- Mar 16, 2006
- 24
- 0
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Okay, here's the lowdown.
For a long time, I've been thinking about making a dual-boot system. Windows XP and Gentoo Linux, specifically. I want to know how to do this. I guess to make this easier, I'll list some things.
What I can't do-
Use Partition Magic
Have a CD/DVD that must be in the drive to boot any OS
Delete/lose all of the data I already have on my hard drive
Buy any new hardware that isn't a hard drive
Buy any software, although if you sell it to me enough I might
What I can do-
When loading, get a screen that asks whether I'd like to boot Windows or Gentoo
Buy a new hard drive (already have one in mind)
Put several hours into this
I know there's something I'm forgetting, but that's pretty much it. To sum it up, I have a hard drive with 50Gb of data on it that I want to keep. I'm willing to do anything to it that doesn't involve Partition Magic, because I don't want to spend $70 on it. I'm also willing to buy a new hard drive, if that's what's necessary. What I had in mind was having Windows on one, Linux on the other, although I've been told doing this (2 bootable drives) is impossible. However, if there's any way I can work with something like that, I'm fine. Blah. I guess I'm being vague here. If you need anything more, just ask.
Thanks in advance!
EDIT: If this is impossible, that's cool too. Lead me to the cheapest and easiest way I can do it, and I'll decide for myself if I want to.
For a long time, I've been thinking about making a dual-boot system. Windows XP and Gentoo Linux, specifically. I want to know how to do this. I guess to make this easier, I'll list some things.
What I can't do-
Use Partition Magic
Have a CD/DVD that must be in the drive to boot any OS
Delete/lose all of the data I already have on my hard drive
Buy any new hardware that isn't a hard drive
Buy any software, although if you sell it to me enough I might
What I can do-
When loading, get a screen that asks whether I'd like to boot Windows or Gentoo
Buy a new hard drive (already have one in mind)
Put several hours into this
I know there's something I'm forgetting, but that's pretty much it. To sum it up, I have a hard drive with 50Gb of data on it that I want to keep. I'm willing to do anything to it that doesn't involve Partition Magic, because I don't want to spend $70 on it. I'm also willing to buy a new hard drive, if that's what's necessary. What I had in mind was having Windows on one, Linux on the other, although I've been told doing this (2 bootable drives) is impossible. However, if there's any way I can work with something like that, I'm fine. Blah. I guess I'm being vague here. If you need anything more, just ask.
Thanks in advance!
EDIT: If this is impossible, that's cool too. Lead me to the cheapest and easiest way I can do it, and I'll decide for myself if I want to.