Can I install Linux on a separate partition

[duwang]

So I have zero experience with dual-booting, and I'm about to install Linux (Debian) so I have a number of questions:
1, Do I have to install it on the same partition where Windows is (Windows is on my C: partition and I'd like to have Linux on D
2. If I can indeed install it on D: will I still be able to access my files in D: while I'm working in Windows?

If there are any other precautions that I should take before installing, please let me know.

 

[utroz]

You can install linux on a separate partition but last time I checked Linux usually doesn't use NTFS as its default file system so you would need to have a special linux only partition on your hard drive. Also Dual Boot setups can be tricky.. You can use a live boot on a usb with a persistent area for files to avoid these issues or as I do I have a special hard drive for all experimental operating systems I mess with.. On another note I know ubuntu (and it relatives) have a windows installer program that you can use to install from windows. You may want to go to forum the specializes in linux like www.phoronix.com Also I can access my files in both linux and windows. If you do put it on your main hard drive you will need to resize your partitions to make free space for linux so that you don't lose your current files.

 

[drtweak]

You need to install it on it's own partition/hard drive. And when you install Linux it will take over the Bootload (most likely Grub) which will give you the options to boot into Linux or Windows.

Also you don't want to partition the extra space. Just find some extra space. So if you have a D drive and it is whatever size it is. You want to right click on My Computer/This PC - go to manage - disk management - right click on the D Drive and Delete partition.

Make sure there is no data on here. It will erase everything. Linux has to reformat any space/drive yo install it on as a different file system than Windows uses (NTFS).

If you don't have the space to space buy another hard drive, add it in, and install it to that.

 

[Alabalcho]

While Wibu (that's the Ubuntu installer from Windows) can ease the pain of installing Linux alongside Windows, it is not the best long-term solution (it creates a large file inside NTFS file system, and uses that file as disk image for Linux install).

You cannot install Linux in D:, and having D: accessible from WIndows. If you insist on dual-booting, you need to shrink your D: partition, leaving space for Linux install. If you do that, and your disk is partitioned MBR way, you might have to create extended partition to host Linux (at least two partitions, for swap and boot/root).

Third - don't go with Debian. It is not as novice-friendly as Ubuntu or Mint.

Last but not least - if you just want to see what kind of animal is that Linux, install it inside a virtual machine - VirtualBox is pretty good for that, there are tons of tutorials about how to do that. You will run Linux as an application inside Windows.

 

[utroz]

I will always remember how much of a pain it was to install linux the first time when I was like 13.. It was Red Hat 6...

 

[duwang]

So can I just make a third partiton out. of D and install it there? How much space would be sufficient for linux?

 

[Alabalcho]

So can I just make a third partiton out. of D and install it there? How much space would be sufficient for linux?

It seems you read by diagonal system...

You will need TWO NEW partitions:
- one about 2-4GB (called SWAP)
- one for your Linux install. If you just want to try it, 20GB will be enough. If you are going to do some development, allocate like 60-100GB.
- you will create these paritions during custom install of Linux. I highly recommend to avoid Debian and go with Mint or Ubuntu flavors.

You can try to shrink your D: drive (and partition where it resides) using Windows' Disk Adminstrator.