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Even though I’d like to think of myself as an open-minded individual, I have never really experimented with Linux.  At school, I take a computer class, and one of our recent projects was installing Xubutu (a form of Linux) on a Windows XP Professional edition computer.  For those of you on the fence about installing Linux on your computer, hopefully my experience can make that decision a little easier.  You can use my experience as a guide to installing Linux so you can dual boot the OS with Windows.

The Computer Specs

First off, it is important to note what type of a computer I installed Xubuntu on, and one problem that had arisen from it.  It has a 20GB hard drive, and I’m not sure on how much RAM it has, but it’s either 256MB or 512MB.  The computer is an old one, so our class is allowed to tinker with the older systems.  Due to the low specs, installing Xubuntu was pretty much the only option.  It is specifically meant for low performing computers as it has a much more efficient desktop environment. 

The Installation Process

The purpose of the project was not just to install Xubuntu, but also to keep Windows XP on the hard drive.  To do this, the hard drive must be partitioned.  In case you are not familiar with hard drive partitioning, it is basically splitting up the hard drive into two separate sections, which is great for running multiple OSes on one hard drive. 

Partitioning the Hard Drive

There are numerous amounts of software that can partition a hard drive, but I used PartedMagic 3.0.  However, PartedMagic 3.0 did not work because the system did not meet the minimum requirements.  Unfortunately, I did not realize that at the time, so after PartedMagic 3.0 didn’t work, I had to search on some support forums and diagnose the problem.  It was a stupid, amateur error on my part. 

To resolve this, I opted in using a lower version of PartedMagic, PartedMagic 2.0 - which worked like a charm.  As I previously mentioned, the hard drive was only 20GB, so I partitioned it to 10GB and 10GB.  One of them would solely be for Windows XP, while the other would be for Xubuntu.  After this process was complete, I quickly checked the hard drive space on Windows XP to make sure it was, indeed, 10GB.  At this time, I also prepared an install CD of Xubuntu. 

Installing Xubuntu

Shortly after, the install CD of Xubuntu was created and I was ready to install the OS with the Penguin logo.  After I popped in the CD upon booting the computer, I had to select which hard drive to install the OS on.  After selecting some install options (such as username, password, and all that fun stuff), I had finally successfully installed Linux on my computer.  The computer restarted and I chose boot to Xubuntu and was met with the Xubuntu loading bar. 

Post Installation Thoughts

While the installation of Linux at the time seemed pretty easy, it was actually pretty tough.  As I write this article, I realize that my instructor had to help me time-to-time on what to do next.  Also, a few of my classmates had accidentally deleted the Windows XP install, because when they tried to boot to Windows, they were met with the blue screen of death.  In other words, I would not recommend someone setting up a dual boot Linux/Windows machine if they are not good with computers.  At the very least, know thy enemy.  Google and Wikipedia are your friends.  Don’t be afraid to search for Linux installation tips because that will help make your installation much easier. 

I haven’t had a whole lot of experience working with Xubuntu yet, so I can’t really say whether it is much better than XP.  However, it does come with word processing programs, GIMP (a free alternative to PhotoShop), some simple, yet fun games, and Instant Messaging programs.  Since Linux is completely open-source, there are a whole lot of applications available for download, absolutely free. 

If you are still not sure whether you want to install Linux on your system, be sure to check our Shawn Ingram’s Top 5 Linux Myths, to clear up anything you have heard about Linux that may be false.