Is it applicable dual boot Linux Fedora and Windows 2008?

Is it applicable dual boot Linux Fedora and Windows 2008?

Hello Sandra,

Multi booting or dual booting in your case is necessary for those wishing to run apps that they think are compatible with a certain operating system. Using different Windows versions on a single computer may be considered simple. All one has to do is pop in and install the oldest version, and add the later versions to achieve multi boot. But when one has to consider using an operating system like Linux, then it strikes us as unique. It can be done though by following some guidelines.

• Windows uses a different MBR compared to Linux. Sadly, it does not have the current capability to read Linux partitions formatted into EXT2 or EXT3, hence one has to utilize a different scenario when considering a dual or multi boot environment.
• Linux on the other hand, has support for FAT and NTFS file systems and can easily integrate Windows easily by auto detecting and adding them to the boot options on startup via GRUB (Grand Unified Bootloader) or LILO (Linux Loader).
• Preparing a dual or multi boot environment will need some initial tasks to be completed. One has to partition the hard disk into several using any of the popular partition utilities on the market today. It could be using either Partition Magic or Gparted but the actual goal is to create 2 or more partitions, NTFS for Windows, and EXT2/3 for Linux before proceeding with the actual install.
• Using the Linux install disk for partitioning can also be done. Just boot off the LiveCD Linux Installer, and when the partitioning dialog comes up, create more than one partition to allocate space for Windows and Linux.
• Then install Windows first as a prerequisite by choosing the partition you created earlier and have it commence until completed. You should be able to boot off Windows after several minutes. It means you are done with step one of the procedure.
• Now boot the LiveCD Linux installer and proceed to install Linux. Choose the partition you created for Linux. Please take note that you also need to allocate space for the “Swap File”. Click yes when you come to the part where it asks you whether you want to install GRUB on the MBR. Some Linux installers will also tell you they detect another operating system (Windows) and automatic configuration should be done by the system as you confirm the changes. What GRUB does is to replace the Windows MBR with its own bootloader, allowing a list of operating system choices at startup.
• When the Linux install has completed, restart the machine to find out that the GRUB bootloader has presented you with Windows and Linux as operating systems to use.
• For those who are unsure of installing GRUB on the MBR (Master Boot Record), there is another way to do it by using a Windows application called EasyBCD by Neosmart http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/. Just install Linux first and then Windows. Run the EasyBCD installer when you have completed installation on both, and it should be able to “see” the Linux partition as a choice of operating systems to boot from. That’s it!