Dual-Boot

Hi. I recently asked a question about re-installing windows, and i was very happy with the help i received (Not done it yet, as i need to get the disc) but now i am thinking about dual-booting my system with Windows 7 as the main OS, and linux ubuntu as a secondary. I have a few questions:

1. How much space should i leave for ubuntu's partition?
2. How do i make a swap partition (or whatever it is called, for swapping files between OS's)?
3. Can i set it up to automatically boot into windows unless i am holding down a specific key, or something similar?

I appreciate the help.

BTW, my HDD is ~500gb, but my current (factory) windows partition is 450gb.

Hello there, graememcw.

Well, the first thing you need to do is to accomodate your partitions, with Partition Magic or any other that's capable of doing that kind of things...

The next thing you want to do is give at least 50GB for your Ubuntu's partition, the SWAP partition is not for swapping files between OS's, you can actually do that within Ubuntu... Swap is the "Page File", i'd recommend at least a 2GB partition for it..

The Perfect Desktop - Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat) | HowtoForge - Linux Howtos and Tutorials

That's a complete guide for installing the OS, and you won't have any problems with dual booting because you can select which OS to start in a list :)

Hmmm. Well, in that case, i may just run a bootable USB linux instead. I dont really want to have to reinstall windows again if it goes balls-up if i decide to get rid of the ubuntu partition.

EDIT: thanks punkster. But is there a way to boot linux only when i hold a button, because i dont really want to have to tell it to boot windows every time i turn it on.

I would not recommend putting Ubuntu on the same HD as Win7.

We see may cases here each week of GRUB bootloader corrupting Win7 irreparably. The only solution often is to wipe the HD of GRUB to clean reinstall.

Is not necessary, i used to have a dual boot (Ubuntu 10.04 and Windows 7) in the same hard drive and never had any issues, but it's up to you, you could just download the live CD and use it wherever/whenever you want and it won't touch/disturb your Windows partition or any other partition in your computer :)

EDIT: i do agree with Greg, there are people with this issue, but since it hasn't happened to me, i can't speak for them hehe.. i had the dual boot for over 5 months and no issues whatsoever i guess lucky me..

Are there any other versions of linux that can be installed onto the same HDD? (safely)

Punkster said:

Is not necessary, i used to have a dual boot (Ubuntu 10.04 and Windows 7) in the same hard drive and never had any issues, but it's up to you, you could just download the live CD and use it wherever/whenever you want and it won't touch/disturb your Windows partition or any other partition in your computer :)

I think i actually have a live cd somewhere in the house, but i dont know where haha.

Whatever i do, i will either have it on a USB drive, actual HDD, or not atall :L

Well i will try wubi just now, since i will be re-installing windows sometime within the next week anyways, if something manages to break (not that i distrust myself that much :L)...

If i dont like it, i may just use a vm...