Linux install with Vista

Transk53 · Sep 21, 2010, 07:37 PM

Hi all. Done a search on this but I am a fish out of water on this. My Lappy came with a pre loaded build of Vista 64. Now I have a bit of a worry about this because it is not a fresh install. Will this make any difference if I went for a Linux install? No doubt a bit silly thinking like this, but could someone please put my mind at rest on this. Thanx

simonw · Sep 22, 2010, 05:24 AM

Your question is a little vague, not sure if you want to install Linux with Vista, or just Linux by itself, so I have tried to answer both scenarios.

If you use a Linux distro such as Ubuntu, it has an alternate installer called Wubi which allows you to install Ubuntu on top of Windows which is the safe option and you can remove Ubuntu at any time without affecting Windows. You can also install Linux side-by-side with Windows to give you a dual-boot option.

Now if you want to install Linux and wipe out your existing Windows installation, that is ok too, just make sure that your laptop came with either the original Vista disc or a recovery disc so that you can restore it if needed. Some laptops have set aside a separate partition for a Windows install, it's possible that this feature will be disabled if you do a fresh install of Linux (I'm not certain but perhaps someone else on the forum can verify this).

Transk53 · Sep 23, 2010, 07:46 AM

Thanx fella. I realised by your response that I missed a sentence out there. I did wonder if the Vista partition could be protected somehow, and I did not know about the set aside partition technique, for want of a better term. Thanx for pointing that out.

I am the sort of person who tends to throw himself into the deep end as it were, but I will follow your first suggestion. I don't have a Vista disc other than the recovery one and as being a Linux virgin, that would seem prudent.

Sep 21, 2010, 07:37 PM	#1
Transk53 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Goodison Park turfing over Bill Kenwright. Posts: 192 Rep Power: 23 System Specs	Linux install with Vista Hi all. Done a search on this but I am a fish out of water on this. My Lappy came with a pre loaded build of Vista 64. Now I have a bit of a worry about this because it is not a fresh install. Will this make any difference if I went for a Linux install? No doubt a bit silly thinking like this, but could someone please put my mind at rest on this. Thanx

Sep 22, 2010, 05:24 AM	#2
simonw HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: HK Posts: 312 Rep Power: 43 System Specs	Re: Linux install with Vista Your question is a little vague, not sure if you want to install Linux with Vista, or just Linux by itself, so I have tried to answer both scenarios. If you use a Linux distro such as Ubuntu, it has an alternate installer called Wubi which allows you to install Ubuntu on top of Windows which is the safe option and you can remove Ubuntu at any time without affecting Windows. You can also install Linux side-by-side with Windows to give you a dual-boot option. Now if you want to install Linux and wipe out your existing Windows installation, that is ok too, just make sure that your laptop came with either the original Vista disc or a recovery disc so that you can restore it if needed. Some laptops have set aside a separate partition for a Windows install, it's possible that this feature will be disabled if you do a fresh install of Linux (I'm not certain but perhaps someone else on the forum can verify this).

Sep 23, 2010, 07:46 AM	Thread Starter #3
Transk53 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Goodison Park turfing over Bill Kenwright. Posts: 192 Rep Power: 23 System Specs	Re: Linux install with Vista Thanx fella. I realised by your response that I missed a sentence out there. I did wonder if the Vista partition could be protected somehow, and I did not know about the set aside partition technique, for want of a better term. Thanx for pointing that out. I am the sort of person who tends to throw himself into the deep end as it were, but I will follow your first suggestion. I don't have a Vista disc other than the recovery one and as being a Linux virgin, that would seem prudent.