Dual Booting Windows-Linux from Scratch

Windows,Linux,Unix are the important operating systems as you know,worlds 90%of computers runs on windows,windows is very user friendly OS when compared to linux,but windows can’t able to completely fulfill the basic needs of an web servers,but linux can do that.

So let us know how to install Windows and Linux on a same machine,Linux got hundreds of distros for example Ubuntu,Linux Mint,Fedora,Red hat,puppy linux etc etc,in this tutorial i’ll explain you how to dual boot Fedora with Windows 7
ok lets get into the job.

Stage 1:Installing Windows

Well installing windows is not a tough job,i’ll explain this in brief,first turn on your computer and insert your windows installation disk,hit appropriate key on the keyboard to get into the boot menu,in my PC boot menu opens with f12 button.Press it,the number of available booting media will be listed there select DVD/CD there,then follow the instructions on screen,this is how you can install windows.
OK now you installed the windows on your PC lets head to the next stage.

Stage 2:Partitioning the Hard drive for Linux

now this is somewhat tricky but its easy,open disk management on your windows OS(windows 7 in my case)

 

you will see your hard drive and few details about it,now we need to partition this drive in-order to install Linux(fedora in my case),now click on the drive then right click and select shrink(follow screenshot)

 

Usually any linux Distros doesn’t need disk space more than 6GB,i’m shrinking the drive by 6GB,its up to you how much space you leave for the second OS(linux) but maintain minimum of 5 GB for it.
After shrinking you will see an unallocated disk space,

 

Now just leave that space as it is and restart your Computer,I’ll tell you why we left that in next stage.

Stage 3:Installing Linux

This is the final stage “installing the linux”,Yes its time for linux now,Pop in your linux installation disk into the tray, as usual go to boot menu and select DVD/CD.
Live CD boots up ,you can use linux now but its restricted as it is now running from the CD live!!,now the time for installing linux,click on install icon on the desktop

 

then just complete all the customization options and advance forward,Now Where it asks storage media type just select fixed storage device click next,then in the next screen the installer will ask you for installation type Just select Use free space,and then click write changes to the disk

 

Bit confused isn’t it???where does that free space came from????Yes your guess is correct!!! that free space is nothing but the unallocated space on the hard disk,Linux installer will format that space and installs linux in it.

Yes you successfully installed linux(fedora here) on your PC now simply restart your computer,If everything is correct then you must see an boot loader like this at the startup

Here if you select “other” option then it will boot windows OS

More about Linux installation

well this method is not mandatory for dual booting,but its an easiest one,Ubuntu,Linux Mint have the ability to install inside the windows with a single click,but for alongside install this is the simplest and quickest way.