Ubuntu Linux / Windows XP Dual Boot

So... I can't escape from Windows XP. I still need it!!! at least for Microsoft Share Point text editing, by Internet Explorer.

Other admin tools work better in Windows than in Linux. (I want to emphasize: "just admin tools").

I have to try the Dual Boot option so that Windows and Ubuntu can coexist on the same Desktop PC.


My System:
Desktop PC: Dell Optiplex 330
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo "64-bits"
RAM: 2GB
Ubuntu Version: 10.04 LTS Lucid Lynx
Windows Version: XP
Hard Disk Size: 160 GB



Installing Ubuntu with Dual Boot is essentially the same procedure described in the previous post:

"Installing Ubuntu Linux"
http://ajimenez-linux.blogspot.com/2011/01/installing-ubuntu-linux.html

The difference is the Step 4: "Prepare your disk space"

a) Last time we selected "erase and use the entire disk", but this time we have to select:

"Install them side by side, choosing between them each startup."

At the bottom of the window, you can see the current partitions with the OS and size assigned.

Just drag the little "square" cursor in the color bar so that you can adjust the size of your Ubuntu Linux partition which is about to be created.

For example:

Dell Utility Partition (/dev/sda1)
41.1 MB

Microsoft Windows XP Professional (/dev/sda2)
41.1 GB

Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS
118.8 GB

Click "Forward"


b) Now you'll see a warning message:
"Write previous changes to a disk and continue?"

With this text:

"Before you can select a new partition size, any previous

changes have to be written to disk.

You cannot undo this operation.

Please note that the resize operation may take a long time."


Click Continue. You will see a progress bar with the title "Resizing Partition".


c) You'll go to Step 5: Who are you?
Enter your information like in the previous post.


d) Finally, we know what the Step 6 is.
(Remember that we didn't see it during the previous post?)

Step 6: "Migrate documents and settings".

With this text:

"Select any accounts you would like to import. The documents and settings for these

accounts will be available after the install completes.

If you do not wish to import any accounts, select nothing and go to the next page.

There were no users or operating systems suitable for importing from."

Click Forward. (I didn't have anything to migrate :( ... )


e) Go to the Step 7 which is a summary and click Install.
(like in the previous post)


f) Reboot the computer. You'll see this menu immediately.

GNU GRUB version 1.98-1ubuntu7

--------------------------------------------------------

Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-24-generic

Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-24-generic (recovery mode)

Memory test (memtest86+)

Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)

Dell Utility Partition (on /dev/sda1)

Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda2)

Use the arrow keys to select which entry is highlighted.

Press enter to boot the selected OS, 'e' to edit the commands

before booting or 'c' for a command-line.

Now you are ready to select the OS you want to boot.

As a default, Ubuntu is going to boot after 7 seconds.