will differ. Windows will typically beFAT32 or NTFS; swap will be Ext2 and the Linux partition will be Ext2 or Ext3.

           To re-size the partitions and make them permanent some software. You could pay for something like Partition Magic or Partition Wizard or try open source alternatives like GParted or Swiss Knife. If you’re using GParted you will need to make a bootable CD.  Either way, before using any of them make sure you’ve backed up all your important files in case something goes wrong. Make sure you have the necessary media to enable you to reinstall Windows if necessary and that you have the install programs for any other software you use. also make a note of the settings and passwords you need to get online, router passwords etc., and back up your email and your browser config and bookmarks.

              After you completed these preparations, defrag the hard drive. Now if you’re using GParted you can put the CD in the drive and reboot. As you reboot you may now have to access the BIOS and set it up so that the computer selects to boot from the CD drive as a priority, rather than from the hard drive. Save your new setting and boot again. Now your computer will boot using the GParted disc.

Ignore all the gobbledy-gook that your screen will now display. That is just GParted loading a bare bones version of Linux into memory. When you see “Select your language” you can make your choice and move through setting up your keyboard preferences. Next you will be requested to choose X-server type.

          ‘X’ is the graphics system which Linux uses to drive your graphics card and therefore your screen. It also incorporates how your mouse and keyboard will interact on the screen. The X-server allows other applications to access services. We recommend selecting Xvesa as it uses less overhead than Xorg’s version of X. Now you can choose a screen resolution and make color preferences and continue when the GParted screen appears