Dual-Booting Linux and Windows

This is a short tutorial on installing Sidux Linux onto an existing Windows XP partition. It should work equally well with any variant of Windows. This is a risky operation, and you should at very least back up the contents of your My Documents directory, and any other things you want to keep. Linux is very good now about manipulating filesystems that try to lock themselves out from other operating systems, but it is a good basic idea to back up anything that you consider important.

Linux is very easy to install, if you have a separate disk to put it on. Dual booting is a way to test Linux and keep your existing Windows installation; installing Linux by itself now is much easier than installing Windows. There are many live CDs that will let you try Linux temporarily (Sidux is one) but performance is very slow unless you have a lot of ram. The only tricky part in dual-booting is safely resizing an NTFS partition so that Windows doesn't misbehave (as in, "WHERE'S MY STUFF!"). We will demonstrate how to safely resize an NTFS Windows disk, install Linux, and make it dual boot. You only need to choose an operating system from a menu.

There are many great Linux variants today. In the last few years, Debian (most notably in the form of Knoppix) has become a real star on hardware detection. Since some companies try to keep how their hardware works a proprietary secret, latest and greatest hardware can sometimes be more difficult to use in Linux. In general, the older the hardware, the greater the chances that it "just works". Another very good distro now is Ubuntu, also based on Debian. Mandriva is also good at nearly everything. Linux Mint contains a lot of Windows codecs, and is good for multimedia. This tutorial should be helpful should you wish to install any other kind of Linux.

There is a very active forum at http://sidux.com as well as an active IRC channel. You can get the latest version of Sidux at http://sidux.com/Article303.html Choose a mirror that is nearby to you. Look through the directory tree, there is a directory called Releases that contains the ISO. There are always two versions, a Full and a Lite version. The Lite is smaller (almost half the size of the Full), does not include Open Office and some other large apps (though you can add anything at any other time).

The link below requires Flash, in a reasonably modern browser.

http://home.comcast.net/~toughbookhack/tough_linux3.htm

thx,
Scott S.

 

EXCELLENT job on the tutorial! Very well done! You should add the your rep for this one! I know I will add to it!

 

Scott - this rocks - I just fumbled through partitioning and installing PCLinuxOS a few weeks ago - going to follow your steps and see what she does, what do you recommend for replacing the PCLinuxOS with SIDUX - I think I formated the Linux partition as EXT2 ? I assume I would be best to reformat it as EXT3 but ?
Thanks again this is super cool and very helpful - Clint

 

Ext2 will work fine with Sidux, Mega-man. They used to default to that. There is a world of disagreement on differing filesystems. For whatever reason they decided that ext3 would be the 'official' filesystem of Sidux, I just went with it because it's easier to get help if you need it, when you follow the Fine Manual!

If your Toughbook is a spare as far as your computing goes (or you have a spare PC), I would really recommend bypassing the dual boot process, and just put Linux on it. It's much less stressful if you're not trying to preserve 'your stuff', in addition to learning new things. A good way to learn actually, is to be fearless, and don't consider your install valuable in the early stages. Blow it away, do it again. If you are dual-booting, you need to be more careful. It used to be a joke that if you installed Linux 40 times, you would understand it.... Finally. The distros are much better now, but doing it a few times helps.

By the same token, if anyone has an XP install all fixed up just like they like it, dual-booting can be a good way to get your feet wet with Linux. But please back up your stuff first.

The method I outlined (pretty much default) on partitioning is very coarse, if you want to get into it. When disks were smaller, it was hard to decide on various partition sizes. Having a separate /home partition is always a good idea, it's the equivalent of 'My Documents'. You can more safely reinstall, keep the /home partition and your stuff is still there. Anything that is much of a server should keep /var (which has all the system logs) on a different partition or disk, because if the logs someday grow to fill that up, the system will stop until you clear it out. If you have a fairly large disk, it will never be a problem for regular use.

What I demonstrated was just making the whole thing one big slice, under the / partition. It will work fine, it is how Windows does it. If you get short on space in the future, it makes it more difficult to work around.

I don't dual-boot (I made that tutorial in VMware, in case anyone was wondering why I had a 5 gig drive), but on a CF-28 (800mhz/384 meg ram/30 gig disk) I have Sidux only, and I consider it very usable for what I do.

thx,
Scott S.

 

I tried the install and maybe i'm too ignorant with it but it will not boot up from the disk. I downloaded the .iso image, copied to disk via CDBurnerXP with the option of creating a CD from an .iso and changed my boot options in BIOS to boot from CD first. It seeks it, but won't boot. I've tried several (3) copies of the CD just in case it was that. Any idea what is wrong? How can I check that I made a bootable copy?

 

It sounds like you've cleared the first big hurdle, which is usually someone not creating the disk right. The Fine Manual (available on their site, as well) has a section on downloading and burning the CD. It often helps to burn bootable ISO images at 8X or less.

A quick and dirty way to check, is to look at the disk you've created in Windows. Is it one big ISO file? It needs to have subdirectories.

 

I use ImgBurn when I use windows to burn discs. Never made a coaster yet out of an ISO.

On my mac I use Disk Utility (Built-in).

 

Here is what I have on explore:
\boot
\release
\SIDUX
autorun (setup information)
cdrom (icon)
index (firefox document)
md5sums (file)
release-notes (PNG image)

I do believe this is correct, but can somebody confirm? Could be a bad CDROM, but then why would I get lights on boot-up and can explore the disk but can't boot? Any suggestions on this one?

 

Try using ImgBurn to make the disc. It's only purpose is to burn discs from .iso files. If that doesn't work, then something else is wrong (Maybe hardware related, what kind of drive is in your caddy?)

 

Yes, that sounds right on the files. Does the md5sum match? Is there any other CDs that will boot?

 

Boy do I feel like a buffoon! I apparently missed the whole CDROM mod and never soldered the connections to the CDROM caddy. So.... my Toshiba CDRW drive was not set correct. I swapped the original CD/DVD drive back and I'm now in the process of installing the dual boot. Thanks fellas! PS. We could really benefit if there were a list of mods at the beginning of the threads (locked maybe?) that just lists all that can be/should be done??? Just a thought. It would be a quick reference for those like me that came to this forum seemingly in the middle and are trying to "catch-up".

 

Installed and working! Now to just get my devices working. I know ZERO about unix, so what is the easiest way to get the on board lan card working so I can look for downloads on the other devices?

 

The best way is to Read The Fine Manual. If you have it plugged into anything that gives out DHCP leases, it may be already online. The quick and dirty way is to open a terminal window, type this and press enter (it will prompt you for the root password):

Code:

 sux - 

Then if you run the command

Code:

netcardconfig

it will start a gui to configure networking. A good package to install early on is Kpackage. While it's easy to install things from a command line, that doesn't help when you don't know the apps are called! Kpackage has a GUI that lets you browse or search through thousands of apps to install. You can install Kpackage like this, in a root terminal:

Code:

apt-get install kpackage

Hope this helps.
edit: did you install Sidux Lite or the full version?

 

I installed the full version. While playing around, I found the Control Center and found where the ethernets were (I have 2). When I open Network Settings, it opens a box that says my Platform is not supported and I may choose one of the following platforms if I am SURE my platform behaves the same way as the chosen one. It lists several different platforms including a group of Debian; Fedora; Mandriva Linux; Red Hat; Slackware; SuSe Linux; and Kubuntu. Not having any clue, I picked Debian 4.0 Etch.. hehe
I then clicked on the tab at the bottom that said "Administrator Mode" and logged in. This allowed me to adjust the properties of each card (Setting the DHCP and "Activate when computer starts". I then restarted and Voila.. I have internet. Now I am trying to download and install Firefox, but how do I do that? I have it downloaded, but I don't see a "install" file or "setup" file... am I going crazy? or driving you all crazy? hahaha

 

Firefox is already installed. Debian had some sort of disagreement with Mozilla foundation (over icons, I think). It's called IceWeasel. The icon might be labeled Sidux-browser if you mouse over it. You should probably do all of your installing through Kpackage, it will configure and install everything that you need.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, that the very first time you are installing anything, you should update the repositories before you install Kpackage.

Code:

apt-get update

first will get you the latest list of software. I did not include this in the original how-to, because a full install of Sidux is very complete as it is.

 

Kpackage installed/updated. How did you get your touchscreen to work in sidux may I ask? I have been looking everywhere for a solution.

 

I do not have a touchscreen. I cannot help you here. Modly posted information on editing /etc/X11/xorg.conf but I would recommend spending some time learning your way around on the system first.

 

Make sure you have kernel 2.6.22 or later, otherwise the xorg.conf edits will require a patch... and it's easier to just install the new kernel.

I'm hoping my new book will be here today or tomorrow though (I may get unlucky and have it next week). When I do, I'll make sure I get a detailed instruction guide up for setting up Mint (Not as cool as Picoshark's guide which I must say is awesome... )

I just don't wanna go through the guide myself and trash my Mint configuration.. it looks pretty now

 

Sidux comes with 2.6.23.9 and Xorg 7.3 I believe. Doobi, you can use any one of the editors in the menu tree. Something I always install in any Linux install is Midnight Commander. You start it with mc and it's a good/superior clone to the old DOS Norton Commander. It includes shortcuts to many common commands, and has a good editor in it as well. Something that was not apparent to me immediately, was that the row of numbers across the bottom are function keys, so it would be F3 to view, F4 to edit, etc. You can either use the mouse to navigate, or tab/arrow/enter.

You can use it's editor standalone, like

Code:

mcedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

 

very cool. I will give that a try. Thanks for the advice, and I am reading the fine manual alot.

 

Looks like there has been a new release, as well as a DVD version with tons of apps.

 

Just trying to keep this thread going - The new Ubuntu 8.04 is out and very nice. Loaded it yesterday and words great - wireless an all !! check it out if you can, I think you will be surprised.
http://www.ubuntu.com/news/ubuntu-8.04-lts-desktop

don't be afraid - all it takes is a few hours and you will be hooked, gives you a nice warm fuzzy feeling knowing you are not exposing yourself in WINdoze - Later

 

I'll wait til Mint makes a release to update, but I do like some of the new features.

I am very happy though, the Linux version of the megasquirt tuner is finally going to support my fuel injection computer, so I'll be able to use that.

 

i am running the newest ubunutu on my think pad right now. Works great. Can't wait to pick up a cd drive to install on my cf-28.

 

Hi all, long time no log.... I've been busy and gone a lot. Still wardriving away with my CF-28, recently moved to #47 on the stats on wigle.net

I'm developing a custom Linux for my work based on Ubuntu, but still like Sidux on my Toughbook. I'm looking to get an Atheros chipset going in mine as a second card for more wardriving goodness.

thx,
Scott S.

 

What kind of pc card to you use with sidux? I am about to install and try it out? Windows is really making me mad. I have a proxim skyline and a orininoco gold classic.

 

I am not familiar with Proxim Skyline, but a quick Google says that it uses Atheros chipset, which is very well supported. I mostly use old SMC b-only cards, and I have used the older Lucent/Orinoco silver card just fine.

I just recently got a mini-PCI Atheros card, so I will be trying it out. From everything I read, choose madwifi drivers for about all Atheros chipsets, and you should be good.

 

Just tried out the new WUBI ubuntu-8.04 install as a test- went pretty well, files installed from windows, in a windows folder, but boots from a bootldr selection on startup. Then did the UNETBOOTIN program install, which installed Ubuntu in the partitions I had already set up for the Debian installation, from the iso stored on the windows partition (the same one I used for the WUBI install). Now to get some time to play with it. Hope ease of use is as good as the ease of install.

 

Puppy Linux 4.0/Dingo is out. It is tiny (87M) yet amazingly full-featured and fast!

BTW: Anyone heard about the security problem for Debian-based distros?

 

Do you mean this?
http://www.linux.com/feature/135270

http://www.itnews.com.au/News/76080,openssl-bug-found-in-debian-linux.aspx

Hadn't heard of it but it appears that it is patched.

 

I want to use Ubuntu. I've been using the live CD but can't seem to get the wireless to work. It says it's installed recognized it's an Atheros chip set. But I can't connect to my ap. Then the only thing that doesn't work right off the bat is the touchscreen. Any help would be great.

 

I was fiddling with Knoppix, Ubuntu & Kubuntu Live CDs and settled for Ubuntu 8.04 because it detected/installed everything in the CF-73 without my intervention. Inside, is a Atheros minipci with AR5006X chipset and after some minor settings for wireless and I was good to go. Ubuntu was the easiest. Am I impressed? Hell yeah!

It's my first time with non-windoze OS and yes, it's going into the harddisk!
Cheers,
Ron in SG

 

I strongly recommend the new Puppy Linux 4.1 It not only recognizes everything I throw at it on my CF-28 it handles everything on my older and more resource-limited CF-27.

It even handles pcmcia USB 2.0 adapters and pcmcia modem/nic adapters. I have a pcmcia sd-card adapter on the way and expect it will handle that in both laptops as well.

BTW: It is a very small and very complete Linux distro that will boot and run from CD, run minimally and save to a USB stick, SD-card, or HDD. (If the Panasonics allowed it Puppy could boot from the USB stick or SD-card.)

It's a free download to test from the CD drive without touching anything on your laptop.

 

I have done a bunch of dual boot with Ubuntu and almost all will give me everything but touch panel without any issue. I use an atheros based wifi card and works great - try mad wifi if it does not pick up on your needed drivers. Also you my want to try and load it instead of running off the live CD - I never run off the live CD as it is very slow so I am not sure if that may be why you don't have the wifi - I also have seen certain kernal updates can sometimes cause a wifi issue for some reason - try to get all the updated through your cat5 connection and see if it works itself out - otherwise you may have to dig in and look at your wifi config and make a tweak to get it to work - lots of good stuff on the Ubuntu forums about how to do this -
I have a what you need to get the tough panel working I just need to find it - I have not done it lately as I have been converting to non touch for better screen clarity - much brighter without the touch panel - will hit you with the instructions when I find them -

 

I am a bit curious as what is gained practically speaking with a dual boot and whether the gains balance out the extra effort. I know Windows is the system that we all love to hate but what is achieved that overrides the ongoing hardware/software incompatibly issues? Why not dual boot Windows XP and Windows Vista? My work related interfaces such as NCIC/Clean and J-Net won't even support Vista, let alone Linux. Apple seems to struggle with their Windows/Leopard dual boot often.

 

Ice -

More than anything it's a matter of wanting to NOT be shackled to Micro$uck, as is the case with most LINUX (or whatever happens to be your favorite flavor) users. Dual booting simply allows you to use the OS of your CHOICE when you wish to, while still being able to interact with business networks (read YOUR JOB, in most cases) that have not yet escaped from the clutches of M$ exclusively.

As more variants of *NIX become easier to use for the average Windoze user (read LOOKS like Winblows), *NIX are becoming more & more commonly accepted. And no matter WHAT Ballmer & Co try to tell you, *NIX w/APACHE is STILL the DeFacto standard for WebServers.

Now you know I regularly bash M$ for their Borg-like business model; I find it morally reprehensible. And while I DO admire the Apple business model (What a novel idea; ASK the customer what s/he wants and then MAKE it for them rather than make what you feel like making and tell the customer what he's going to buy), their high pricetag mixed with closed-mindedness in terms of compatibility & support has ALWAYS been a sore point.

And while technically "free", *NIX is the red-headed stepchild so that means they're NEVER actually FINISHED with anything; it's constantly a "work in progress".
Of course, M$ does that too; they just call the bug-fixes a "New" version and make you pay for them. There are actually more differences between Windows XP Build 2600 and XP SP3 than there were between Win95 and WinME.
You pay for the right to use *NIX in terms of having to learn a lot more about the nuts & bolts of how a computer works; there is no MFR to gripe at if your favorite <WHATEVER> doesn't have a driver; you can either use one that DOES have a driver or write the driver yourself.

As for me, I say it's ALL BS; pick your shade & dig in.

mnem
EVERY OS SUCKS.

 

Some times when I could not get linux to load on a computer I took out the hard drive and installed it on a different machine. My X61 didn't come with a hd so I installed Ubuntu, Fedora etc on my T61. Then I put the hd back in. With desktops it was the same. For some reason I could'nt get any Ubuntu live cd to load on this older computer so I just installed on a different desktop then popped the drive in. It doesn't always work for everyone but it works for me. I can install linux on my T43 then swap the hd to my toughbook. Any one try this?

p.s this never works for windows. For me anyways.
+1 for puppy linux

 

O yeah another awesomely small quick linux is DSL (Dam Small Linux) not full blown like Puppy but runs quickly on anything

 

Puppy linux is the WOOF!

 

My Linux preference is Gentoo as I have a good deal of experience with it on Sparc-based systems, but there are other OS's out there. The various *BSD flavours for example. Not sure how much TB-specific support they have compared to the more common flavours of *nix though.

Is anything improving from the Windoze side of things in regard to dual-booting? Using the LILO boot loader makes booting into a different OS fairly simple, but there could well be ways for Windows to make it less painful to set up.

Craig.

 

I am REALLY liking the Xandros Linux build that came installed on my ASUS *Sticks tongue out at Rick* eeePC 900. It runs on a 4GB partitition (you read that RIGHT - 4GB) with over 2GB to spare; but includes almost every form of application you can think of, including FireFox/Thunderbird and of course OpenOffice as well as some photo editing and media player, as well as gesture-based input and a neat preconfigured feature to set it up as a WAP!

Configured with minimum options, it comes with 4GB SSD, 512MB RAM, NIC & WiFi, and a battery that I've used for 6 hours and still had 20% on. I think for $200 new Factory Refurb it was a steal; I sold my "Oh so legacy" Sony PCG-C1VPK PictureBook for enough cover almost all of that so now I've got a steal deal on a 90mbps 32GB SSD & 2GB RAM on the way from Newegg. Once I'm all done I'll be dual-booting that Xandros build & XP SP2, or maybe try out Win7 on a laptop for a while. (Not that impressed with it on my AMD box).

mnem
winBLOWS!

 

Well... I bit the bullet and did a dual boot with Sidux and XP Pro. Sidux is very cool and very similar to XP in a lot of ways. I used Picoshark's guide (Thankyouverymuch!) and is all went exactly like he said. Of course there are subtle differences between that build date and the one I downloaded. I installed the full version and after 4-5 hours of fumbling around I finally got it to update. I still have no wifi card. It will only recognize the NIC. I can't seem to get the wifi working. I downloaded the app it needs but can't get the install command to find it!

I'll be playing around with it more today.

 

Hope you get that card working well.
I have not tried that one or Xandros.
I've been tring different distro's of linux in both 28's and 29's here lately.
So far, Its a toss-up between a few so far.
But the ones that do work almost 100 percent with the exception of the touchscreen (working on this) is:
Ubuntu/Kubuntu 8.04 alt on the 28's
Ubuntu/Kubuntu 8.10 on the 29's
Mint 6 on both 28's and 29's
Puppy linux on 28's and 29's.

Mint 6, I like the best so far, then Puppy for simplicity.
The 28's are sluggish on anything based on Ubuntu and take a long
time to boot, but it does work. so puppy for them.

Now my 29L really flies on Mint 6 , altho I've only been on it for 2 days, I really like it.

All have touchscreen issues. So I've been researching into this.
They have some kind of universal driver, but it is not the right one , nor is there any kind of calibration avail out of the box install.
I have tried modly's mod posted way back when but no success with these newer ones. Maybe he will jump back in if he has the time if theres interest.
Seems he or someone else has some experience here that I dont.

That is the reason I hadnt posted on the linux successes yet because I wanted to iron-out this problem.

Rick, It sounds like maybe it didnt load the network manager or driver for that particular card. so maybe ndiswrapper may do it for you.
What machine are you trying this on?

Chuck

 

I loaded it on my personal CF-18... I just wanted to be able to play around with it and maybe learn a thing or two. Jesus... It's like DOS on steroids!

 

Oh yeah.. You'll learn a thing or two alright, even if you did'nt want to,
But I'll make you pull a few hairs out what few you may have left while your at it. But its free and fun.,.er well sometimes
I think I've grayed mine a bit more as well.
Have fun...

 

I started loading it at 9pm last night after buring the ISO on my desktop unit per Piko's details... I "forced" myself to go to bed this moning at 2:45am... Yes... Hair pulling to say the last.

 

Well... I'm about ready to "B" slap this laptop out of the house... Either that or delete Sidux and just chalk it up to a massive waste of a whole day of my life. I have spent at least 10 hours TRYING TO GET THE WIFI TO WORK!

This crap is written so dweebishly that it is exactly like trying to learn Chinese in order to eat... If you get my drift. Well... It looks like I'll starve before I can learn. I just can't waste anymore time on this crap. I originally wanted to have this to play around with and also to have something with no anti virus or firewall since there are supposedly no viruses out there for this.

I did the "apt-get install firmware-ipw2x00" from root and it shows that it is installing... And then it just sits there! It looks like it is waiting for something from me but it doesn't say what.

 

Sorry to here that, Some distro's work well while others you gotta work at.
I wish I could help you more but I am learning myself.
Having Panasonics that are not mainstream to the programmers as are the newest cheaper laptops make finding and getting drivers to work a 'real' chore.
I find I have to tackle the problems one at a time and sometimes you just gotta walk away from it for a while.
Next time try one of those 'live' cd's of Ubuntu or Mint and see how that goes.
it wont load up on your hard drive just ram, but it'l give you an idea if everythings working
before you install it.

Go get some food for thought

Chuck

 

Yeh... I might switch to a different type. Maybe something someone has used around here.

I actually got the wifi loaded and recognized... I left a - out of the command. Jesus....

Now I am haggling with the WPA Supplicant to try to get onto my network. Since I hide the SSID it isn't showing and for some reason it won't take when I try to force it.

If it's not one thing... It's another!

 

TB - try turning on SSID broadcast long enough to create the connection & add the MAC address of your new card to the MAC Filter list, then turn it off once you've got the connection configured.

mnem
Time flies; horseflies faster...