I started in with installing Ubuntu 12.10 on my desktop, as a Dual-Boot system next to XP.
When the installer asked, I replied that I wanted to retain XP, not replace it. It brought up the partition splitter, and from the total and available size, I could tell it was my USB harddrive.
I cancelled the install and unplugged the USB disk and restarted the install. This time the only option was to replace XP. I plugged the HD back in, restarted the install and went ahead with the install to the USB drive. Kinda' wish now I hadn't; rather had thought to ask a few questions here first.
GRUB offers either OS, and I can use either, but I've noticed if I have my cell phone plugged into the USB hub for charging, GRUB fails. I'm thinking adding the cell phone changes the USB enumeration and the USB HD isn't where GRUB was expecting it? It all sounds very fragile and sub-optimal.
So I'm wondering why the installer refused to install Linux on the internal HD 'C' drive and another thing just occurred to me: At one point we'd had to do some work to recover XP booting (long before the Ubuntu install) and since then the Win boot-loader offers two lines of XP to pick from. I'm wondering if there actually *are* two copies of XP installed on the machine and that's why there aren't enough physical partitions available for the Ubuntu installer to offer the C drive for the install. Hmmm...
Thanks for any insight,
Benton 3mar13
With XP coming up on its EOL, it's tempting to just wipe the Windows install and go for a straight Ubuntu install, but I still need Quicken.
When the installer asked, I replied that I wanted to retain XP, not replace it. It brought up the partition splitter, and from the total and available size, I could tell it was my USB harddrive.
I cancelled the install and unplugged the USB disk and restarted the install. This time the only option was to replace XP. I plugged the HD back in, restarted the install and went ahead with the install to the USB drive. Kinda' wish now I hadn't; rather had thought to ask a few questions here first.
GRUB offers either OS, and I can use either, but I've noticed if I have my cell phone plugged into the USB hub for charging, GRUB fails. I'm thinking adding the cell phone changes the USB enumeration and the USB HD isn't where GRUB was expecting it? It all sounds very fragile and sub-optimal.
So I'm wondering why the installer refused to install Linux on the internal HD 'C' drive and another thing just occurred to me: At one point we'd had to do some work to recover XP booting (long before the Ubuntu install) and since then the Win boot-loader offers two lines of XP to pick from. I'm wondering if there actually *are* two copies of XP installed on the machine and that's why there aren't enough physical partitions available for the Ubuntu installer to offer the C drive for the install. Hmmm...
Thanks for any insight,
Benton 3mar13
With XP coming up on its EOL, it's tempting to just wipe the Windows install and go for a straight Ubuntu install, but I still need Quicken.