I've read all the posts for creating a dual boot Windows XP / Linux PC. However, the answers seem to be either 3+ years old (and I presume things have changed) or they don't seem to pertain specifically to my situation.
Here is the situation:
1.) My PC is currently Windows XP Pro SP2, 2.6 GHz x86 with 2G RAM. The PC has 3 hard drives: 2 x 120 HD and 1 x 40G HD. The 40G has two partitions, one of which is a bootable FAT32 WinXP partition for disaster recovery when Windows misbehaves.
2.) I currently have 3 boot options at startup: WinXP Pro Disk 1 - NTFS, WinXP Pro Disk 2 - NTFS, and WinXP Pro Disk 3 - FAT32
3.) Yesterday, I purchased Red Hat Professional Workstation. The disks are labeled Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS Version 3.
NOTE: I am a complete noob to Linux - which is why I want to install it - so I can learn.
4.) I have moved all pertinent data from the 40G to another disk, so it is available to be dedicated to Linux.
5.) I cannot /will not re-install Windows on Disk 1 or 2 because they have too much stuff and the WinXP installation is now a very stable (sometimes a remarkable feat).
I would like to install Linux on the 40G hard drive, and have 3 boot options: Win XP Disk 1, Win XP Disk 2, and Red Hat Linux.
I presume I should start with re-partitioning the 40G disk into 1 FAT32 partition. Next, I guess I should install Linux on the 40G drive. Then move forward with a brute force, damn the torpedoes approach and be thoroughly depressed when I screw it up so bad that I no longer have a working PC.
So, sanity returns and I admit I really don't know where to start. Can someone provide me fairly detailed instructions - or a link to a site with them? I have searched the net for a thorough answer, but haven't found anything that provides more than what exists in 'experts-exchange' - which, of course, doesn't surprise me.
Finally, here is the kicker. I have time available today to do this, and I am one of those 'immediate gratification' types.
Let me know if I need to provide any additional information.
Thanks!