Replacing existing Linux, existing dual boot

[LitePenguin]

Until PCLinuxOS (PCLOS) discontinued support for 32 bit systems, like mine, I was a happy user, running a MATE desktop interface. They offered an easy to use Linux environment (important for a non-techie like me), excellent documentation, and a great, supportive user community.

In seeking a replacement for PCLOS, Linux Lite looks right. I would like to install it on my computer, but there are potential problems for which I would appreciate your help.

The computer is of an older vintage, as you might assume, since it is 32 bit, not 64 bit. It does, however, meet the specifications for 32 bit Linux Lite. It is set up as a dual boot, with PCLOS what it boots into at startup, and Windows XP being the other boot choice. Windows XP has not been connected to the Internet since Microsoft ended support. XP is, however, useful for some legacy programs.

The computer has been booting from Puppy Linux, of a couple of varieties, from DVD. It now boots from Xenialpup. Although launched from DVD, its small requirements means that it can run from RAM, of which the computer has 2GB. The hard drive is slightly over 100GB. Right now, the computer’s principal use is to connect to the Internet, but, with Linux Lite installed, there will be more uses.

Some old notes I found indicate that I used EaseUS Partition Master in accomplishing some part of the dual boot installation that exists now, which included shrinking the space available for XP. About 50GB of unallocated space was used for the PCLOS installation, which would seem to mean that 50GB will be available to install Linux Lite, which will be done from a DVD iso. I am not sure how many partitions were used for the current installation, but I do remember including a swap file. The installation was done a few years ago, so I do not remember most of the details.

QUESTIONS: I am finding varied online suggestions related to what I should do in replacing one Linux distro with another when there is already a dual boot. I wish to keep Windows XP intact, but there are no PCLOS files that I cannot lose.
(1) Should I, in some way, wipe out the existing Linux installation before installing Linux Lite?
(2) Should I just install Linux Lite on top of the existing PCLOS installation?
(3) Either way, how do I accomplish that?
(4) What about the swap file and any other files/partitions that are installed now?
(5) Will Xenialpup (Puppy Linux) be useful in determining the current partition structure, or in any other way?
(6) I believe that “Grub” came up in some way with the current installation. Am I right in assuming that it will come up again in accomplishing the new installation?

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions you may have, and I thank you for your help!

[Artim]

Hi!

I too find PCLinuxOS (I used the Xfce version) amazing and the community very enthusiastic and supportive.  I'm still a big fan of their monthly magazine, too.  But kinda freaked out by whole "rolling release" thing.  And like you, I'm no techno-geek.

If you ran WindowsXP in a virtual environment (within Linux Lite, but not with root privileges - kinda like in a sandbox), you wouldn't need a whole 'nother partition for it, and if it was internet-active it couldn't do any harm to your system, because it's "virtual!"

Run Linux Lite in Live mode first, kick the tires, give it a good test drive.  If you like it and wanna install it,

1. - Choose "something else" when the installer asks about the partitioning scheme
2. - I would replace PCLOS with Linux Lite, but you don't have to a HDD that size. Especially if you run WinXP in a virtual box.
3. - Linux swap - 1 GB.  "/" (root) 20GB. The rest of the drive would be "/home" unless you keep PCLOS.  Then just install Linux Lite "alongside" PCLinuxOS, and run WinXP in a virtual environment.

Grub is the bootloader in most Debian and Ubuntu-based distros including Linux Lite.  It's easy to manage, the wonderful Ubiquity installer in Linux Lite is super easy to understand. 

[LitePenguin]

Thank you, RandomBoy.

I think I would be better off if I did not run one operating system within another, although I am reasonably certain that would work. If I were to do that and it becomes necessary to again replace the Linux OS, which is what I will be doing in installing Linux Lite now, I would likely have to reinstall XP yet again. I am trying to avoid that. Also, I suspect that keeping XP in its own partition decreases the possibility of data corruption affecting XP if Linux Lite is simply updated. Things happen. In addition, although it might not be relevant, I wish to continue to keep XP off of the Internet, and not make the mistake of accidentally connecting it.

My preference is to leave XP in place as an alternate OS to which I can choose to boot at startup, and replace PCLOS. There are no files I am concerned about losing in deleting/replacing PCLOS.

I know that I will be taking a chance by not running a test drive with a Live session before installation, but, when I last ran Linux distros from DVD or CD, with few exceptions (Puppy Linux and PCLOS being two), things ran extraordinarily slowly (especially video) and there were some problems. My uneducated guess is that, if the distro is truly light, it will run at least adequately, and perhaps better than that. There is nothing unusual about the hardware, and the existing PCLOS works when I test it, as does Xenialpup from DVD. If I am proven wrong, nothing will be lost as long as XP remains in place.

[Artim]

Hardware compatibility is a big deal!  To just install it without testing it in a Live environment is ill-advised.

[Moltke]

Hi [member=7358]LitePenguin[/member]

This tool http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/ was very useful in my Windows/Linux dual-boot days, if you plan on getting rid of PCLinuxOS this will do the job a lot easier for you. Also, I think you should read here first: https://www.freecinema2022.gq/forums/insta...d-distros/

[Artim]

PCLOS is not another Ubuntu-based distro - so the danger is even higher of breakage with a shared /home partition.  Keep Windows, replace PCLOS with Linux Lite (once you're sure it works by testing it Live from a USB drive or LiveDVD)... Second best option if you don't want to run Windows in a virtual environment.

[LitePenguin]

Thanks for the responses, Randomboy.
Yes, I know that PCLOS is not Ubuntu based. At the time it was installed, I liked the idea of a rolling release distro.
It is your second best option, replacing PCLOS with Linux Lite, that I prefer as an approach. I do not wish to have PCLOS remain installed. I will take your suggestion, and give Linux Lite a dry run from DVD; however, I suspect that performance when installed can differ greatly from performance when running from a DVD. Even the Puppy Linux variant I am currently running from DVD, Xenialpup, is sluggish when compared to the more robust and more resource demanding PCLOS which runs from the hard drive.

Thank you, too, Moltke.
The tool you are recommending, EasyBCD, looks like it can be useful once I know what I am doing. The forum postings you pointed me to with your link appear very complex to the uninitiated. I am hoping for somewhat simple and reasonably easy in switching Linux distros, while keeping XP in place. Maybe there is no simple approach to this, although turning my single boot XP into a dual boot with PCLOS was not all that difficult once I had the instructions I needed.

Would it help if I were to post what the current hard disk structure is – what the partitions are, and how they are used? If so, how can I find out this information? If using my Puppy Linux distro, run from a DVD, would be beneficial, that is available as a tool.

[Moltke]

The tool you are recommending, EasyBCD, looks like it can be useful once I know what I am doing

EasyBCD  as its name implies is really easy to use. Here's a nice-uncomplicated tutorial which explains how to use it: https://ubuntulinuxx.wordpress.com/2013/...windows-7/ It's about Windows 7 but process is the same, you just have to select Windows XP from the menu.

The forum postings you pointed me to with your link appear very complex to the uninitiated

I only wanted to know that dual-boooting Linux Lite with another Linux distro is not easy task, I didn't want you to understand every piece  of it - I don't -  but that. Maybe I shoud've said so before.