Re: package help
On Sat, 21 Sep 2013 07:10:01 +0200
paulmars <paulgmars@gmail.com> wrote:
> Im emailed a bug report. I got no response. I been trying to convince
> myself to try again, but I have doubts. I dont want to loose my XP
> install again. I need dual boot and i also need a recovery option if
> Debian fails again, like last time. Last time grub got messed up and I
> needed to reinstall xp. That is not fun.
>
> i really want to leave ms, but i have online business so i need it
> daily, until i find another option. Debian might be that option, but i
> need to test drive it.
You didn't say what the bug report was about. There's a lot of bugs of course but
I cannot believe you would have a problem with the latest Debian installer:
http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/
Download an .iso of the 'netinst' (net install) and burn a CD. This will boot
assuming you have the CD option set to boot before the HD in your computer's BIOS.
You can leave everything to the installer. After the Debian install, you will have a
duel boot system. The installer mess with the NTFS partition.
(caveat) you must have enough 'free space' on your HD for the installer to do this
for you.
If XP has taken up the whole HD with the C drive, I would suggest first boot up
with a live CD that contains the very useful program GParted. From that vantage
point you can see and reduce the size of the displayed NTFS file system and be able
to reduce this to its minimal requirements.
After that operation boot the Debian installer, install a 'basic' Debian system,
select the Grub2 boot manager and on the reboot you will see windows XP as on option
for the duel boot you require. This menu is first thing you will see after the
computer posts.
You must have an oldish computer, so you will probably want the i386 .iso image. I
hope you have a suitable CPU and modern amounts of memory. Debian won't bog you
down like MS but it is a modern lively system so faster is better.
As far as recovery goes, I use a non-free imaging program that runs off a CD.
terabyteunlimited.com/index.htm
The CUI version of of their image for Linux will easily make an recoverable image
of both the NTSF and Linux file systems respectively. You don't want to waste your
money on their GUI versions of image for windows and the like. The IFL CUI version
does it all, and runs off the ifl.iso image on the CD. It's money well spent.
--
CK
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