Dual Boot w/win 7 and (some distro)

[bocaccio]

I'm on a Acer Notebook 4730z.
Prefer one with easy wifi and networking settings. Maybe one that'll come with "amarok" for my iPod Touch. If i install it will the grub over ride my windows? I have had that happen before. I can't remember if you installl windows before linux or vice versa.

As of last night i dl:

ubuntu 9.10-desktop-i386, LinuxMint-8,Fedora-12-686-Live
Got 'em all from distrowatch
In the past i used linuxtracker
I am not sure which one to try first. I know i'll ck out Fedora since it's a live cd. I'll have to get the partitioning right too as I don't wanna wipe anything on windows.
A few yrs ago i used Knoppix,Suse 10.0, and a few others. One in particular i can't remember was almost identical to windows; it was nice. Suse was a freakin nightmare!! I couldn't figure out how to install anything at all, play mp3's,movies, anything at all. Ubuntu isn't so bad.


I apologize if this doesn't make sense. Maybe someone can be of assistance though. I'll be cking the responses on my blackberry while i'm at work. maybe when i get off work tonight i'll have something ready to install

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

Ubuntu should be a live disk as well unless you downloaded the alternate (text) installer. Either distro would be suitable to try first.

GRUB will overwrite the master boot record if you allow it to do so during the install. However, your Windows system shouldn't get wiped from the drive unless you instruct the installer to do so. Just pay close attention to the choices you make during the install.

[bocaccio]

Welcome to the forums!

Ubuntu should be a live disk as well unless you downloaded the alternate (text) installer. Either distro would be suitable to try first.

GRUB will overwrite the master boot record if you allow it to do so during the install. However, your Windows system shouldn't get wiped from the drive unless you instruct the installer to do so. Just pay close attention to the choices you make during the install.

Ok, so i should be aware of it if the grub over rides the boot?

Thanks

[oz]

Ok, so i should be aware of it if the grub over rides the boot?

Thanks

Actually, you will want GRUB as your bootloader unless you want to use the Windows bootloader. I'd advise against using the Windows bootloader because it can be very difficult to get setup and working properly. You can search the forums for some examples of issues users have had with using the Windows bootloader.

[techieMoe]

I'm on a Acer Notebook 4730z.
Prefer one with easy wifi and networking settings.

That depends entirely on your own wireless hardware. All Linux distributions share the same pool of drivers and are pretty much equivalent in their ability to handle certain devices. If you have a well-supported card, any distribution will likely work. What wireless chipset does your Acer use?

Maybe one that'll come with "amarok" for my iPod Touch.

I don't know that AmaroK will work with an iPod Touch. I've had good luck with previous iPod models (3rd gen, shuffle, and 1st gen Nano) but I haven't tried hooking it up to my iPhone yet.

If i install it will the grub over ride my windows? I have had that happen before. I can't remember if you installl windows before linux or vice versa.

Generally I install Linux second, because Linux distributions tend to be more friendly when you're setting up a dual boot. Most distros will set up the option for you to boot to Windows automatically, without any special effort on your part. That's not the case the other way around. Unless you tell Linux to write over it completely, you shouldn't lose access to your Windows partition.

As of last night i dl:

ubuntu 9.10-desktop-i386, LinuxMint-8,Fedora-12-686-Live

I am not sure which one to try first. I know i'll ck out Fedora since it's a live cd. I'll have to get the partitioning right too as I don't wanna wipe anything on windows.

My best advice is to use the tools in Windows to create a partition of blank space at the end of your drive. 5GB-10GB is reasonable, but more is good if you have the space. Leave the space unformatted and when you get to the installation of Linux, tell it to "use existing free space." This will keep it from messing with your Windows partition.

[bocaccio]

techieMoe:
I'll have to get back to you on the chipset of the Acer 4730z (about to go to work)
You and the previous mod have helped me with the loader.(I think i'll use the grub, i dont want problems; but of course i'll make a backup dvd of my windows system before i start going crazy)
I have never made a partition, but then again ive never tried either.

Thanks both of you!!

[techieMoe]

...but of course i'll make a backup dvd of my windows system before i start going crazy)

Always a good idea.