I've followed a countless number of internet guides on this topic, and not one of them mentions how to install Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy) if you already have multiple partitions on your HDD with sensitive data.

So I've decided to write up a guide that details just that. For those that want the quickest way to get Ubuntu on your system, go and download a copy of Wubi, execute, and you're all set.

On to the 'better' way...

Part 1 - Setting aside some space

1. PowerQuest PartitionMagic 8.0 is required for this. You will have to find yourself a copy of this software. Once you have it, load it up.

2. You need to resize one of your partitions and give up 15-22 gb of free space. Right-click the partition you need to resize, click resize, then type in 22000 in the 'Free Space After' field. Click OK to continue.

3. There should be around 22 gb of unallocated space. Right-click it, and click Create.

4. Match the fields up to the following (assuming that you have allocated 22 gb of space)

Create As: Logical Partition
Partition Type: Linux Ext3
Label: [blank]
Size: 20000 MB
Cluster Size: Default

Then click OK.

5. There should be some unallocated space left. We're going to create the Linux Swap Partition using the rest. Right-click the unallocated space, and click create.

6. Match the fields up to this:
Create as: Logical Partition
Partition Type: Linux Swap
Label: [blank]
Size: 1500 MB [NOTE: You should always have as much swap space as 1.5 times your RAM. Adjust accordingly]

Click OK.

7. Apply the changes by clicking the green check mark at the top. The program will ask you to reboot.

8. Reboot, and allow windows to re-detect your hardware. There is no need to reboot again after this.

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Part 2 - Installing Ubuntu

1. You need to get a Desktop LiveCD version of Ubuntu. The one I used for my installation is the DVD release from here . Make sure you select the right iso file to download, do not attempt to download a 64-bit version if your computer cannot support it.

2. Burn the ISO using a program of your choice- Nero, Alcohol, etc.

3. Insert the DVD, Reboot your computer, and make sure that you set your BIOS to boot from the DVD drive first.

4. You will have a menu come up. Pick 'English' as the language of choice. Then select Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer.

5. Wait while Ubuntu loads. After awhile, you will be presented with the GNOME desktop.

- At this stage, feel free to play around Ubuntu for awhile, and only proceed to the next few steps if you are comfortable with the operating environment. If you decide not to install, you can shut down Ubuntu any time you want, take out the DVD, and no changes would have been made to your computer.

6. When you are ready, double click 'Install'

7. Follow the on-screen instructions until you are on the 'Prepare Disk Space' screen.
Assuming that you already have multiple partitions, click Manual.

8. Make sure you do not touch the ntfs partitions! Remember the partition we created as Linux Ext3? This is what you will use to mount as your "/" (base directory in which Ubuntu will be installed.) Click that partition and click Edit. Set the Mount Point to "/" (no quotes).

9. Press OK, then Forward, and follow the instructions on the screen.

10. You can surf the net on Ubuntu while you wait for the install to finish. Unlike installing Windows, you can do anything with the system while it's installing.

11. When all is done, it will ask you to reboot. Do so, and Ubuntu's nice GRUB boot loader should come up upon restart. If the install was successful, you should be able to boot into either Ubuntu or Windows.

That's it for now! Congratulations, you have succeeded in dual booting your system.

Dude thanks for the tut. I wanted to install Ubuntu on my PC to just play around with it. Good job on the tut. Its gonna save me from Googling.

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WebRampage! - Your crazy little guide to the web

Nice tut thanks alot!

~Zodiac

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