From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Dec 3 20:49:44 2007 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9F1F216A419 for ; Mon, 3 Dec 2007 20:49:44 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from sonicy@otenet.gr) Received: from rosebud.otenet.gr (rosebud.otenet.gr [195.170.0.94]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3B87413C43E for ; Mon, 3 Dec 2007 20:49:43 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from sonicy@otenet.gr) Received: from atlantis.dyndns.org (athedsl-12605.home.otenet.gr [87.202.49.159]) by rosebud.otenet.gr (8.13.8/8.13.8/Debian-3) with ESMTP id lB3Kne74018817; Mon, 3 Dec 2007 22:49:42 +0200 Message-ID: <47546BE4.3040901@otenet.gr> Date: Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:49:40 +0200 From: Manolis Kiagias User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.9 (X11/20071115) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: manikandan.x.balachandran@jpmchase.com References: In-Reply-To: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Fw: Can I install Free BSD latest version on my laptop with dual boot? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:49:44 -0000 manikandan.x.balachandran@jpmchase.com wrote: > In addition to the bellow mail, I giving processor details > > AMD Turion? 64 Mobile Technology > > > > Hi, > > Can I install Free BSD latest version on my laptop with dual boot (Windows > Vista + Free BSD), my system configuration details are as follows > > HP Compaq Presario V3000z > RAM - 1.5 GB DDR II 533MHz > NVIDIA Graphics Card 6150 > NVIDIA Chipset motherboard > 80GB Fujitsu HDD > > Thanks in advance > > Cheers > B.Manikandan > UK > > > Processor should pose no problem. Additionally, I find nvidia chipsets to be widely compatible with FreeBSD. You don't mention devices like wireless and ethernet, if you do know the models, you may be able to find if they are supported in the release notes / hardware compatibility of FreeBSD. The graphics card will be no problem with either the nv open source driver or the proprietary Nvidia from ports (or from nvidia directly). About your questions on dual boot, since I have a notebook dual booting (actually triple booting) Vista, FreeBSD and Linux I can give you some hand on information: - The info you have been given about Partition Magic, GParted and PartedMagic should work fine. You could use any of these tools to shrink your Windows Vista partition. Make sure Vista boots after this operation. The new MS loader seems to break rather easily. In the event it does not boot you will need a Vista DVD to boot and select to repair. This sounds more frightening than it really is, it does not happen often and the repair works (automatically). - When installing FreeBSD, when asked about the boot manager select NOT to install it. Do NOT let it touch the MBR. Vista uses a different loader from XP and it will probably fail to boot afterwards. - When installation is finished, you will not be able to boot into FreeBSD, but fear not. Boot into Vista and install the free EasyBCD program: http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1 With this, you can add the choice for FreeBSD to your Vista bootloader (a new system called BCD) . It is trivially easy to setup and works extremely well. Hope this helps. Manolis