Linux Dummies 9th

Chapter 2: Prepping Your Computer for Linux
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The scenario that many people prefer is to add a second, fresh hard drive on
which to install Linux. This is by far the easiest solution for a dual-boot
system, and one we recommend you use if at all possible.
If you’re comfortable working with hard drives, you can always partition an
existing hard drive to make room for Linux. Partitioning means having two or
more logically separate areas on the same physical hard drive. The computer
sees each partition as a separate disk. We tackle this process a little later in
this chapter.
Just make a note of which drive is which as far as the computer sees them:
You want to make sure that you leave your Microsoft Windows installation
untouched. All you need to know is which drive (Windows or Linux) is
first and which is second as far as the computer is concerned. You can find
out about how to read the order information in the section “Partitioning an
existing hard drive for a dual boot” later in this chapter. When you are sure
you know which drive is which, proceed to the section “Double-Checking
Hardware Compatibility” later in this chapter.
It’s extremely important that you know which hard drive has your original
Windows installation on it. When you load Linux, you don’t want to accidentally
install it over your original Windows drive! This is another reason it’s
important to back up any important files before starting this process.
Accidents can (and often do) happen!
If you can’t spare an entire hard drive for Linux and you already have
Windows installed, you have to resize your current Windows installation. You
need to work through this entire chapter.
Absolutely DO NOT PROCEED TO CHAPTER 3 without at least reading the next
section, “Preparing to Use Linux and Microsoft Windows Together.” Sorry for
yelling, but you can wipe out your whole Windows installation if you don’t
take precautions!
Other installing scenarios
If you absolutely don’t want to dual-boot using your hard drive, you have
three other options — we know we said that there were three approaches
in total and adding three here brings us up to six, but give us a moment to
explain.
You can use a virtual server software package, such as VMWare or Sun’s
VirtualBox (see Chapter 20) to install a “virtual” Linux machine that lives in
a window inside your existing Windows installation. You keep your Windows
disk as-is without any modifications. You just install Linux within the virtual
area created by the VMWare or VirtualBox software.