install Windows XP

[tapash_2010]

Hi Expert,
I bought 1 Laptop Details :below .

Acer Aspire 5738Z Laptop
T4400 Dual Core 2.1GHz,
15.6HD Display 3GB DDR3 RAM,
320GB, DVD-RW, linpus Linux.

Can any one guide me( Step by step ) how to install Windows XP or any other Wisdows OS in my Laptop which is already LInpus Linux . when ever i start after booting only screen contain (Black Screen )
[root/localhost]# .
If i Type Dir then it gives me list of folder like BIN SYS HOME.

Problem :
i don't want to lose Linux OS.

you can send your suggesation to my id tapash.duari@gmail.com

Thanks in avance .

Tapash

[aetiv]

Typically I would install Windows first on the system and then Linux as it has always been easier (not saying it can't be done though).

I have read that Win XP doesn't necessarily need to be the first boot partition on a system, but there are some tricks to getting it working correctly. I don't know what they exactly are, but I will give you a few ideas of how I would go about doing so. Boot up into Linux using a Live disk on the system and use a program like gparted to move/resize your linux partitions to the end of the drive. This will leave the beginning of your drive freed up for installing Win on a partition in the front of the drive.

Once you are done installing Win, enter into your Linux emergency runlevel (the disk is the best bet here) and reinstall your mbr. This will allow you to boot into whatever system you want.

Another idea, would be to install Windows on a USB and boot off of that when you want to use that particular OS. I have not tried this with Win, but I have done it with Linux. The nice part about installing Linux on a USB is getting your administration tools on a bootable device that can be used to fix other computers (I would advise installing Linux on the USB instead of making a Live USB; the difference is being easily able to install additional software packages).

[coopstah13]

You can't install windows to a USB drive.

I'd recommend a different distro than linpus, it seems all the posts about it on here are major problems. You should definitely install XP first and in the first partition to avoid any problems as well.

You should download partition magic livecd and boot with that, and set up your partitions first, then install XP, then the distro of your choice.

[devils casper]

I agree with coopstah13. You should consider any other distro. Almost all major distros will work fine in you machine.
Backup data, remove partitions and install Windows XP first. Linux installer will detect Windows OS and setup dual boot itself. PartedMagic LiveCD is best Partition Manager and its available in LiveCDs of most of Linux distros.