If you skipped the operations in Remove Linux from dual boot PC and restore Windows XP then make your Linux Live DVD or USB key and go straight to MX Installer.
Starting PointAt the end of Remove Linux from dual boot PC and restore Windows XP we ended up with Windows as the only operating system on our Dell D410. The MBR was restored with Windows single booting. We still have the unallocated drive space where we can install Linux.
Download a 32bit iso for MX Linux. Create a Live Linux on USB or a DVD. Boot from the Live Linux. If you have not performed project Remove Linux from dual boot PC and restore Windows XP then skip to MX Installer. 64bit iso is for newer computers and will not run on an old machine like the D410.
GParted Disk UtilityOpen the GPArted disk utility, either from CLI terminal or from menu. Look at the partitions on the drive for partitions matching what we saw in Windows. We will install in the unallocated space.
Right click directly on the unallocated drive space. Select New partition. Choose a size that leaves 2GB for a swap partition. Then create a second new partition with Swap file system.
Check the new partitions, size, etc. The changes will be executed when you click on the check mark in the toolbar.
Warnings! These operations will erase all data from the selected partitions.
Progress will be displayed until completion. /dev/sda5 is an Ext4 Linux partition to install our / directory. /dev/sda6 is a Linux Swap partition.
Start here if you skipped Remove Linux from dual boot PC and restore Windows XP. Open the MX Linux Installer using the desktop shortcut. Skip the install media check by clicking on the ESC escape button on the keyboard.
In project Install AVLinux we selected a complete drive and Regular install using the entire disk. To install side-by-side on the same drive we select Customize the disk layout.
We see the Windows partition on /dev/sda1. Click on the Use For box for sda5 and select /. Click on sda6 and select SWAP. Both of these partitions will be reformatted for our new Linux.
Click next and we will begin the install. We will be prompted to okay the installation.
We need to enter configuration information on the next few panels. Leave default values. Tick the Create a swap file box.
Next. Defaults on next panel.
Select your choice of timezone values. Next.
Create user account and enter passwords. Autologin is convenient.
Installation will take some time. I prefer to untick the Automatically reboot the system when the installer is closed. It allows me to power down and remove the installation media.
The MX Installer program finishes up installing the GRand Unified Bootloader files. To boot Windows we use the arrow keys to select and return. The grub menu will be like this one with Linux as default boot and Windows selected with arrow keys.
Since we intended to install dual boot Linux/Windows we could have skipped the repair steps in project restore XP. We could also have skipped deleting the Ubuntu partitions and come straight to this project.
RebootThe Grub menu will default to booting MXLinux first
You should also try booting from the Windows partition to make sure all is okay. Try some applications. Open a video. The new solid state drive is much faster than the old hard disk drive we saw in Dell D410 i386 32bit computer.
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