| Before Linux Installation | ||
| Part 1 of the Linux Newbie Administrator Guide | ||
1.8 Can I have MS Windows and Linux installed on the same computer?Yes, you can. Many Linuxers use a dual boot. This is typically achieved by installing MS Windows on one hard drive partition and Linux on another partition. Linux comes with a simple boot manager called LILO (or a more sophisticated one called GRUB), which will let you choose, at boot time, the operating system you boot. Install MS Windows first and Linux only afterwards or else the MS Windows installation program will disable your access to Linux. Have a Linux boot floppy ready if you need to re-install MS Windows--MS Windows will surely disable your access to Linux and you will have to boot Linux from the floppy and then re-run the command lilo to be back in business.From under Linux, you will be able to read from and write to your MS Windows drive partitions so that the data exchange between MS Windows- and the Linux-based program is seamless. You will also be able to use your existing MS Windows-based resources: sound files, backgrounds, pictures, fonts, etc. (First check if it does not violate your license agreement though, smile. For products that are on rent to you from Microsoft, it probably does. With my Linux computers, I am proud to have no pirated software on my system whatsoever.) Next > 1.9 How do I partition my hard drive?
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