fhsm
August 5th, 2008, 02:28 AM
Goal: Install 8.04 for dual boot on an old system running XP Home SP2 with 10 GB of free space in a single system NTFS partition.
I started with the instructions at APCMag.com (http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed _first.htm?page=1) which are quite good.
I defragmented my drive using Win XP’s built in defrag utility. I then booted from my Hardy CD and started the install as described in the APC Mag instructions. I used the guided partition resize size slider-bar to set the new partition to 7 GB and clicked past the "Write Changes" warning.
After working for 2 min or so my system returned an error and then displayed the existing partitions (the little FAT16 partition and the full system NTFS partition) and gave no further useful options. I tried twice more with smaller partitions before giving up and rebooting into windows without any problem.
In windows I freed up as much free space as I could. I found clearing system restore points as described by Microsoft here (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555367)quite helpful. After freeing an additional 7 GB I ran the Windows’ defrag tool. I repeated the Ubuntu install which failed again, in the same way.
I then moved onto a free (beer) 3rd party defrag utility, Auslogics Disk Defrag (http://www.auslogics.com/disk-defrag), which was much better. I also used Auslogics Registry Defrag (http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/registry-defrag), also free (beer), for the heck of it.
After Registry Defrag finished the system rebooted into XP. I rebooted the system from the Ubuntu CD. Finally I was able to get the Ubuntu installer to make and then install into a 7 GB partition as described at APCMag.com.
The system then rebooted and GRUB defaulted me into Hardy, which ran without any problem. I restarted and tried to boot into Win XP. After the initial XP splash the system dropped to the reduced resolution safe-mode screen and wanted to check drive integrity using chkdsk. Amazingly, after running the three stage check, XP rebooted the system, I selected XP from the GRUB menu and it boot into XP just fine.
Take home:
Starting from a very old XP install it will save you some time if you defrag a couple of time using something better than the XP utility. It’s also important to have a good bit more space free than you plan to use for your Ubuntu partition. Finally, XP is going to stop your heart for a second on the first reboot, but it should turn out okay in the end.
Hope this helps someone.
I started with the instructions at APCMag.com (http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed _first.htm?page=1) which are quite good.
I defragmented my drive using Win XP’s built in defrag utility. I then booted from my Hardy CD and started the install as described in the APC Mag instructions. I used the guided partition resize size slider-bar to set the new partition to 7 GB and clicked past the "Write Changes" warning.
After working for 2 min or so my system returned an error and then displayed the existing partitions (the little FAT16 partition and the full system NTFS partition) and gave no further useful options. I tried twice more with smaller partitions before giving up and rebooting into windows without any problem.
In windows I freed up as much free space as I could. I found clearing system restore points as described by Microsoft here (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555367)quite helpful. After freeing an additional 7 GB I ran the Windows’ defrag tool. I repeated the Ubuntu install which failed again, in the same way.
I then moved onto a free (beer) 3rd party defrag utility, Auslogics Disk Defrag (http://www.auslogics.com/disk-defrag), which was much better. I also used Auslogics Registry Defrag (http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/registry-defrag), also free (beer), for the heck of it.
After Registry Defrag finished the system rebooted into XP. I rebooted the system from the Ubuntu CD. Finally I was able to get the Ubuntu installer to make and then install into a 7 GB partition as described at APCMag.com.
The system then rebooted and GRUB defaulted me into Hardy, which ran without any problem. I restarted and tried to boot into Win XP. After the initial XP splash the system dropped to the reduced resolution safe-mode screen and wanted to check drive integrity using chkdsk. Amazingly, after running the three stage check, XP rebooted the system, I selected XP from the GRUB menu and it boot into XP just fine.
Take home:
Starting from a very old XP install it will save you some time if you defrag a couple of time using something better than the XP utility. It’s also important to have a good bit more space free than you plan to use for your Ubuntu partition. Finally, XP is going to stop your heart for a second on the first reboot, but it should turn out okay in the end.
Hope this helps someone.