is it possible to install linux onto a windows xp machine? im running inux right now off a cd, but i want to know if its possible to install it and decide which os i want it to start in?

any opinions or idea will be greatly appreciated

ps. this was posted using linux

You sure can dual boot

Could try Microsoft Virtual PC. I have used dual boot with XP Pro and RedHat Linux.

Which distro is it?? Not all 'Live' cds are installable, but you can usually get the install ISO for it.

Most Linux Distros will resize your Win partition and install a bootloader - usually GRUB occasionally LiLO

so is it worth it or not? or just get virtual pc... i want the simplest one also. i should be getting a new hd soon also, so i dont want to do any partionning.

Whatever you do, DON'T even try installing Gentoo... I tried it the other night and it took forever, even though I followed the documentation on it! Try either installing Fedora Core 2 or Mandrake if you want something easy to learn with!

ok gamehead, you find all the stuff i need, ill just do it. lol, joking. just tell me what i need to do later.

http://www.linuxiso.org/

Download everything you need there!

Oh yes, currently I have Win98SE on C:, WinXPSP2 on D:, and w/ LILO an install of Red Hat 9. All running smooth on this config:

;config.tXt
;28.09.2004
;07:07 PST

Graphic Card: Matrox Millenium G200 AGP
Model #: Just ain't feeling like unscrewing to look inside.............
Sr #: Just ain't feeling like unscrewing to look inside.............
Driver version: 6.83.017 in Win98, 5.92.006 in WinXP
PD version: 6.83.017 in Win98, 6.92.004 in WinXP
VT version: N/A
MGA Bios version: 1.4.004
Hardware rev.: 133
CPU: AMD Athlon 600 MHz (AMD K7600MTR51B) @687MHz (FSB114, CL2)
Chipset: VIA Apollo KX133 (VT8731 + 82C686A)
Motherboard: SL-77KV
Motherboard Bios: L5
PCB ver: M5
Motherboard chipset patches: AGP GART 1.80a from VIA Hyperion 4.51v
RAM: 2x Kingston 256MB KVR133X64C3/256 (@114MHz)
OS: Windows 4.10.2222A & Windows XP 5.1.2600.2180 SP2
Desktop resolution and color depth: 1024x768, 32bpp
DirectX version: DX9.0b, 4.09.0000.0902 in Win98, Win2000
Hard Drive: Seagate Baraccuda 7200.7, ST380011A; firmware v3.06
SCSI card type: NIL
Sound card and driver version: Integrated VIA AC'97, drv v5.50a in Win98/WinXP
Hardware rev.: 032
Monitor brand: Philips 105S2
CD-ROM Drive (make/model): Asus S520/A, firmware rev. 2.0L
Network card: NIL
Fax MODEM: Amigo AMI-2019E, (also called AM HW 3056) (PCI slot 3 of 5)
Driver Version: 3.37
Hardware revision: 001

nice, thanks for the imput.

Just run it on Virtual PC until you get a dedicated HD.

If you want easy Id recommend Mepis or Linspire, easy to install, easy to use and Linspire has one of the most active support forums on the net

Someone correct me on this, but from what I understand, you need to install Windows first. Just a note for when you do install Linux. I had a version of Linux installed a couple of years ago and I believe that is what I did.

You can install whatever you want first, but usually installing Windows first makes things a lot easier!

easiest way would be a virtual machine.. or if you have 2 hard drives makes 1 windows xp and 1 linux, whenever you wanna boot linux unplug the windows hard drive and visa-versa.

I tried to dual boot Windows and Linux on the same hard drive, i got so confused i said screw it. after about 30 minutes in linux i said not worth it and put windows back on lol.

I'm not so sure about XP but on the pc that I am using now I have windows 2000.
some time ago I installed slackware .. didn't like that , so I formatted the linux partitions "using Windows disk managment" , installed RedHat 9 .. then decided to try Mandrake 10 -- again didn't like that -- now I'm back to RedHat 9 -- in few days -- as soon as I complete the download of Fedora Core 2 . I'll give it a shot.

the thing is :
Linux was installed 4 times -- 3 different falvours -- on a 40 GB HDD shared with windows 2000 -- the Win2k installation was not affected at all.

It works just fine in a dual boot configuration, the only thing is you need to have enough free space on your HDD to install linux on -- and of course you should be careful while installing linux -- you do not want to format the windows partition -- I know many people who did just that, and if u do not have backup it is going to be ugly

@gamehead200 Thanks for the clarrification. If you install Windows 2nd, then your boot up needs to be configured correctly. Windows just ignores the other OS, takes over the boot process and boots . Linux will let you choose .

DaLurker - correct, windows will not recognise linux, You should install Linux second and it will usually offer to resize your windows partition to create a partition for itself.

Incidentally - Linux also cannot directly boot a windows installation, instead the Linux bootloader acts as a chainloader whereby it loads the native Windows bootloader which in turn boots Windows.