How do I install Ubuntu on a Win XP system and set up dual booting?

Question

also, is it possible to make the system automatically load XP, unless i press a button to bring up the menu?

Answer 1

Just install ubuntu like the installl cd tells you, when you get to the partitions section, you can adjust a slide bar to decide how much space you want to leave for windows, and how much to use for ubuntu.

There's actually more detailed instructions for this on the ubuntu site.

And yes, you can configure GRUB to load XP first very easily. It's like 3 keys.

EDIT: make sure you defrag windows first (a little nuisance you will never have to deal with in ubuntu), and back up your data first. 99% of the time it goes fine, but better safe than sorry when it comes to repartitioning.

Answer 2

As youmakemeverymad said.......you will have the chance to resize the current partition on your disk.  Just be sure that you leave enough room for windows or you may crash XP.....Ubuntu will be happy with 6GB, but the more the merrier.  BUT, you don't need to defrag the windows partition as Linux will not be using that partition......

FOLLOW THE PROMPTS CAREFULLY, VERY CAREFULLY and you will find that resizing the partition is pretty simple.

On Windows being the first OS choice.

when you get into your installed, not the liveCD, Ubuntu.- Email me as it may be very difficult to explain here......basically you want to edit /boot/grub/menu.lst

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

You have two choices.....

Change DEFAULT's number to match the entry (counting from 0) at the bottom of the file or change the order of the entries at the bottom of the file.

As always, MAKE A SAFE COPY of any configuration files before completely destroying them.....then edit what you need.