Installed XP, then Vista, now want Ubuntu

Can't load Vista

I hav Vista installed, then I re-installed XP, I can load XP, but can't load Vista, Vista doesn't show up on the boot screen?

Also, after re-installing XP, all my drive letters changed?; Vista was still C

 

Can't load Vista

If you have Vista installed, and then install XP, it will then overwrite the XP bootloader. If you can get to the Recovery Console of vista (on the install DVD), then you could restore the bootsector of Vista. I don't have any experience with the recovery console of Vista.

 

Can't load Vista

the boot screen now shows Vista, but no XP?

 

Can't load Vista

Install the program VistabootPRO. On what partition did you install XP?

 

Can't load Vista

thanks anyway, but I reliazed I don't really need XP anymore.

does this program help boot up MAC OS and Linux Ubuntu with Vista being the primary partition/boot drive?

 

Can't load Vista

Mac OS can't boot on ordinary pc's. But for Linux, I don't know how to add it to the vista bootloader.

 

Can't load Vista

actually, it can, i was provided a link by Willz Main Page - OSx86 , its possible if you have the right hardware and drivers

 

Can't load Vista

The main thing about the Macs is that instead of BIOS, they use it's successor, EFI. The specifics I don't know, but the way it interfaces with the low-level hardware functions does affect how the OS interacts and must have some proper coding to accomodate that.

If you look at the Macs today, they're using Core and Xeon chips, meaning they're x86 parts, not PowerPC like they were with IBM (and possibly Motorola) CPU's.

 

Can't load Vista

I've found something about EFI in the registry of Vista. It might be possible that EFI will be used on PC's in the future. If you have an Intel chipset with EFI, it might then be posible to install Mac directly from the install DVD. But I've tried installing from the Mac OS dvd. The console said something like: scanning for PCI IDE devices. Then it freezes. So macs might be using the primary IDE channel on a PCI connection.

 

Can't load Vista

ok, i change my mine, i want to install win.xp, vista, and ubuntu

ive installed XP, when should i install the Vistaboot pro, after i install Vista or now

 

Can't load Vista

In that case, you won't need that. Just insert the vista dvd, and choose new installation. it will then install vista, and put XP in the boot list.

 

Can't load Vista

ok, what about Linux, the partition I have for it is NFTS, should i change that to a different format, the Gnome Partition Editor in Ubuntu has other options in formatting it

 

I installed Xp, then Vista, now I want Ubuntu, but I don't know where to start.
I have a partition saved for the Ubuntu installation; the partition I have for it is NFTS.

Should I change the partition to a different format?

Am I suppose to install some special boot device/software to get this to work?

 

To start things off, I would recommend visiting the Ubuntu home page and looking through some documentation. NTFS is not used by Linux to run the OS from.
There are a number of other options, such as ext2 and ext3, to name two.
The Ubuntu installer will prompt for location and type of FS requiered, during installation.

Good luck!

 

When you install Ubuntu the install process will ask for the drive letter of the root directory (where your install should be) it'll also ask you to specify the filesystem used, as sabashuali said above ext2 and ext3 are only two examples of file systems. I use ext3 for one of my storage partitions and ReiserFS for my Linux partition.

 

which should i use ext 2 or ext 3?

whats the difference?

will i be able to boot it with xp and vista installed?

 

Can't load Vista

you know what, DONT install Vista with any other windows os'es. I tried so many times and it fu*** up so badly. If u put the vista dvd to repair the bootsector, it will damage your xp partition and u will have to repair that.

Vista only works alone coz ive tried so many times. i'm just gonna wait until a service pack comes out. the right software hasnt been released either so theres no point

 

when installing Ubuntu, Ubuntu will automatically configure GRUB (bootloader) to boot Vista & XP (if they are all on HDD's while installing Ubuntu)

Edit: personally i use Ext3

 

Can't load Vista

First of all, you can't install linux on an NTFS paritition. You'll need ext2, ext3 or reiser FS. Second, the partition manager of Ubuntu is very bad. I've never managed to get Windows in the bootmanager of Ubuntu.

That's true. The installer of Vista is one of the worst installers in history!

 

Also, note that linux needs at least 2 partitions. One for file system one for swap space. Hopefully, the extra partition that you left is big enough. Ubuntu will divide it up for you as needed. It would be very prudent to create another clean partition (extended will be fine) to make FAT to share files between all installed OS (this will benifit both windows installs as well, think central 'my documents' partition). Linux has issues with NTFS, so it should be avoided for anything other than the root windows partitions.