how to install Windows xp on a fedora machine?

[vksingh123]

Hi,

I am new to fedora forum.

I have a machine having fedora. I want to install windows in it , but I am scared that I might loose my fedora.

Kindly help..............

[rajuvk]

It should have been otherwise. First install winXP and then Fedora. The winXP boot loader does not detect the fedora installation.
Alternately go ahead with winxp installation and once every thing is finished, boot in to the fedora installation using a boot disk and do a grub-install.

[aix4200]

another option is to install VMware Server (Free version) and then install Linux on it. By doing so you should be able to run Linux inside your Windows XP session. You can find Free VMware server installation Guide for fedora.

[stoat]

Originally Posted by vksingh123

I have a machine having fedora. I want to install windows in it...

Hello vksingh123,

One issue with that is the XP CD's well-known tendency not to boot normally into XP Setup when Linux systems are present on the hard drive. It doesn't always happen, so you can still try. But don't be surprised if the CD stops after "inspecting your computer's hardware configuration". There some workarounds for it, but they are not so easy to do.

Another thing that people encounter trying to do this is no compatible primary partitions available for XP's boot loader files. XP Setup will stop and not proceed until one is found or created. But if the existing Linux operating system(s) occupy the primary partitions, then you cannot install XP (or any Windows system). The XP system itself can go into a logical partition, but it must have a compatible (FAT, NTFS) primary partition for its boot loader files.

Originally Posted by vksingh123

...but I am scared that I might loose my fedora.

And rightly so. And not just with XP Setup. All OS installers are potentially very destructive because they have the ability to reformat entire partitions. So before installing any new OS, I recommend that you make thorough tested backups to an alternate medium of everything important on every drive that will be connected and running during the installation.

[JohnVV]

IF and this is a BIG if .You have the FRONT of the drive blank ( or ntfs format)
then XP can install .
BE VERY VERY VERY careful . The XP install cd WILL try to convert your WORKING fedora install to MS Windows XP !!
this is a very well known issue .
you WILL need to uncheck a HIDDEN ( it is buried and hidden in a submenu) check box to STOP the XP cd from "borg'ing" your computer.