Alright I want to Dual boot Windows XP and Linux, I am holding off on installing linux until I can figure out how to dual boot it, Any suggestions? The Linux version I am ready to install is Ubuntu. This one has stumped me so any help would be greatly appreciated!

Gunny

Tried the partitioning and it installs and seems to exist.... Problem is I cant Access it because I need to set the master boot record or Grub, problem is I am a total noob in both. If somebody could help me out a bit I'm sure I could get it going, any help would be great!

Gunny

Try this....

www.goodbye-microsfot.com

it is an easy install of Linux, creates the partition etc.

After physically unhooking my windows drive and installing it to my other drive (Complete format and install) it wont boot, I get a boot disk error, Could this be a bios problem? Its really really annoying me

Gunny

PI, Thanks for the reply, But I took my windows hard drive and unplugged it, Loaded up the live cd of ubuntu, ran the install partioned the secondary drive and everything, restarted.... and it would not detect Ubuntu on the hard drive, I don't know if it actually installed or a faulty disk or what (install disk I mean) My problem is Ubuntu will not install onto my hard drive, it formats and partitions, but will not Install, I'll look at the links and see if I can find anything relevant, I tried IRC and Ubuntu forums to no avail. Thanks for the help though.

Gunny

With the Ubuntu cds, when it firsts loads you should have a option to check the disc for defects, try that to make certain you don't have a bad disc.
As alzone states it needs to be installed in EXT3 format. If you boot into Windows Windows should show the partitions there but they will be labeled as "unknown"

Now I am uncertain if Ubuntu will even install on anything but EXT3 so if your partition your installing too is not this format then it may not have installed at all.

You should be able to just try to reinstall. That is what is nice about the Linux file system is that it is relativity easy to upgrade by being able to install directly over other installs.

But whatever you do on a dual boot you want to make certain that Windows remains on the beginning of the drive.

Good luck, the Linux forums are a awesome place to find help. Post in the Ubuntu forums and I bet you'll be up and running today.

Yeah that shouldn't happen, lol.
Could be a bad disc, too be sure I would definatly try another. You mention downloading, you may want to get a actual Live CD instead.
You can get them free, or some places make you pay for them. Check out local newsstands and PC Magazines every so often you will find a magazine with a Live CD included.

I just had another thought...

Are you creating a Linux swap partition?  This needs to be about double the size of your physical memory ie. 512mb Ram means you need to create a 1gig swap partition.

Eg.  100 gig drive with on a system with 1gig ram will have:  a 1gig /Home partition for ubuntu main OS files, a 98gig EXT3 partition (for all your linux stuff to go on!) and a 2 gig swap partition (acts like a windows swap file).  These numbers are just examples - your actual sizes may differ!  

Gparted(?) gives you the options to do this...

Hope this helps,

Al

It's been a while since I have done an Ubuntu install but 1.5 x your RAM should be fine.  Ie. 2 gig ram = 3 gig swap file.

From memory you should have a /home EXT3 partition (which is a bit like a Windows 'documents and settings' folder - the advantage being you can do upgrades and changes without losing your settings.  It is not necessary but that was how I was told to do it.), a EXT3 partition for all the rest of your files and a EXT3 swap partition.  When you run the live disk, and start the install, the partitioning software will give you the option to do this along the way.  I did it manually which allows you to set the partitions.  I think you only need 1or 2gig for the /home partition and 3gig (in your case) for the swap partition.  The rest will be your main partition.

Try http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/index.php and http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/2622/how-to_dual-boot_ubuntu for more help.

When I did it I only had one drive and formated it then created a 50% NTFS partion and left the rest raw.  Then I installed windows on the NTFS partition.  After that I ran the Ubuntu live CD and proceeded with the install on the remaining 50% that I left raw, using the partitioning software during the install, to format that partition as I outlined above (/home, swap, and main - all EXT3).

I am sorry if I seem a bit vague on this but, like I said, it's been a while!  If you have tried all that has been pointed out in this thread and still have no joy I would probably just wait for the fresh CD, that you mentioned, to arrive and try again.

Good Luck!

Al