Dual Booting

You can create a dual boot on your PC during the installation of the Java Desktop System.

Most factory-installed Windows installations take up all the space on your hard disk, leaving no space for installing Linux. Therefore, the Java Desktop System installation configurator creates a partition where you can install the Linux operating system.

Every operating system has a specific type of file system, and other operating systems often cannot read from these file systems. The Java Desktop System installation configurator can read the FAT32 file system that is used by Windows.

Since Linux needs to have specific partitions of its own and Windows does not have the ability to resize partitions, the installation configurator checks your hard disk and proposes an appropriate partition setup.

The configurator presents you with options to accept the proposed partition setup or else to resize your partitions based on the proposal before you continue with the installation.

You can also create a specific custom partition in the event that your existing Windows supports an NTFS file system. The Java Desktop System installation configurator does not allow you to resize your partition in this case and proposes to replace your existing partition. However, you can use third-party partition applications to resize your partitions if you want to retain your Windows partition.

If you intend to create a dual boot system, consider the following:

• Back up any files that you want to keep on to a CD.

• Determine if your Windows installation uses a FAT 32 file system.