Arch Linux

agosse

Member

Registered: 2008-08-04

Posts: 4

how to install arch without uninstalling ubuntu

Hello Forum,

I'm new to arch and would like to now if it's possible to install arch having Ubuntu installed.
How can I choose from which one I like to boot?
Thanks!

agosse

pheon

Member

From: Berlin, Germany

Registered: 2008-05-14

Posts: 91

Re: how to install arch without uninstalling ubuntu

Hello and welcome,
it is possible to install several Linux-Distributions on one computer (even one hard disk).
As long as you have one unused partition (or some unpartitioned space or enough free space on one of Ubuntu's partitions and you are willing to resize this partition) on your hard disk, you can install Arch next to Ubuntu.
The command fdisk -l /dev/sdx will show you the current partition-layout.

The bootmanager (both, Arch and Ubuntu use GRUB by default) is able to boot two separate Linux-Systems.
Either you overwrite your current grub with the one installed during arch-setup and afterwards add entries for ubuntu or you skip the installation of grub during arch-setup (so you'll keep the grub-install of ubuntu) and add the arch-entries afterwards.
There is no real difference between both grub-installations, it is just the boot-menu that'll be different.

Tips/Pitfalls:
- do not use any automated partitioning
- you can use your swap partition for both systems
- mind the limit of max. 4 primary partitions

Hope this helps you

Best regards

---

watching someone else use your computer is like watching a drunk orangutan solve a rubix cube

Lord Illidan

Member

From: Malta

Registered: 2007-10-25

Posts: 248

Re: how to install arch without uninstalling ubuntu

You can use a live CD, either Ubuntu Live CD or the http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php live cd  for your partitioning needs. Just resize the Ubuntu partition and make 2 partitions (/ and /home) or you can just leave it with a / partition. You could also share your /home but I don't like sharing /home across multiple distros..still, that's just my taste.

agosse

Member

Registered: 2008-08-04

Posts: 4

Re: how to install arch without uninstalling ubuntu

Hi, thank you!
Soon I will be trying...
Best regards,
agosse

agosse

Member

Registered: 2008-08-04

Posts: 4

Re: how to install arch without uninstalling ubuntu

Hello Pheon, so far I have managed to install arch on my hard disk and could modify the menu.lst file from Ubuntu (but not from arch).
So far I can boot from both distribution without problems.

When I tried to modifiy the menu.lst file from arch typing (logged in as root):

/boot/grub/menu.lst

I got:

-batch: permission denied

I also need to modify the /etc/rc.conf file to check network connection because I was unable to acess Internet to go on with arch installation and got the same message

What is the reason for this? Please help me!

Thanks!

Lord Illidan

Member

From: Malta

Registered: 2007-10-25

Posts: 248

Re: how to install arch without uninstalling ubuntu

How did you try editing it?

I'm not sure if nano is installed by default, but try

nano /boot/grub/menu.lst

or else try

vi /boot/grub/menu.lst

(Just so you know, you have to press i or INSERT to start typing in vi, and then when you are ready, press ESC, and type :wq to exit)

pheon

Member

From: Berlin, Germany

Registered: 2008-05-14

Posts: 91

Re: how to install arch without uninstalling ubuntu

Hi,

as long you are able to boot arch as well as ubuntu with the grub-installation from ubuntu, there is no need to modify grub on your arch installation.

nano is installed by default, as far as I can remember.
You need to modify /etc/rc.conf with a texteditor - as Lord Illidan allready metioned.

Best Regards

---

watching someone else use your computer is like watching a drunk orangutan solve a rubix cube

agosse

Member

Registered: 2008-08-04

Posts: 4

Re: how to install arch without uninstalling ubuntu

Hi!

so far I set up my arch linux following the wiki beginner guide.
I have tested X and it works!
I chose Xfce GUI, the question is: when you start arch I end with the login in command line format, how do I start the xfce GUI??????
Shouldn't  it start automatically after the login?

Thank you again!!!!

Best regards!

Lord Illidan

Member

From: Malta

Registered: 2007-10-25

Posts: 248

Re: how to install arch without uninstalling ubuntu

Hi!

so far I set up my arch linux following the wiki beginner guide.
I have tested X and it works!
I chose Xfce GUI, the question is: when you start arch I end with the login in command line format, how do I start the xfce GUI??????
Shouldn't  it start automatically after the login?

Thank you again!!!!

Best regards!

This will help : http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Start_X_at_boot