Want to set up Windows 7/ Ubuntu dual boot

[darkhunter139]

Planning on installing windows 7 and ubuntu (Need it for school) dual boot on my Dell XPS M1330. I was going to follow this guide

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot

Think that is a good way to do it or do you reccomend any other guides/methods of doing this

 

[MrF]

If you do not need hardware acceleration for both OS, a virtual machine is easier to setup and to maintain.
virtualbox is a good free virtual machine.

 

[darkhunter139]

Hows that work? I boot one operating system from the other?

 

[bigdogchris]

Hows that work? I boot one operating system from the other?

No, you just install the primary OS first, then Virtual PC. You run VPC in a window which runs the other OS. I would suggest Linux inside VPC on a Win 7 machine.

 

[darkhunter139]

So I can run ubuntu right from Windows 7?

So would I install windows 7 first then download virtual box and put ubuntu on there?

 

[MrF]

Yes.

You install your default OS. This is the OS you use most of the time.
You install virtualbox as a program on this OS (Host OS).
In virtualbox you set up a virtual hard drive. This is just a file on the host.
You then install the second OS inside virtualbox on the virtual hard drive. This is the guest OS.

This is good if you have a software that only runs on a particular OS.
This is not good if you want both OS directly benefit from your graphics card or advanced audio hardware.

 

[darkhunter139]

Sounds like a good option. I just need ubuntu for some school stuff and it doesnt really require much power to run so I should be fine.

Thanks!

 

[darkhunter139]

Think I should use virtualbox or virtual PC 2007

 

[Lateralus]

VirtualBox.