install linux without destroy the hidden partition drive

[rbrt287]

hi
is there anyway that i can install ubuntu without loosing my hidden recovery partition?
and how can i back up and restore the entire disk before i install?
thank you everyone

[madcow]

You can. Just don't touch the restore partition.

The latest Ubuntu alpha lets you install from Windows into your windows partition without modifying your disk. Installation is simple like installing any Windows application. If later you do not want Linux, just uninstall linux using the uninstaller.

[rbrt287]

hi
so i just install it like i do with my PC?
i wanna to install xbuntu on my x31 btw.

[Utwig]

Depends if you also want to dualboot Windows.

If not you can burn restore CDs. Then when you want restore partition back you can recreate it by deleting partitions (boot knoppix, fdisk), then booting from restore CDs and doing a factory restore. On X you can burn CDs from external USB burner, you can also boot from USB DVD drive.

What I ended up doing was I got a spare Thinkpad HDD caddy and screwed in spare 30GB drive. Then I just swapped drives and installed Linux on 30GB.

Replacing HDD on a Thinkpad is very easy, unscrew 1 screw, pull drive caddy out, put plastics on another caddy, push other caddy in, screw 1 screw. Takes less than 5 minutes.


If you want to dualboot Windows:
- back up any irreplacable data
- resize your windows partition so that you have room for Linux using Parition magic, leave enough (6-20GB for a desktop install) unpartitioned space
- boot and install Linux don't let it install bootloader (GRUB/Lilo) on bootsector of HDD. You want it to install bootloader on beginning of Linux partition or if you have a USB floppy drive on the floppy.
- Then look up tutorial for making bootimage file from floppy (you copy bootsector from floppy into file using dd command)
- Place linux.bin bootsector file in your Windows C: drive
- Edit WindowsXP boot.ini file to add Linux as a boot option
- Use NT Bootloader to boot Linux instead of GRUB, thus you still have your predesktop area and access IBM.

[madcow]

hi
so i just install it like i do with my PC?
i wanna to install xbuntu on my x31 btw.

I have not been able to install Xbuntu from Windows. I could only install Ubuntu from Windows. The only problem is Ubuntu is slow on my x40 1.2 Ghz processor.

[rbrt287]

thanks guys
i ended up buying another hdd, SAMSUNG 160GB and install Opensuse instead of Xbuntu,
Opensuse is awesome, everything worked right out of the box.