[shupinga]

I've got a PC that I'm playing with different operating systems on and I've successfully installed Ubuntu and Fedora 8. My question is how can I install Windows XP with it? I've got the space so that's not a problem. The problem is that the GRUB starts before the computer can boot from the CD with Windows. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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The hard drive booting before the CD is usually just a matter of changing one setting in the BIOS, the boot order. The bigger problem is will Windows install on the partition you make for it. Windows will want to install on the root of the drive, or the first partition. Also it will change your boot sector so you will have to redo that after the installation of Windows.

[Tyger]

The hard drive booting before the CD is usually just a matter of changing one setting in the BIOS, the boot order. The bigger problem is will Windows install on the partition you make for it. Windows will want to install on the root of the drive, or the first partition. Also it will change your boot sector so you will have to redo that after the installation of Windows.

[beabruin]

Whenever I have installed dual-boot systems with Windows and Linux, I've always read that Windows needs to be installed first. Have you tried partitioning the drive after Linux is on it? You may have to start over with the Windows installation first, then install Linux.

[silverbeard]

The Windows installer doesn't like Linux file systems (at least XP doesn't) and will refuse to install if they are present. Unless you are installing on a separate drive you will have to install Windows first.

[Damien Kane]

Yeah you have to install Windows first because GRUB will overwrite the MBR. There's probably a work-around if you ask in the distro's official forum.

If you don't want to do it that way, install a virtual machine in Linux and run XP from there. Much easier to manage.