[RESOLVED] Going to try Ubuntu

I am going to try Ubuntu. I have read a lot of the threads here and I think that I will enjoy learning how to use Ubuntu. I am downloading the ISO...will be a couple of hours to D/L.

I have some questions, though.

I have a spare sata hdd that I will install and I need some guidance as to how to properly set it up. Did I read the suggestion to dis-connect my current hdd and just connect the other hdd that will have just Ubuntu?

Did I read that in order to switch from Ubuntu on one hdd to XP on the other hdd, and vice-versa...that I will have to re-boot each time and go into bios and choose which hdd to boot from?

This isn't like dual booting IE and Firefox from one hdd, is it?

In about an hour, my Grandaughter will be here and I won't be able to get back here until later this evening..so this will be something that I hope to get up and running over the week-end.

I'll check back whenever I can sneak in a few moments....!

I use the BIOS to select the hdd/OS I wish to boot to.
Ubantu has a bootloader, just never used them

You can set up the two hard drives if you want to, but I've always used separate partitions on one drive. The Ubuntu bootloader will see Windows and allow you to choose which OS you want at startup. It will want to set itself up as the default OS, but you can configure it otherwise.

Setting up a second hard drive is a bit more effort, but it avoids potential problems if you decide you don't want Linux. The biggest problem (not huge, but annoying) with using just one drive is how to restore the bootloader for Windows only.

I had read about the bootloader problems and that's why I will go with a second hdd for Ubuntu. So...switching from Windows to Ubuntu requires a re-boot & Bios hdd choice...is that correct?

The way I do it. To advoid that bootloader problem

It all boils down to one's level of commitment, I guess - if you're not into Linux for the long haul, use a separate drive.

Since my system runs so smoothly as it is, I wouldn't want to mess things up by trying something that I may not want to keep for very long. I have two spare sata hdd's sitting on the shelf so I'm not out any money on a second hdd..and I suppose that it wouldn't be such a big deal to have to re-boot into Bios to change o/s.

I have the ISO burned to a cd and tomorrow I will install the second hdd and get things going.

I'll post after I get Ubuntu up & running....will be an interesting project.

When you boot with the Ubuntu ISO CD in the drive it will boot you to the desktop, Ubuntu CD's are "live" CD's. When you're at the desktop you can test out Ubuntu without installing it to your drive. After you test it and decide if you want to install to your harddrive just click on the "install" icon on the desktop. Ubuntu will install very quickly(30-45 min.) Tip: make sure you have only the drive you want to install to in the machine. It's easy to get confused with the Linux drive ID's. This includes zip or flash drives also. Ubuntu will ID most all hardware and printers(HP's are best)and set drivers for them automatically. Have fun. :)

I am having a little diffuculty. I am using a CD-R called a photo CD-R Pro. I thought that these cd's would be just a better quality cd than an ordinary cd but is there a difference between a photo cd and a regular cd...and perhaps why it doesn't want to work? The info was successfully burned but when I try to use it on the second hdd ( Bios changes made ), all I get at the prompt is the "system boot failure..insert disk and hit enter".

I downloaded the ISO file twice and burned a second cd but get the same results.

The second hdd is recognized in Bios and in My Computer, so I'm thinking that I might need a regular cd for this....?

It's unusual that the CD would be at fault Steve. It's usually a bad burn. Burning an ISO image file to a CD or DVD is a bit different than just burning the file. You'll need to choose the "burn image" or "write image" option in your burning software and then choose the file. If you downloaded the ISO from Ubuntu directly the download should be good. Try following the tutorials below and reduce the burn speed. I've included tutorials from Nero and Roxio. I don't know what burning software you are using.

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/burning_iso.html

http://www.wizardskeep.org/mainhall/tutor/neroiso.html

There are ways to check the md5sum (integrity) of the burn, but it's not easy in Windows.

Thanks, jmtjet...I'll read those tutorials....I first used the built-in burning program within Windows...twice, then I used Nero where I used the create image function...but still no go.

I tried to see if there was a way to burn the ISO to a dvd but didn't see any way to do that.

I still don't know if my cd's, which are called photo cd's, are the problem. Tomorrow I'll be going to Wal-Mart and will pick up some regular cd-r cd's.

When burning .ISO files, just make sure the disk is big enough for the files.

I know with CDburnerXP that is all that is required as it picks up the disk and adjusts to the correct mode needed.

Some burners can be right picky as to what brands of CD/DVD s it will use. When you find one that works, stick with it.

I tried again late last nite...set the write speed to 1x...took 1 1/2 hrs to burn..and at the very last, after getting the 100% burn indication and after a while at doing the lead in lead out thing, it then said that the burn was not successful....!!

I just got back from Wal-Mart with some regular cd-r's and will try again shortly.

Make sure you're using the Nero feature Burn image to disk found under the Backup heading. Also, you can choose DVD or CD functions by using the selector at the top-center of the Nero skin (on Nero6 and Nero7, anyway). Make sure you're burning the .iso file, not just copying it to disk; but I'm sure you're already aware of that.

lgbpop...I wasn't using the BACKUP section...didn't know I was supposed to use that section..:eek:! So that is why I couldn't get anywhere....sheesshh!!

I have Nero 6.6...., so I will try again.

Muchas Gracias, Senior !!

Edit:...after opening Nero, I believe that I was using the burn image to disc function,...but I will try again with a regular cd-r. Wish me better luck this time!!

Success...!! A good burn...and it works..!!

I re-booted and Ubuntu appeared.....great! I went to desktop and opened Firefox and it loaded right up. I will play with it some more a little later...chores to do...

Thanks to all, and thanks lgbpop for giving me some specific info on how to burn with Nero.

I think this will be fun to learn.