Ask Klaus!
Tri-Boot Tribulations
Question:
I am attempting to tri-boot a 3.6GHz P4 80Gb SATA drive machine with XP, Freespire, and Ubuntu, and it has failed twice, each time leaving my computer in a state in which it won't reboot into XP. After partitioning the drive, I attempted to install Freespire, only to have it spit out the disc at 90 percent completion, saying it couldn't install the X server (Error 209). I searched the Freespire support forum for that error and found it. Freespire seems to be touchy about whether or not the drive is "clean."
Since then, I have downloaded KillDisk, a utility to clean my hard drive. I assume that it is OK to clean the partition after reinstalling XP, repartitioning the drive, and cleaning the new partitions. I suspect that this is not the only reason for this error, but hope it is simply solved by cleaning the drive.
Will this solve the install problem?
Answer:
I am unsure what "clean" should mean here. Assuming it means "disk with no partitions," you would have to delete all partitions from the partition table – including your Windows partition. But maybe it just means that there should be empty space after the first partition, in which case, you would just resize the Windows partition and leave the space afterward empty (i.e., not create a second data partition). If the installation process breaks after 90 percent completion, it could just be the case that the empty space was too small to hold the installation.
Infos
- Wipe program: http://wipe.sourceforge.net/
- Knoppix: http://www.knoppix.net/
- Wine: see article on page 46 of this issue.
- Linux Magazine May 2008 virtualization issue: http://www.linux-magazine.com/issues/2008/90
« Previous 1 2
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you've found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora 39 Beta is Now Available for Testing
For fans and users of Fedora Linux, the first beta of release 39 is now available, which is a minor upgrade but does include GNOME 45.
-
Fedora Linux 40 to Drop X11 for KDE Plasma
When Fedora 40 arrives in 2024, there will be a few big changes coming, especially for the KDE Plasma option.
-
Real-Time Ubuntu Available in AWS Marketplace
Anyone looking for a Linux distribution for real-time processing could do a whole lot worse than Real-Time Ubuntu.
-
KSMBD Finally Reaches a Stable State
For those who've been looking forward to the first release of KSMBD, after two years it's no longer considered experimental.
-
Nitrux 3.0.0 Has Been Released
The latest version of Nitrux brings plenty of innovation and fresh apps to the table.
-
Linux From Scratch 12.0 Now Available
If you're looking to roll your own Linux distribution, the latest version of Linux From Scratch is now available with plenty of updates.
-
Linux Kernel 6.5 Has Been Released
The newest Linux kernel, version 6.5, now includes initial support for two very exciting features.
-
UbuntuDDE 23.04 Now Available
A new version of the UbuntuDDE remix has finally arrived with all the updates from the Deepin desktop and everything that comes with the Ubuntu 23.04 base.
-
Star Labs Reveals a New Surface-Like Linux Tablet
If you've ever wanted a tablet that rivals the MS Surface, you're in luck as Star Labs has created such a device.
-
SUSE Going Private (Again)
The company behind SUSE Linux Enterprise, Rancher, and NeuVector recently announced that Marcel LUX III SARL (Marcel), its majority shareholder, intends to delist it from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by way of a merger.