How would I (in effect) "dual-boot" ubuntu & lubuntu?

**gopherofdoom** · June 2nd, 2011

Hi all,

This might be a stupid question (but I'd rather ask it anyway!)

I'm just getting a new netbook, and when considering what to put on it, I thought since I like 'standard' ubuntu for all its handy-for-my-workflow bits and bobs I've got used to -- but also sometimes want to be able to use the leaner, faster lubuntu for some tasks or just for fun -- it'd be nice to in effect dual-boot it.

I realise that's not an accurate term since they're both linux and hence the same OS, but you get what I mean, I hope. How would I go about it?

Or do I have a completely wrong understanding of the backstage operations of linux, and differences between ubuntu flavours, and all I need to do is install LXDE...?

TL;DR: Installing ubuntu and lubuntu on the same netbook -- please educate me!

Cheers!

--

FYI, the netbook is the PCSpecialist.co.uk "Axino II", with an 80GB SSD and minus Windows!
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/axinoII/

**Laforge129** · June 2nd, 2011

Originally Posted by gopherofdoom

Hi all,

This might be a stupid question (but I'd rather ask it anyway!)

I'm just getting a new netbook, and when considering what to put on it, I thought since I like 'standard' ubuntu for all its handy-for-my-workflow bits and bobs I've got used to -- but also sometimes want to be able to use the leaner, faster lubuntu for some tasks or just for fun -- it'd be nice to in effect dual-boot it.

I realise that's not an accurate term since they're both linux and hence the same OS, but you get what I mean, I hope. How would I go about it?

Or do I have a completely wrong understanding of the backstage operations of linux, and differences between ubuntu flavours, and all I need to do is install LXDE...?

TL;DR: Installing ubuntu and lubuntu on the same netbook -- please educate me!

I believe this article is related and should help your journey:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=752270

**Joe of loath** · June 2nd, 2011

Basically, install one, leave a partition for the other, and install the other to that one. The second one will detect the first, and allow you to dual boot. However, it might call both 'Ubuntu 11.04', so it might take a bit of trial and error editing grub

**Canime** · June 2nd, 2011

You have to be able to make the partitioning system work for you in a way that is satisfactory. When you make it partitioned you are in effect breaking up hard disk space to account for the files that you will be adding later. Load the system so that one feeds from the other, or have them completely separated for testing purposes, you might want to destroy or delete lubuntu! I've got no need for two systems, but I need to hard drives now that space is becoming scarce, so I rely on an external drive to attempt to give me more space. Uh, that being said I really need more space on my primary drive and have that first sector completely attached to a windows system, something I cannot get rid of.

**ratcheer** · June 2nd, 2011

Note that both installations can use the same swap partition.

Tim

**hhh** · June 2nd, 2011

Whoa whoa whoa whoa... "all I need to do is install LXDE...?" THIS!!! Either...

Code:

sudo apt-get install lxde

http://wiki.lxde.org/en/Ubuntu

Or maybe better...

Code:

sudo apt-get install lubuntu-desktop

http://packages.ubuntu.com/search?ke...ll&section=all

Then choose LXDE from the available sessions in the login manager...
http://wiki.lxde.org/en/Ubuntu#GDM_or_KDM

To return to pure Ubuntu (remove Lubuntu)...
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/puregnome

Hope that helps.

**FuturePilot** · June 2nd, 2011

Originally Posted by hhh

Whoa whoa whoa whoa... "all I need to do is install LXDE...?" THIS!!! Either...

Code:

sudo apt-get install lxde

http://wiki.lxde.org/en/Ubuntu

Or maybe better...

Code:

sudo apt-get install lubuntu-desktop

http://packages.ubuntu.com/search?ke...ll&section=all

Then choose LXDE from the available sessions in the login manager...
http://wiki.lxde.org/en/Ubuntu#GDM_or_KDM

To return to pure Ubuntu (remove Lubuntu)...
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/puregnome

Hope that helps.

This

**3Miro** · June 2nd, 2011

In this case you have two options:

Option 1: Install LXDE along side Gnome and then select between the two at boot time. This is incredibly easy.

Option 2: Get separate partitions (can share swap) for both Ubuntu and Lubuntu and then select between the two at boot time (like you would do with Windows and Linux).

The difference between Ubuntu and Lubuntu is the desktop environment. If this is all that you wish to try, then just go with Option 1.

**Rudra Brahm** · June 2nd, 2011

That's easy if you install each of them in separate hard drives. but make sure you have different user names on the two installations otherwise it will mingle up with each other. make sure to update your grub.
OR
I think you can just install the two environment in a single ubuntu installation and choose the session when you log in.

I have ubuntu 11.04 and mint 10 but on separate hard drives and they work well.

**gopherofdoom** · June 3rd, 2011

Thanks for all the info g/g/o*!

I'll probably do what hhh and FuturePilot suggested, I've given it a go on my current computer and am now writing this from the lubuntu desktop.

Nice and simple.

But thanks also for the info on partitioning, I may be needing that when I put together a desktop later in the year!

Cheers,
Goph

* = guys/girls/other (you can tell I've taken the recent gender-assumptions thread in the Cafe to heart)