Ubuntu and Windows XP and Vista with 2 harddisks

[ChinmayS]

Install Linux in the last and use MBR

BTW you can test drive Linux using a live CD, where you don't have to install it, it boots from CD and provide you every thing to test drive it, most of the distros have live CD.

Dude 'Install Linux in the last' means in which HDD?
In last partition(Storage partition) of 360 GB, or in single partition of 160 GB?; and I know MBR stands for 'Master Boot Record' but what is it?

Currently that 160 GB HDD is formatted with NTFS in single partition, so shd I break d partition in GPart utility(In Ubuntu live cd) and make partition suitable to linux OS or shrink 160 GB single partiton to say 90% so that I'll b able to install Ubuntu in last 10%(appx. 15 GB)

Plz reply soon as I m gonna Ubuntu by tomorrow, if possible today only.
Thanks again in advance!

 

[DontAsk]

I will suggest:

360 Gb HDD -> Primary Master
160 Gb HDD -> Primary Slave or Secondary Master

Partition:
360 -> 40+40+40+Rest
Insatll WinXp on Ist 40 Gb Partition
Insatll Vista on IInd 40 Gb Partition
Insatll Linux on IIIrd 40 Gb Partition
Rest for Storage.

160 -> Full as Storage.

Install Linux in the last and use MBR

BTW you can test drive Linux using a live CD, where you don't have to install it, it boots from CD and provide you every thing to test drive it, most of the distros have live CD.

Dude 'Install Linux in the last' means in which HDD?
In last partition(Storage partition) of 360 GB, or in single partition of 160 GB?; and I know MBR stands for 'Master Boot Record' but what is it?

Currently that 160 GB HDD is formatted with NTFS in single partition, so shd I break d partition in GPart utility(In Ubuntu live cd) and make partition suitable to linux OS or shrink 160 GB single partiton to say 90% so that I'll b able to install Ubuntu in last 10%(appx. 15 GB)

Plz reply soon as I m gonna Ubuntu by tomorrow, if possible today only.
Thanks again in advance!

Chinmay using the partitioning scheme I suggested or whatever partitioning scheme you are using install OS in following order

1st install XP,
2nd install Vista
3rd (last) install Linux.

It had been few years now when I did multi OS, and as I remember at that time Linux asked for where to install boot record, so if it is still the same then boot record should be installed on MBR of primary master.

 

[ChinmayS]

u didnt understand my question.I was asking whether I've to convert my 160 GB to EXT3 drive of Ububtu, or create 20 GB something EXT3 partition on MBR, and rest 140 GB for storage or shrink already present NTFS volume??

 

[DontAsk]

Choice is yours, you can use any of the drives/partition for Ubuntu.If you want to allot 20 Gb to Ubuntu, either create that partition on main drive or in secondary it does not make any difference, its all how you want it. Personally I would use secondary disk as storage only.BTW you don't create partition on MBR.

 

[ChinmayS]

Thanks once again!

 

[haider_up32]

there are hundred of articles explainig partitioning process but none will suggest u a partitioning strategy...there is one on ubuntu community but its not complete...Here is my suggestion1.Windows XP - 5GB //believe me this will increase the overall bootup timeafter installing win u can change the location of program files folder to a separate partition..all prgs will be installed there automatically2.Programs Files partition 12-15GB if u install many prgs(common if u have more than 1 win xp installation)3.Win Vista -20GB4.Linux Distro Any 4-7 GB5.Separate /boot partition (prefered at the beginning of HDD) if u plan to install more than 1 linux distro-also make a separate swap partition double the size of ram (prefered at the beginning of HDD) - with linux kernel 2.6 swap files are as fast as swap partition ..but u wont be able to hibernate with swap files so make a seaprate swap partiton