Dual Booting?

**sagnard** · 03-09-2010

ok I had Xp for quite some time but i got sick of it and decided it was time for something new. Here i am haha a total noob again but anyway, I had a friend install linux and make it a dual boot system but after getting to know linux just the tiny bit i have. I've decided i don't want to use Xp cause it's just to user friendly. you don't have to try at all it just does it all. So now here inlies my question. How can i delete the whole windows OS and all it's component. Including Programs, Games, Everything. Could i just like Wipe everything but music i got maybe a few files but everything else can pretty much go.

**devils casper** · 03-09-2010

I've decided i don't want to use Xp cause it's just to user friendly. you don't have to try at all it just does it all

Linux is a steep learning curve and you will have to spend some time to understand it. Once you get everything done, there is no need to keep Windows OS.

Have you found alternatives of all Windows Applications in Linux?
If answer is yes, there is no need to setup dual boot. Backup data in a separate partition and install Linux. There is no need to delete Windows OS. Just install Linux over it. Linux installer will format Windows Partition.

I would suggest you keep Windows OS for a while. If you have plenty of Hard disk space, there is no harm in keeping Windows OS in just 10GB partition.

Anyways, whatever you decide, just post the output of fdisk -l command before starting installation. We could suggest you better after checking partition structure of your Hard disk.

oz · 03-09-2010

Originally Posted by sagnard

Could i just like Wipe everything but music i got maybe a few files but everything else can pretty much go.

Yes, if you want to start totally fresh with Linux only, you'd need to backup any files that you want to keep, or move them to another drive, then you can wipe the Windows drive and install a fresh version of Linux. After that, you can restore your backup files to a new location. Just be sure that's what you want to do, or have a backup of your Windows system in case you should decide you need it again.

**sagnard** · 03-10-2010

well it's already set to dual boot but i tried to load windows and it was just so slow i don't know why but i need to get more room for linux but since windows runs all slow i figure if i just have linux i won't have the temptation to go back to windows. I never really used windows for to much except play games i was going to learn all the cool applications under linux

**devils casper** · 03-10-2010

but i need to get more room for linux

Lets check how much space you have allocated to Linux.
Boot up Linux, open Terminal and execute this

Code:

df -h

Post output here.

Btw, which Linux distro/version are you using?

**sagnard** · 03-10-2010

It's linux mint 8 here's the output
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda5 18G 16G 1.5G 92% /
udev 375M 256K 375M 1% /dev
none 375M 828K 375M 1% /dev/shm
none 375M 284K 375M 1% /var/run
none 375M 0 375M 0% /var/lock
none 375M 0 375M 0% /lib/init/rw
----------------------------------------------------------------------and then my system one
System: Host patches-desktop Kernel 2.6.31-14-generic i686 (32 bit) Distro Linux Mint 8 Helena - Main Edition
CPU: Single core AMD Sempron 2800+ (UP) cache 256 KB flags (sse) bmips 3998.84 clocked at 1999.424 MHz
Graphics: Card nVidia NV40 [GeForce 6800] X.Org 1.6.4 Res: 1024x768@50.0hz
GLX Renderer GeForce 6800/AGP/SSE/3DNOW! GLX Version 2.1.2 NVIDIA 185.18.36 Direct Rendering Yes
Audio: Card VIA VT8233/A/8235/8237 AC97 Audio Controller driver VIA 82xx Audio at port e600
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Version 1.0.20
Network: Card VIA VT6102 [Rhine-II] driver via-rhine at port e700
Disks: HDD Total Size: 82.3GB (20.0% used) 1: /dev/sda HDS728080PLAT20 82.3GB
Partition: ID:/ size: 18G used: 16G (92%) fs: ext4 ID:swap-1 size: 0.89GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap
Info: Processes 134 Uptime 2:16 Memory 276.5/749.8MB Client Shell inxi 1.2.6

**devils casper** · 03-11-2010

You have used 16GB of space out of 18GB. Ubuntu root filesystem + most common packages do not take more than 10-12GB space and it looks like you have stored your personal files in /home.

Anyways, You can resize / partition easily but I would suggest you to keep data in separate partition instead of /.
Execute this in Terminal :

Code:

sudo fdisk -l

Post output here.

* Its small L in fdisk -l.

**sagnard** · 03-11-2010

Disk /dev/sda: 82.3 GB, 82348277760 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 10011 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xb3a2b3a2

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 7554 60677473+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 7555 10011 19735852+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 7555 9903 18868311 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 9904 10011 867478+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris

**devils casper** · 03-11-2010

First of all, backup data. Boot up from Ubuntu LiveCD and open Disk Utility program. Its available in Administrative Menu. Shrink /dev/sda1 partition. Merge free space in /dev/sda2 and increase size of /dev/sda5.

**sagnard** · 03-12-2010

Do i have to buy something to back it up? or can i just use some program?

Thread Tools

Display

Dual Booting?

Posting Permissions