I think I'm ready to go on installing Ubuntu, couple questions

Alright, I've burned the Ubuntu CD and have it in my drive right now. I'm running the OS from the CD as I type this. I was pretty impressed that it can read my battery correctly and has support for my wireless card right out of the box.

The system I'm planning to install on has a 60 GB HDD partitioned into 20 GB and 40 GB respectively with the C drive holding my XP install and the D drive having some data files.

Am I basically good to go and can install Ubuntu right to the D drive where I'd like to have it or is there something else I'm going to have to do first? I don't want to break my Windows XP install.

 

If you have a 60gb HDD which is already partitioned into 2 partitions, 1 of 20gb and 1 of 40gb, then the Ubuntu installer will not have any room to install Linux. What you need is un-partitioned space, which will be partitioned and formatted as part of the Ubuntu installation.

The normal way that this is accomplished is to first backup your Windows installation, and most importantly your data files, and then re-partition your Windows installation to not use the entire drive. Then leave the rest of the space as un-partitioned, and then run the Ubuntu installation CD/program.

From what others here have posted, there is a capability within some of the newer Ubuntu install programs, to fairly automate the process of shrinking your Windows partitions, thereby creating room to install Ubuntu. I've never done things that way because I prefer to backup my drive, erase and re-partition my drive the way I want it, and then restore all of my Windows install and data, and then install my Linux system and data. (External USB or FW HDDs are perfect for this use)

There are probably more things written about what is the best way to partition a hard drive to support dual boot installations of Windows and Linux, then anything else on the net, so you should be able to search out and find lots of great reading on this subject.

Bottom line is that before you do anything, anything at all, to your syste, make at least 2 good backups of your system and data.

 

After I made this thread I went about researching it to the best of my ability. My install of Ubuntu (7.04) does indeed have the ability to shrink Windows partitions. Unfortunately, when I went about adjusting my partition I moved the slider in the wrong direction. I had wanted to shrink my 40 GB partition to 32 GB to free up 8 GB on the disc for Ubuntu but I ended up reversing it so now I've only got 8 GB for Windows and 32 GB for Ubuntu

It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the fact that Ubuntu can see my Windows drives just fine but Windows can't use the 32 GB I've partitioned for Ubuntu. Perhaps it's a message telling me to make Ubuntu my main OS

Anyway, so far Ubuntu is working out very well for me. I got my wallpaper working and I like how everything is laid out...the only thing that annoys me is that when I click on the address bar in Firefox it doesn't auto-select the text. I'll have to see about fixing that

 

(Why don't you have Ubuntu 7.10?)

You should take a look here.

1. In the address bar, type about:config <return>
2. In the filter text field, type browser.urlbar.clickSelectsAll
3. Set this value to, true by double clicking (or right clicking and selecting toggle.)
4. Restart Firefox.

 

I found a guide that had a break down of how to dual boot (which unfortunately didn't answer all my questions, hence this thread) and it directed me to a download of 7.04.

I scanned through the link and I see at least one link in there that might help me with my partition issue. Thanks.

edit: Thanks for the Firefox fix as well

edit part 2: By the way, that program to let me view ext2 format in Windows was just the ticket John. The utility that came with it even let me make that hidden Sony partition (for file restoring) available. Quite a few divisions for only a 60 GB HDD (5 partitions now, if you count the swap file) but everything works perfectly. I think I'm going to like Ubuntu...