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I would like to know if its safe to do this to not only be able to have 4 Prime Partitions.Afterwards I it would look like this when finished if possible all booting by GRUB.Should I install Windows XP first and does this effect the BIOS when the Dell Utility is Deleted.
Windows XP
BSD
Linux
Solaris
Dell provide only 'Rescue Disk' and without Dell Utility, you wont be able to fix windows. if you have Windows Installation disk then you can delete Dell Utility.
install windows first and then Linux.... no problems... even if something goes wrong with GRUB, you can fix that easily.
casper
It really depends on whether you'll use Windows again. I scrapped mine straight away. Even if you install say XP Pro over your home install it will probably be useless to you already as I think nowadays it's an image of the Home installation.
AFAIK, Rescue Disks provided by Dell or other companies has only rescue tool. some companies provide image also. installing form an image wont make any difference. its better to use Original Windows CD not the one porvided by company.Quote:
Even if you install say XP Pro over your home install it will probably be useless to you already as I think nowadays it's an image of the Home installation.
casper
I have the both the Windows XP install cd from Dell and the System Software Cd from dell also
i am not sure if dell's windows xp install cd is an image or not. mostly, these companies provide windows OEM version only. in that case, you will end up with same windows and same partition structure.
leave windows as it is, back up data from Last partition and delete that partition. dont format. install linux in that free/unpartitioned space. dual boot is default in all distributions. GRUB will have an entry for Windows.
casper
The Windows Cd is just like a normal XP cd or customized for dell computers and can be used on any other computer.The software cd has all of the system software which one of them sats diagnostics and utilities.
alright ! Linux will give you dual boot by default.
now its on you. either remove windows, install it again and then install Linux OR delete last partition and install Linux.
casper
Here is how it would go
Delete Dell Parition
Remove All other partitions
Bootup GParted
Create Parition
Install
Windows XP-primary
BSD-primary
Solaris-primary
Linux- extended and swap is inside it
Configure GRUB
Windows need Primary Partition BUT Linux dont care... its very tricky/tough to reszie/delete parimary partitions.
install windows first in Primary Partition. Create Extended partition of the rest of space. Create Logical Partitions for all Linux distros in that Extended Partition. its very easy to do anything with Logical Partitions.
casper