Booting from different HD partitions?

kingmonkey

I wouldnt get too hung up on the KDE/GNOME debate if your only starting out in linux.

You can easily have more than one desktop environment. The only reason ubuntu only has one is because it all fits on a CD. Other distros (which come on about 5 CDs) install at least 3 desktop environments.

If you already have a Ubuntu CD install that. Then if you want to try out KDE then just type: "sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop" in terminal.

EDIT: To answer your question: Ubuntu will ask whether to install GRUB or LiLo to your hardrive master boot record.

TheFlyingGerbil

I'm getting quite happy now! My brother borrowed the laptop to do an essay on and now uses it to put mp3s onto his mp3 player and I haven't seen it in about four months! I feel a bit cheeky asking for it back since technically it isn't mine to begin with. Anyway, thanks for all the advice - now all I need is a laptop to install it on )

Joe

bat999

Hi Joe
As others have said, Ubuntu installs a GRUB, a mini-menu that asks each time you boot.
When you have done the install, you can edit the menu to change which is the default OS. Also you can reduce the timeout from the 30 seconds to speed things up.
If the LiveCD runs OK it's a good sign that you won't have any driver problems when you do the install.
Go for it.
:cool: