i have ubuntu os and i burned the iso to a cd, when i have the cd in the computer on start up i can run it but is there a way that i can install this or another linux os on the computer while still being able to run windows xp? and could you tell me how please:D

yeah boot it up click on install on the desktop it will then ask you infor when it comes to partitioning click resize my existing partition and then just click next etc all the way threw and it should install grub and u will be fine (it sounds hard but its very easy if you do it)
if you need any more info give us a yell

it keeps giving me an error during the install process after i boot saying something about the root partition, i click my 30 gb hard drive, and it doesnt let me o farther, and i do not wanna format the disk.

you probably havent got enough room for both on a 30gb hard drive

you probably havent got enough room for both on a 30gb hard drive

windows basic install = 7gb
linux install = 4gb
i dont see the problem

windows basic install = 7gb
linux install = 4gb
i dont see the problem

urr yeah great one thats if hes never had any files
lol

im trying to do the same thing right now!

I had Ubuntu booting off a USB key, that's another option if you don't want to partition the hard drive.

if you dont want to partition your hard drive then do a wubi install, it is really easy and you can install many different versions of linux.

ive got Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron running on my computer, on a 4gb install.

it works fine.


youtube wubi 8.04

you will find what you need. install takes 30 mins to 1 hour depending on your computers spec

Check out the link in my sig for a tutorial on booting ubuntu from a usb drive :)

But if you want a proper install, you need to shrink the windows partition and use the freed space to install ubuntu. It needs 2 partitions; a root partition and a swap space. The root partition is the one with all your files etc in it, and the swap partition only needs to be about 700-800MB in size.