Ubuntu desktop install question

[dandan123]

I would like to install Ubuntu on my desktop at home.

I've been playing around with the live CD for a while and I like it.

My PC at home has two drives -

Boot drive - SCSI (I have a SCSI controller card for this)
Second drive - IDE Master.

I would like to install Ubuntu on the ide drive while still being able to boot Windows off the scsi drive..is this possible ?

 

[sbrews]

In a word - maybe.

It all depends on what version of Windows you are running. From what I have heard, Vista is a real pita when it comes to dual boot (dont know for sure - I refuse to install/upgrade to vista).

If you are running some other version, then its not a problem. Ubuntu, as part of the install process, will set up Grub and import into the grub menu all of the OSes you have on your system. At boot time, just pick the one you want to run. So, you can keep your current Windows install and have Ubuntu set up too.

Add a little color to your PUTTY terminal: faq52-6627

 

[geirendre]

Installing Ubuntu on the IDE-drive should not be any problem.
The tricky part is the bootloader (GRUB)
where to put it, and how to set it up.
I would suggest making the IDE-drive to be the new bootdisk,
with GRUB installed in the MBR of this drive.
Then use GRUB to "chainload" Windows when you want to use it.
It's much easyer to setup GRUB for dualboot, than NTLDR.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=16353

http://www.ubuntugeek.com/howto-set-windows-as-default-os-when-dual-booting-ubuntu.html

http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html

Hope this helps

 

[dandan123]

Thanks for your responses.

I installed Ubuntu and selected the ide drive to use.

I then changed the drive order on my bios so the ide drive was set as first drive.

I then rebooted and it brought up GRUB which had options for Ubuntu or Windows ( pretty smart).

Both OS's boot up properly and the XP drive (scsi) was not modified in any way, exactly what I wanted.