installing xp on ubuntu 10.10

[chuning]

Hello -

I use an Acer Aspire One netbook for work, with Ubuntu 10.10, and am very happy with it. Unfortunately, I now have to use certain music teaching resources for which I have to have Windows. I have a copy of XP Pro, and want to load it as a dual boot if that is possible. I have searched on Google, but everything seems to relate to loading Ubuntu after XP, rather than vice versa. Could anyone point me in the right direction?

Many thanks

Chris

[nujinini]

Hello -

I use an Acer Aspire One netbook for work, with Ubuntu 10.10, and am very happy with it. Unfortunately, I now have to use certain music teaching resources for which I have to have Windows. I have a copy of XP Pro, and want to load it as a dual boot if that is possible. I have searched on Google, but everything seems to relate to loading Ubuntu after XP, rather than vice versa. Could anyone point me in the right direction?

Many thanks

Chris

Hi Chris!

Can you kindly post the output of

$ sudo fdisk -l

-l is small L

[reed9]

It's easier to install Ubuntu after Windows because Windows doesn't like to play nice with other operating systems and will overwrite your bootloader with its own. The fix is to reinstall GRUB2 after you install Windows.

Otherwise, the process is much the same. Create a partition where you will install Windows, boot up from the installation disk, and be very careful that you select the correct partition. Do back up anything important from your harddrive before creating the new partition.

[chuning]

Thank you for your replies

The output is:

chris@chris-AOD260:~$ sudo fdisk -l
[sudo] password for chris:

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00063915

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 19076 153219072 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 19076 19458 3068929 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 19076 19458 3068928 82 Linux swap / Solaris
chris@chris-AOD260:~$


reed9, would that mean that it would be easier to install XP and overwrite everything, and then reinstall Ubuntu?

Thanks again for your help

Chris

[chejose2]

I could make another suggestion. I also have a program that needs Windows but what I have done is install "Virtualbox". With it you can install Windows as if it were just another window in Ubuntu. Also no cost.

José

[reed9]

I don't know that reinstalling Windows first would be easier. If your Ubuntu install is basically new and you don't have much to back up, it could be, but it really depends on your comfort level and skill base. You're going to need to move some partitions around as is to make room for XP, and I believe, though someone correct me if I'm wrong, that XP needs to be on a primary partition, not extended.