To dual boot or to VM?


Recommended Posts

Hey guys,

I had asked you guys about whether or not i should Dual-boot or use a clean machine. Well it turns out the "clean" machine has "lost" Graphics card and thus is an abnormally large paper weight. Also i cannot, i reapeat cannot download and new OS since my high speed bandwidth went boom this month. So ill just stick with RedHat9(also have 7.2)or Knoppix.

What do you guys think i should do?

VM or Dual-boot?

Remember im brand new to Linux but have been using Win 4.x+5.x since 1994 (yeah Chicago beta) And by the way that means i started when i was 4-5 years old and am perfectly capable of doing Regedit and Mgmt Console and various other more than usual knowledge. Long story short: Don't treat me like a complete N00b!

Seriously though i need help with this my machine specs are as follows:

P4 2.4b (533 FSB)

1GB RDRam

GeForceFX 5800

SoundBlaster Audigy 2 zs

200 + 80GB HDs IDE

LG 52x reader

And a couple other optical drives

Running XP SP1

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If this is a poll, I will put my vote in for "dual boot" ;)

The reason is that Linux will see "real" hardware, not virtualized.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frankly, I am going for Dual boot too but i mean look at my hardware...and oh god....wait....*NIX does not run on NTFS does it?

Oh boy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

oh god....wait....*NIX does not run on NTFS does it?

Well, it's not exactly like Microsoft is open about their secret NTFS...

And, *nix doesn't normally run on FAT, either. It can read and write it. And there may be a few versions that can install on FAT, but it isn't typical at all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While i have now had experience with Virtual PC and VM ware, i would go with dual booting. There are pros and cons to both depending on your needs. The VM stuff is what it says "virtual" so you dont get your video card and sound...

With dual booting, its your OS with all your devices from your PC, so for gaming, etc..you have everything you need.

For testing software, VM, VPC...i recommend VM ware for the virtual stuff, only because it supports usb scanning, vpc does not.

All other stuff, Dual-Boot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

just be sure you don't trash your MBR if you dual boot.

but you can't, really.

If you install linux correctly, GRUB/LILO or whatever bootloader should be in the MBR.

And if that gets TOTALLY screwed over, then you can always use an evvvil Windows disc to repair the MBR so at least it gets into Windows.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

yeah about GRUB... will that be in the MBR or will it still be XPs little multi boot thing... lol you guys are pretty fanatic about Linux... "evvvil Windows disc" lol

hmm i dont like touching the boot record too much since that one time i had ME (i know iknow) and xp beta 2 and the MBR went poof! well lets just say my dad wasnt very amused...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

yeah about GRUB... will that be in the MBR or will it still be XPs little multi boot thing... lol you guys are pretty fanatic about Linux... "evvvil Windows disc" lol

hmm i dont like touching the boot record too much since that one time i had ME (i know iknow) and xp beta 2 and the MBR went poof! well lets just say my dad wasnt very amused...

there are ways to fix the mbr. Grub will write over teh mbr. However if you are that paranoid you can use windows to boot linux and keep windows mbr. Event hough you can fix the mbr back to windwos if you replace it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You've got two hard drives. Dual boot with one hdd for each one. (I personally pull the cables but you can also change the boot order in the BIOS).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.