Dual-Boot Vista and Linux

摘要

With all the fuss about the Linux operating system these days-the huge library of open-source software, the freedom from viruses and spyware-it's only natural to be curious about it. You can set up a dual-boot configuration with Linux instead of Windows XP. A little Web searching for "Vista Linux dual boot" will produce plenty of how-to guides to get you started. (If you're really ambitious, seek out "Vista triple boot" for instructions on installing Vista, XP, and Linux all on the same system.) But because the operating systems are so different, dual-booting them can be challenging—and you shouldn't even consider it if you're not relatively well-versed in Linux. A single mistake could wipe out your PC's master boot record [which would be bad, trust us on this) or your whole hard drive (which might be worse). You definitely should back up everything essential before embarking on a Windows/Linux dual-boot adventure.