Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[El Guru (Al)]

Okay I am very close to getting ready to install Ubuntu.  I am going to be getting another hard drive either Monday or Tuesday.  I have many questions here to bear with me...

Once I get the hard drive installed (note it is going to be a slave) how should I format it?  The total drive size is about 80 GB.  Should I leave it as one partition or do two?  Can Linux and Windows files co-exist on the same partition?

Once I have the hard drive formated (and if needed partition) what is the best way to install Ubuntu?  Do I download from the official site and install from there or do it on a CD?

Finally, once I have installed Ubuntu, how do I setup up a dual-boot?

Also Pdecker had mentioned about ITunes not working with the new Ubuntu.  For me that is not an issue since I do not use ITunes.  But I have a ton of MP3, M4A and WMA (a few) audio files.  Currently WinAmp is my music player of choice but that is a Windows only application.  Does Ubuntu have its own audio player?

Sorry for all the questions, but Ubuntu is something totally new for me.

[OldManDeath]

I know nothing of Ubuntu, however, I found the following link about Ubuntu Media Players:
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/ubuntu-media-players-overview.html

The main website: http://www.ubuntugeek.com/ also looks to have a ton of information available for Ubuntu, including Howto's, Tutorials, etc.

[El Guru (Al)]

Thanks, I'll take a look at those when I have some free time.  I was able to get some much need (and hard to get) time off work the beginning this week, thanks to some folks who owed me some favors.

[Ryan Wagner]

If you want Windows and Linux on the same hard drive you'll want to setup two partitions. Both operating systems cannot coexist on the same partition so you would have to partition your hard drive, which I haven't done in awhile but I am pretty sure Ubuntu will do this for you if you already have Windows installed on your hard drive.

To install Ubuntu you'll want to download it from the Internet, burn it to CD, and then just reboot your computer with the CD in the drive. Just like Windows it will walk you through the installation steps once your computer boots up.

[El Guru (Al)]

If you want Windows and Linux on the same hard drive you'll want to setup two partitions. Both operating systems cannot coexist on the same partition so you would have to partition your hard drive, which I haven't done in awhile but I am pretty sure Ubuntu will do this for you if you already have Windows installed on your hard drive.

To install Ubuntu you'll want to download it from the Internet, burn it to CD, and then just reboot your computer with the CD in the drive. Just like Windows it will walk you through the installation steps once your computer boots up.

Sorry may be I wasn't clear.  Windows is going to remain on the primary drive.  Ubuntu would be installed on the new drive.  I also will be using the new drive since it is going to be a lot bigger for data (OpenOffice files, MP3/M4A, JPG/PNG/GIF files, etc).  I know both OS can not occupy the same partition, but do I have to keep Linux applications separate from Windows applications?  I guess may be what I am trying to ask is the file system different in Linux than in Windows?  Would Linux be able to access files that are on a partition/drive setup by Windows?  Does this make sense?

[Pieter]

Both operating systems cannot coexist on the same partition

That's not true, This tool will install Ubuntu on one of your Windows partitions. The program will do some stuff with your Windows bootloader so that you'll be able to use Ubuntu (native, not emulated!) without having to partition your hard drive. Ubuntu will be stored in one big file if you choose this option. The downside? You won't be able to access your Ubuntu files from Windows XP. (Yes, it is possible to use your Linux partitions on Windows as if they were regular Windows partitions.)

Once I get the hard drive installed (note it is going to be a slave) how should I format it?  The total drive size is about 80 GB.  Should I leave it as one partition or do two?

The installer actually has a built-in partitioning program and I believe that the setup wizard will automatically offer you to do the partitioning work automagically. If you decide to it manually, first create a big ext3 partition (let's say 99% of your free space). If the setup should ever ask for its so-called "mount point", enter a forward slash ("/"). You'll soon see that this is something like drive letters in Windows. Usually, your primary partition would be called "C:\". In Linux, we just call it "/". Anyway, secondly you'll also need a swap partition. This is some kind of secondary memory (in Windows, this is called a swap file I believe).

Finally, once I have installed Ubuntu, how do I setup up a dual-boot?

There's no need for that, Ubuntu will automatically detect Windows XP. After you've installed Ubuntu, you can choose between Ubuntu and Windows on startup. Ubuntu's the default option, but there's a tweak for this.

Do I download from the official site and install from there or do it on a CD?

Download the ISO on their site (make sure that you pick the correct version and architecture, see ubuntu.com for details), burn it using a CD burning program that can handle these files (such as CDBurnerXP Pro), reboot your computer and boot off the CD.

Does Ubuntu have its own audio player?

Sure, there are tons of them actually!
By default, Totem is installed on your computer but you can always install more players if you want.

---
Quick summary: just download the correct ISO and start the installer. Don't worry about partitioning or dual booting, the setup will take care of that.

[El Guru (Al)]

That was help but at the same time confusing.  Windows is currently and will stay on drive C.  I will actually be adding two hard drives (and disconnecting the non-used zip and CD-ROM drives).  Now, my main thing is all of my music, I read somewhere Ubuntu does not support MP3 format.  99% of my music is MP3 format with a couple M4A and WMA thrown in.  All of the music is DRM free so that is not an issue. 

Now I read your last portion of the post and will take your word for it then.  But still I wonder about my music...

[OldManDeath]

That was help but at the same time confusing.  Windows is currently and will stay on drive C.  I will actually be adding two hard drives (and disconnecting the non-used zip and CD-ROM drives).  Now, my main thing is all of my music, I read somewhere Ubuntu does not support MP3 format.  99% of my music is MP3 format with a couple M4A and WMA thrown in.  All of the music is DRM free so that is not an issue. 

Now I read your last portion of the post and will take your word for it then.  But still I wonder about my music...

The hard drives will be in the mail tonight or early am, so they will be on their way tomorrow.

[El Guru (Al)]

Okay thanks.  I likely won't be able to get them until Saturday anyway.  Our community's office changed their hours and they are now closing an hour earlier.  On Thursday and Friday I won't be home until after the office closes.  Unless there is an empty parcel locker (with 300+ units those fill up fast) I'll likely find a blue card in my box telling me I have a package waiting in the office.

[OldManDeath]

Not a problem.  Enjoy.

[Pieter]

That was help but at the same time confusing.  Windows is currently and will stay on drive C.

The drive letter system is a Windows-only setting, so it has nothing to do with Linux. Ubuntu's not going to change that. Instead of using a drive letter system, Linux uses a different method (and that has got nothing to do with Windows). Have a look at this example:

THE WINDOWS WAY
C:\ - Primary partition with Windows installed on it
D:\ - Your CD drive
E:\ - A USB pendrive

THE LINUX WAY
/ - Primary partition with Linux installed on it
/media/cdrom - Your CD drive
/media/pendrive - A USB pendrive
/media/WindowsXP - A Windows partition

Unlike on Windows, there's no such thing as drive letters for CDs and removable drives. Instead, their contents can be accessed from a certain folder on your primary partition. That may look a bit complicated, but you'll hardly notice that when you're using Ubuntu. When you insert a CD or connect a pendrive to your PC, an icon will show up on your desktop. Just double-click on it to browse the contents of your CD/pendrive.

Screenshot:

I read somewhere Ubuntu does not support MP3 format.

Due to some idiotic patent law, Ubuntu can't distribute an MP3 codec on their install CD. However, when you play an MP3 file for the first time in Totem, Ubuntu will ask you if you want to download it. So yes, Ubuntu can play MP3 files. Same thing with unprotected AAC and WMA files.

[Ryan Wagner]

That was help but at the same time confusing.  Windows is currently and will stay on drive C.  I will actually be adding two hard drives (and disconnecting the non-used zip and CD-ROM drives).  Now, my main thing is all of my music, I read somewhere Ubuntu does not support MP3 format.  99% of my music is MP3 format with a couple M4A and WMA thrown in.  All of the music is DRM free so that is not an issue. 

Now I read your last portion of the post and will take your word for it then.  But still I wonder about my music...

If you're installing Ubuntu on a separate drive then you definitely don't need to worry about partitioning. As Pieter said, Ubuntu will automatically setup your system to dual-boot both operating systems by offering a menu in the beginning.

[El Guru (Al)]

I suppose a lot more of this will make sense once I get Ubuntu installed.  What about M4A (MP4) files?

[El Guru (Al)]

That was help but at the same time confusing.  Windows is currently and will stay on drive C.  I will actually be adding two hard drives (and disconnecting the non-used zip and CD-ROM drives).  Now, my main thing is all of my music, I read somewhere Ubuntu does not support MP3 format.  99% of my music is MP3 format with a couple M4A and WMA thrown in.  All of the music is DRM free so that is not an issue. 

Now I read your last portion of the post and will take your word for it then.  But still I wonder about my music...

If you're installing Ubuntu on a separate drive then you definitely don't need to worry about partitioning. As Pieter said, Ubuntu will automatically setup your system to dual-boot both operating systems by offering a menu in the beginning.

Well now that I am going to have 3 hard drives then I really won't need to worry too much about that.  I'll just Ubuntu on the second smallest drive (the smallest as XP and I don't want mess around reinstalling Windows).  I think (I hope) it will take me a while to fill up a 160 GB hard drive. Although it seems kinda of waste to have this 120 GB hard drive with just Ubuntu on it.

[Pieter]

I suppose a lot more of this will make sense once I get Ubuntu installed.  What about M4A (MP4) files?

I just tried playing one with Totem and it's working fine. That is after you've installed the codec. When you play such a file for the first time, Totem will offer you to download and install the codecs you need.

Although it seems kinda of waste to have this 120 GB hard drive with just Ubuntu on it.

If you install lots of software through the Add/Remove tool, you'll have that hard drive of yours filled in no time. Trust me on this one.