help with formatting/dual booting XPS M140

My new XPS is arriving tomorrow (I couldn't wait for the 14" dual core... need this thing asap), and I plan to re-format as well as set up a dual-boot for Windows MCE and Linux.

The things is, I've never done this before, so I'm a little nervous about it.

Here's my plan:
1. Follow Southern Girl's directions for re-formatting
2. In the process, create 1 partition for Windows MCE, 1 for Linux, 1 for MediaDirect
3. Install Linux (a Fedora-based distro)

Does this sound ok?
Should I make more partitions?
Should I install Linux first?

Thanks!

 

Make partitions first, install Windows, then install Linux last as GRUB will need to have Windows present already to configure itself for dual boot (could be done after the fact, but just easier to go in that order). You should only need three partitions.

BTW, here is one of the best guides for setting up/configuring FC that I've found: Stanton Finley's Fedora Core Installation Notes
Very helpful.

Also just curious - you said you couldn't wait for a Core Duo 14" notebook. Did you take a look at the Latitude D620? I thought they were already available (could be wrong).

 

wow, that was a fast reply!

ok... so first I should delete the partitions I don't need (Restore and Diagnostics), then re-partition, then do the Windows reformat/ install?

You only reformat 1 partition at a time, right?

(yup, i'm a newbie... good thing i don't have any data to lose!)


and to answer to your question, I would've loved to get a D620, but it wasn't in my budget (I paid about $800 for the XPS!)

 

Just follow SG's guide for reformat and creating partitions and you should be fine. Just make sure you use the last partition for Linux and leave enough free space on it for the Fedora install (about 6GBs at least - no, I'm not kidding). Fedora will slice up and format that partition for /, swap, and home for you. Read over both SG's guide and Stan's notes until you're comfortable with what you're doing. Don't be so nervous and have fun. It's not like you're disabling a bomb or anything, so If you mess up a little you can always start over.

 

I am thinking about install double systems on my XPS for a long time. However, I am not sure when you have linux installed, whether direct meida would work. Because when linux is installed, I think linux will take over all the startup procedures.

 

anyone have an answer to this?

I would really like to have both Linux and Windows, but I don't want to mess up the media direct either...

(by the way, my laptop arrived! like it so far, except the #@*ing Intel 2200 wireless card won't connect to my network!

 

I have a dual booting system on my E1505.
If you can afford it partitionmagic will do the job pretty fast.
What I noticed is the first partition is way faster. I've done a HD test on both partitions and the first one is 3 times faster than the second one.

 

It will not work with linux

 

oh.

is there any way to get around that?
so, even if i set the default boot to Windows, the direct media won't work?

also - and i apologize for my denseness! - if i am doing a reform/clean install, why do i need to use a program like PartitionMagic to make partitions (for Windows/Linux)? i thought i could just do it during the reformatting? (step 6 in Southern Girl's instructions)

 

When you're first setting up partitions before you install any operating system, you're given the option to edit the partition table. PartitionMagic is great for when you have Windows installed already and you need to shrink the Windows partition to make room for a Linux partition or something. Right now I'm running XP and Ubuntu linux on my notebook with no problems, except that I lost the Quickplay feature a while back (I'll try to restore that later).

 

good - that's what I thought all along, but became confused after reading some other posts.

By "Quickplay", I assume you mean the MediaDirect feature.... if you do get that up and running again, can you send me a PM on how to do it? Thanks!

--

 

Hi!

I tried installing FC3 and FC4 on on my DELL XPS M140 but I had some problem with the installation. While running Anaconda it was not able to detect my Display Device(This wide screen 1280x800 is not the standard I guess). After this the graphic X window should show me the graphical installion but iy failed to do so.

Then, I tried installing FC in text mode. The installion went absolutely fine but while booting, the graphical boot up did not turn up and hence there was no logon screen.

Thanks

Mayur