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ubuntu install to hard drive

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by silverduck441

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the ubuntu partitioner is unable to shrink windows drive to make room for linux partion. would it be easier/safer to install second hard drive for the linux ubunto distro. followed directions for ubunto 6.10 and dedicated swap space and root directory accordingly. afraid some thing might happen to windows if i proceed.

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by hal 9000

Or you could use a partitioning tool like Partition Magic or something similar to shrink down the Windows Partition then install Ubuntu to the unused space on the HDD.

Either way whatever you chose to do you can allow Ubuntu to setup the Partitions Automatically once you have told it where to install itself. Ubuntu like most forms of Linux by default installs 3 partitions one containing the Kernel one with the swap file and the last with the data and programs on it.

Unless you know exactly what you are doing it's better to allow Ubuntu to partition the available space itself as it will give you the best performance that way.

Col

by silverduck441

also will the computer bios detect second drive and give a dual boot option? and do i check the format box when installing the linux distro?

by hal 9000

There will be no problems or if it's a fairly new M'Board it will Auto Detect the HDD's.

As for the Dual Boot Option this will be installed when you install Ubuntu and will give you the option to launch either Windows or Ubuntu before the Windows Splash Screen Appears. There will be some files written to the Primary Boot Drive which will cause the system to become inoperative if the C Drive is removed.

As for the Format option allow Ubuntu to Auto Select how it wants to format the HDD. I haven't used that particular Distro for quite some time so I'm not 100% sure of how things go here but you'll be asked if you want the computer to partition the HDD or do you want to select the various partitions use th Auto Option unless you know Linux very well as Ubuntu like most Nix's install 3 Partitions to the HDD and will look at what's available, what's going to be installed and then make the correct size allocations from there that will prevent trouble further down the line.

Col

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