Windows XP and later actually has its own boot loader. Normally, Ubuntu does not disable that--but it is possible to coax the install routine to screw things up a bit where booting XP is concerned.
Normally, though, if you simply instruct the install routine to keep the existing Windows install, it will do so and access both through the default boot loader called Grub2. (FYI, GRUB stands for "grand unified bootloader").
Grub's boot menu is relatively easy to change to reflect Windows as your default boot option. On my Kubuntu system, I have an app called "startupmanager" that allows you to check a simple drop-down to determine which entry is the default.
As for dual hard disks--there are advantages to having two disks. For one thing, I would have a swap partition on the second disk rather than on the disk holding the respective OS--and Windows, too, can have a partition set up for its own swap instead of the slower dynamic file used as a default. For Windows, too, I'd consider having the operating system on a different disk than the application programs. For optimal performance, then, on a two disk system I would wind up with the basic Windows install on one partition of the first disk, Linux on the second partition of the same disk. On the second disk, I'd have a partition for Windows applications, a small one for Windows swap, a small one for Linux swap, and a relatively large one for data--probably an NTFS partition that could be shared by both OSs. (Sorry, I know Windows doesn't call its swap file "swap"--IIRC it's something like "Virtual memory"...it's been too long since I've messed with that stuff since I've been mostly using notebooks with single hard disks).
By the way, having the Widows virtual memory or "swap" file a fixed size actually speeds up the performance a bit compared to having a dynamic one.
David
--- In LINUX_Newbies@yahoogroups.com, John Randall <m0els@...> wrote:
>
> Hi, It was just a precaution as I had a problem when I installed ubunto on the
> same hd. It took over the mbr ( master boot record ) and I could not boot into
> win xp. Ended up reformating and aquired a 2nd hd. So when I installed linux on
> the 2nd hd, I disconnected win xp hd as a precaution.
>
> When you boot after the install with both hd's running you should get a linux
> boot menu. With me Linux always boots first now and I have to change the option
> to boot to win xp.
>
>
> I suggest that you place linux on another drive.
>
> John
>
> Â
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: David Poston <david.poston@...>
> To: LINUX_Newbies@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Fri, 31 December, 2010 13:58:35
> Subject: Re: [LINUX_Newbies] Dual boot-up
>
> Â
> Why undo the Windoes drive? david
>
> --- On Thu, 12/30/10, John Randall <m0els@...> wrote:
>
> From: John Randall <m0els@...>
> Subject: Re: [LINUX_Newbies] Dual boot-up
> To: LINUX_Newbies@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, December 30, 2010, 9:11 AM
>
> Â
>
> My pc a compaq presario which allows me to dual boot with a menu on startup.
>
> Cannot remember if I had to download the app from hp/compaq, or if it was in the
>
>
> bios. Just a tip, when you install linux on the other hd, disconnect you windows
>
>
> hd, just incase linux takes over the mbr. Boot from the linux cd and install on
>
> the hd you selected. Once done then reconnect your windows hd. Rather safe than
>
> sorry.
>
> John (Newbie)
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Ken <kdfraze@...>
>
> To: LINUX_Newbies@yahoogroups.com
>
> Sent: Thu, 30 December, 2010 1:56:05
>
> Subject: [LINUX_Newbies] Dual boot-up
>
> Hello,
>
> I want to set up a dual boot system and I was wondering, what do I have to do
>
> for this? Will I have to set it up in the bios? I have two hard drives.
>
> Thanx
>
> Ken
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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