Ubuntu PC build question (newbie)?

Question

Hi,

I am slowly working towards building a ubuntu machine to replace my current laptop, running OS X.

I have never built a PC before, but want to for the value, customizability, and learning.

I want to include two hard drives, both SATA. I want the larger, the master, to be my boot drive with linux on it. I want the other to be a secondary drive, exclusive to windows XP, that I can select on boot. The secondary can be dormant/invisible to the Ubuntu side if possible.

I would favor this route over partioning...

Without any info on mobo or drives, would I need any special hardware to achieve this, or any software from the ubuntu side? Or is it all achieved in BIOS?

any help is appreciated...

Answer 1

Most Linux distributions provide a partition/boot manager which install AFTER Windows has been installed and allow a dual-boot config.



Windows does NOT do this natively (for Linux), but the Linux distribution will typically sense the presence of Windows and offer to DUAL-BOOT the config.



Note: Make sure at LEAST Windows XP SP1 boot disk is used, prefer SP2 or SP3 to guarantee SATA compatibility across a wide range of motherboards. The BOOT DISK must be SP1 or later, not just the original XP disk. The drivers need to be slipstreamed into the XP distribution disk. The disk will be label "Windows XP with SP1"

Answer 2

You don't need any special hardware.



And Ubuntu should be fine.



But I've heard the XP installer has difficulty recognizing SATA drives.

Answer 3

Okay what's your budget? Also what will you be doing?



If you want value...here's a build for around $600. There are better ATI cards for the price but ATI traditionally has a poor reputation with its Linux drivers, so I recommend Nvidia.



Motherboard: Gigabyte 780G

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128379



CPU: Phenom X3 710

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103648&Tpk=Phenom%20710



Hard drive: 2x 500GB Western Digital drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136149



RAM: 4GB A-DATA DDR2-800

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211188



Optical drive:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173



Graphics card: Galaxy 9600 GT

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162007



Case: Antec three Hundred

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20three%20hundred



PSU: Corsair 400W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008&Tpk=400W%20corsair



OS:

Ubuntu(free)



XP Pro 64-bit

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116378



Excluding shipping it comes out at $733.87



There's several guides on the internet on how to build a PC.

http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/