So, have I learned anything?

[Svenskaflicka]

I've finished 2 months of computer training in order to start a more complex computer course.
Among the things I learned at the old school, was how to format a disk, partition the hard drive, and install a different operative system on each of the partitions.

Now, in order to see if I've really learned anything, I've taken on a very, very dangerous project: I'm going to re-format the hard-drive on my own computer, therebey erasing everything that's on it (I've made a lot of extra back-up copies), and then I'm going to split the disk up into two parts, on which I'm gonna install Windows XP on one of them, and Red Hat Linux 9.0 on the other, and then re-install the programs I want.

If I succeed - yay!

If not - it's gonna be one helluva bill for repairing the machine... *chews nails*

I'm downloading Linux right now, and judging from the speed, I should be able to start the experiment some time tomorrow night.

This is exciting. Am I really gonna be able to do this?

 

[Quasimodem]

Flicka,

You are braver than I am.

That sounds too much like shooting fish, by firing through the bottom of a glass-bottomed boat.

 

[ffreak]

Just aim high, Flicka.

You can do it, but first check for recommends on which to be the primary OS. It may have to be XP in order for the dual boot to work. If so, and you already have XP loaded, all you should have to do is defrag, so everything moves down lower in the partition and then resize the partition downwards, making room for the Linux partition.

Also check into Linux acceptable formats - XP may not be able to see the Linux partition as anything other than unformatted space. If you can't find an XP reader for Linux and vice-versa I'll look around the drawer - I think I have them somewhere.

-FF

 

[gauchecritic]

Make sure you have floppies aplenty. Go to a car-boot sale and buy a one meg hard disk to practice on. XP is probably the easiest OS I've ever installed. Wouldn't dare try linux.

Gauche

 

[The_Fool]

I've taken classes in Operating Systems and Programing. I programmed from risc microcontroller to C++. I worked with Linux, Unix, Windows, Mainframes and no telling what else. I have worked with Networks, Firewalls, VPNs, Voice Convergence, Intrusion Detection, LANs, WANs, Optical Networks, yada yada yada. I have folders full of certifications and training certificates. In all of that I have learned one thing. Computers suck...

 

[Uncle Meat]

Just aim high, Flicka.

You can do it, but first check for recommends on which to be the primary OS. It may have to be XP in order for the dual boot to work. If so, and you already have XP loaded, all you should have to do is defrag, so everything moves down lower in the partition and then resize the partition downwards, making room for the Linux partition.

A bit of advice from someone dual-booting Win98SE and Red Hat 9.0 (and very rarely using Windows).

I don't know if this holds true for XP (I'd suspect it does, knowing the way Microsoft operates), but things will indeed go much smoother to install Windows first, then Linux. The Red Hat installation utility will see that Windows is already there and offer appropriate options. It'll let you pick which OS boots up by default.

Windows, as far as I know, doesn't extend the same courtesy if there's another OS present when you install it. I believe there are ways to work around it, but it's probably easiest just install Windows first.

 

[MathGirl]

Good grief!

This is exciting. Am I really gonna be able to do this?

Dear Svenska,
If we don't hear from you until February, we'll know.
MG
Ps. Good luck

 

[A7inchPhildo]

Re: Good grief!

Dear Svenska,
If we don't hear from you until February, we'll know.
MG
Ps. Good luck

Talk about a vote of confidence.



"However, if it ain't broke don't fix it!" Playing with computers is like building card castles. It can be done but why bother?

 

[Guest]

Phil, hard to tell it's a dick, but again - very cute.

Yeah, most of those comments above would have scared me off. However, I believe Svenska is as fearless as a flicka can be.

Perdita

 

[wildsweetone]

Hey Svenska

If I can format a hard drive with the help of an american who falls asleep half way through the formatting, and a canadian who has 'a best mate' that's a computer bod, then you can do it with your course information beside you.

Well done in advance!

 

[snooper]

Re: Good grief!

Dear Svenska,
If we don't hear from you until February, we'll know.
MG
Ps. Good luck

Usually three to five days, but sometimes even a week if the load goes badly.

 

[Guest]

All the best with it! Just one tip, once you've installed XP don't forget to go into the hidden settings and choose the options likely to cause least disruption. And, don't forget, you've always got the fallback option of Ctrl, Alt, Delete.

http://katie.borncheeky.com/posts/hidden_settings.jpg

http://katie.borncheeky.com/posts/hidden_settings2.jpg

Lou

 

[Wills]

Tatelou,

Very funny - that's why I keep my .Mac on.

Wills

 

[oggbashan]

XT and DOS 3.3 rules

I still keep my XT in working order. When all else fails and I'm reaching for the insulated logging axe to trash my Pentium, the XT allows me to keep writing.

I love its clunky whir and the green slime trail the mouse leaves behind.

Og

PS. Moving the files from 360k floppy floppies via the 386 with two floppy drives is a pain.

 

[Jenny _S]

Wondering

Has anyone seen Svenskaflicka since yesterday?

 

[gauchecritic]

And, don't forget, you've always got the fallback option of Ctrl, Alt, Delete.

Lou

And such a fancy one.

Most I've laughed since Peter Kay at The Top of The Tower.

Gauche

 

[A7inchPhildo]

Tatelou,

That is the same one I have too!
Very funny.

 

[raphy]

Windows first, like someone else said.

Linux is clever enough to work around a second OS install. Windows is supposed to be, but I don't trust it.

Raph, who swears by Win2K Pro, and wouldn't touch XP with Gauche's 10 foot barge pole.

 

[gauchecritic]

Raph, who swears by Win2K Pro, and wouldn't touch XP with Gauche's 10 foot barge pole.

This can't be good. One Brit referring to another's ten foot barge pole in the middle of Litland.

Hwa hwa hwa.

No. Stop messing about.

Oh I say.

Ding dong.

Gauche

 

[Jenny _S]

I checked the MicroSoft tech site and was told:

If you want to dual boot XP and Win98se you need to reformat and install Win98se first, then XP. The reason is because the both use the same boot sector and XP will allow the choice as to which OS to boot.

If you install XP in Linx you would install XP first and Linx will adapt.

I have no experience in this at all.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Still among the living... I mean, surfing

OK...

I copied everything on my computer, to be safe. Used up all the CD's I had. Made a start-floppy-disquette, containing FDISK.COM, FORMAT.COM, IO, CONFIG, and MS-DOS. Erased things left and right.
Restarted the computer with the disquette inside, got into MS-DOS-mode, entered the command FDISK, hit ENTER, it started allright, I followed the instructions, chose to delete the primary partition, in order to create a new, smaller one, along with a second partition - and THAT'S WHEN things started to go wrong.

The stupid thing said that I was in "Standard Mode", and therefor couldn't delete the primary partition.

I decided to wait with the partition experiment until I had some assistance, and instead just re-install WinXP, in order to get rid of some bugs - UNFORTUNATELY, that gave me ANOTHER problem - the #(=)%#%/#"¤¤#¤ thing wouldn't accept the Product Key I typed in, even though it was the one I got from Microsoft when I bought the computer, and it worked the first time it was typed in!

Until Monday, when I can talk to my teachers, I'll just have to put up with my computer the way it is right now. *sigh*

 

[A7inchPhildo]

Seems a bit too complicated to me. However I love the big sucker in your avatar so I wait to see what happends. That is a candy Lolly pop you're holding, right?

 

[Guest]

Phil, start crawling. Now.

Perdita

 

[Svenskaflicka]

No! That's a broomstick! And we're standing in front of the moon! Isn't it OBVIOUS?

 

[A7inchPhildo]

Phil, start crawling. Now.

No! That's a broomstick! And we're standing in front of the moon! Isn't it OBVIOUS?

Yes! only because I read it in a different thread, forget what they called it. I knew it was the moon. You are just so cute, I like to think of it as a lolly pop!