Triple Boot Worth It?

[Zren]

I'm going to be reformatting sometime this weekend, and I've been planing on having:
Windows XP (x32) -> Games and other software that fails in newer versions or x64 bit.
Windows 7 (x64) -> Main Desktop
Mint Linux (x64) -> To get familiar/Explore

Right now I have the cutomized GRUB as the bootloader that Mint offers. I've read up that since you'll have two Windows partitions, you'll also run into the Windows Bootloader at startup as well. The pain here is that I want Windows 7 as the main desktop. So my questions are:

Is Linux worth installing if I hardly use it?
Is there a simple way to make Windows avoid the its bootloader?

[wtd]

You're a programming or programming student?

If the answer is yes, then yes, you do ant to have Linux installed.

[Alexander]

wtd @ Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:54 pm wrote:

You're a programming or programming student?

If the answer is yes, then yes, you do ant to have Linux installed.

What advantage does it give to programmers to have Linux?

[bbi5291]

Programmers don't need fancy GUIs when command-line interfaces are simpler, faster, and equally or more expressive. One of the major failings of Windows is that it lacks a powerful command line. In Linux, on the other hand, essentially all simple tasks that don't explicitly require a GUI have built-in command-line tools to perform them. This improves convenience, and hence productivity, dramatically.

Also, most Linux programs are open-source, so programmers can tweak them to their hearts' content, and bugs are rapidly caught and fixed by an online community of users. Settings are typically stored in text files rather than binary files - again, modification is easy. The analytical nature of Linux appeals to the programmer. Finally, there are benefits of Linux that can be appreciated even by non-programmers, such as security (a strict system of users and file permissions, as well as a separation of user data from system settings, make Linux very secure against malware) and stability (Linux has never crashed on me, except when I was fooling around with /dev/mem).

There are currently many reasons why one might not prefer Linux, such as the inability to run many games. (These are mostly related to the fact that Linux has a small user base - so in this case for example it's not profitable to make games compatible with Linux.) By dual-booting Windows and Linux, most of these can be circumvented.

[Zren]

For the next year or so I'll be using Java, learning Python and maybe a little C++. I also do a fair bit of Web-Design so I'll need IE6 etc. It's a lot easier using browsershots.com for Linux created browsers than the other way round (so I would think).

Also, I'm sure I'll be reformating in the next year or so (probably next summer) in order to clean up Windows installations. How would I set it up so that I could reinstall Windows X without affecting the boot sequence?Say I just wanted the Windows installations.

[rdrake]

Linux is nice for doing C/C++. A lot of the tools it has for developing in those languages are quite spectacular.

The shell just makes development for most languages easier. Don't ask how, just do and you'll learn why.

[Alexander]

Thanks bbi5291 for the informative response, it shed a lot of light.

rdrake @ Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:16 pm wrote:

Linux is nice for doing C/C++. A lot of the tools it has for developing in those languages are quite spectacular.

The shell just makes development for most languages easier. Don't ask how, just do and you'll learn why.

What Linux installation is most effective? and are USB bootable installations of Linux a plus or does it hinder the effectiveness. I'd like to take my Linux with me anywhere and use it on any computer.

[bbi5291]

Alexander @ Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:28 pm wrote:

What Linux installation is most effective?

Not a great question to ask on a public forum, since everyone has a different opinion (and the basic points I mentioned hold for all Linux distributions). My advice is: since they're almost all free, just try one and if you don't like it then try switching, etc.

Quote:

and are USB bootable installations of Linux a plus or does it hinder the effectiveness. I'd like to take my Linux with me anywhere and use it on any computer.

Some computers have boot from USB disabled, because of the potential for security circumvention.
One other solution is to set up a ssh server at home so that you can log in from anywhere with an Internet connection and securely make use of the environment, remotely. However, this only works if you leave the home computer running Linux all the time that you're away.

[rdrake]

I had Ubuntu installed on an external hard drive before. If it was plugged in it booted Linux, otherwise the default Windows install booted. Worked wonderfully.

Hell, you can install Ubuntu on a USB key if you wanted.

[DemonWasp]

@Alexander: You're probably best off starting with a user-friendly distribution like Ubuntu or Linux Mint, as they're built to let you ease into the more complicated parts of the computer and operating system. They also have large and helpful support forums that are accustomed to newbie users needing help.


@Zren: If you are going to be programming, you will want Linux.

As for bootloaders, try the following:
1. Install XP, setting up partitions as you do so. Once in, don't bother installing drivers or anything, just move onto step 2.
2. Install Windows 7. Again, skip installing drivers.
3. Install your chosen Linux distribution.
4. Reboot and see if GRUB / LILO lets you choose XP and Win7.

Then, in the worst case, you'll only have to reinstall the OS, not all the drivers, software and files.

[rdrake]

You can also check out Wubi which installs Ubuntu under your current Windows install. Basically Linux sits inside a file on the Windows file system. An item is added to your Windows bootloader which lets you boot Linux.

You can then remove Linux off of your machine by using the Add/Remove Programs dialog. No messing with partitions required.

tl;dr:

Install Ubuntu through Wubi. If you don't want it anymore, uninstall through add/remove programs.

[Zren]

Okay, minor problems. I thought it was Win7 that was messing with my Install of WinXP. So I reformated everything and tried installing XP. However it wouldn't even get to the Repair Install part. Nowhere even close to formating menu. Every time I got a BSoD talking about the hard drive I believe. I've tried two or three different copies (I do own a legit copy. However that disk went one with the wind years ago) that I have of XP laying around from various sources. I've even tried a User Slipstreamed up to date version codenamed Black Version with specific drivers (Like every single HDD driver ever) and it installed but crashed when loading afterwards.

So now I'm on a hunt to figure out how to slipstream XP disc with my Drivers...huzah!

[andrew.]

I would recommend trying Linux Mint if you've never used Linux before. It's based off Ubuntu but it's more user friendly.

[Zren]

I found nLite which helped with the slipstreaming. Though I think I'll wait till Karmic Koala releases before I d/l Wubi. Otherwise, it sounds awesomely easy. Thanks rdrake, and DeamonWasp for the all out partition bashing advice.