People often say that Linux is difficult to install. One reason for that view is that most lack experience installing operating systems. As those of us who have tried can testify, every operating system is difficult to install — including Microsoft Windows. Today, few people actually install Windows, as it comes pre-installed. If most computers had Linux pre-installed, then people would complain about the difficulty of installing Windows.
People often say that Linux is difficult to install. One reason for that view is that most lack experience installing operating systems. As those of us who have tried can testify, every operating system is difficult to install — including Microsoft Windows. Today, few people actually install Windows, as it comes pre-installed. If most computers had Linux pre-installed, then people would complain about the difficulty of installing Windows.
Nevertheless, it is difficult to install Linux. It’s particularly difficult to install Linux alongside Windows in a so-called dual-boot configuration, which is perhaps the most common configuration. One of the most challenging problems facing the would-be Linux user is properly preparing the disk drive to leave space for both operating systems. In this column, we hope to explain why this is such a difficult problem and tell you how to overcome it. Let’s start by looking at how disk drives are organized.
Disk Drive Boot Camp
To comprehend a disk drive, first try visualizing a tree — this would be the botanical variety rather than the computer science variety. If you cut a thin cross-section of a tree trunk, the result resembles a very large CD-ROM. If you look closely at the cross-section, then you would notice concentric annular growth rings resulting from the seasonal cycle.
A disk drive contains several specially coated metal platters, each resembling such a cross section. The tree’s growth rings are analogous to cylinders of the disk drive. In a disk…
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