How do you install windows Xp and Linux on the same computer?

I was wandering if you can have Windows xp and Linux on the same computer? I know you have to partition your hard drive. But when you install it, how does your computer know if you want to boot into Windows or Linux?

How do you install windows Xp and Linux on the same computer?
You can dual boot with windows and linux.





Here's a quick howto:





Install windows first! - depending on your hard drive - 20 GB is a good size for the primary partition for windows .. if your drive is very large you can use more if you want..





leave part of the drive empty and unformatted.. at least 20 GB


for linux and any additional software





After you get window installed - and all your drivers etc., - shut down - this depends on if you have an install CD for linux -





Before shutting down windows insert the linux CD and restart the computer to Boot from the linux disk. Your computer has to be setup to boot from CD to do this..





Then you can direct the installation to your unformatted partition space.. Just follow the installation and configuration directions after that. Most flavors of Linux will install a boot loader program that offers you a choice of operating systems after the installation is complete..
Reply:It is called dual booting. You can goggle (internet search) for "dual boot XP linux" and see lot of article that describe how to do it.





There is video in youtube which will explain you the process:-


http://youtube.com/watch?v=sorO3xEfVuQ





One of it is given in below link (Window XP and Ubuntu Linux):- http://www.howtoforge.com/dual_boot_wind...
Reply:You can run it as a dual boot, or you can run Windows inside of Linux using VirtualBox, VmWare, etc. If you want to dual boot, you'll be given the option to resize your existing Windows partition during install (on most distros) and it will automatically setup a boot loader for you. When you boot up, it'll stop at a screen asking you which operating system to boot into.





The best distro for someone new to Linux is Ubuntu.


http://www.ubuntu.com


Simply download the LiveCD and burn it (as an image) to a CD. Boot to the CD and install Ubuntu. You can check out this guide here (with installation screenshots) for setting up the perfect Ubuntu desktop.


http://www.howtoforge.com/the_perfect_de...





If you want, later you can read up on how to run Windows inside of Linux. Here's a short vid of me running Windows XP INSIDE of Ubuntu using VirtualBox.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9ecNNRHz...
Reply:Use Wubi! It's the best. It installs linux without you having to do any partioning. It's easy to do. All you do is download it from the link below. Then install it. Run it, and setup how you want the linux to be setup. Like user name and password. Then click next and it will download the iso files for linux do the partioning for you and everything. Then when you turn on your computer it will ask you if you want to boot into Windows XP or Wubi Ubuntu


Select that one. Then it will setup software and get drivers for your hardware from Windows XP. Then your good to go. You now have linux and windows xp dual boot. I love it. I have it on 2 of my computers and it works great!!





http://www.download.com/Wubi/3000-2094_4...
Reply:i dont think u can do that
Reply:look at this. It's a hardware solution involving a switch and 2 HDD's. flip switch one way, boot MS. Flip it the other, boot Linux.





http://www.g4tv.com/screensavers/feature...





good luck