If you have an existing Windows system, then you can easily install Ubuntu Linux on it and you may not lose any of your Windows programs or data files.

However, you may lose all of your Windows programs and data files and not be able to

boot into Windows!

Ubuntu Linux Training Tips: If you're going to create a dual-boot Windows and Ubuntu Linux system, then be sure to back up your Windows system - twice - including all of your programs and data files - and be sure that you can restore your data from backup - before installing Ubuntu Linux on Windows.

Here's the technical info about creating a dual-boot Windows / Ubuntu Linux System:

A boot loader is a software component on your hard disk that causes your system to boot into an operating system, such as Windows or Linux.

The "Windows boot loader" (software component on the hard disk) is used to boot your system into Windows.

If you only have Linux installed on a system, then the "GRUB boot loader" (software component on the hard disk) is used to boot into Linux.

When you install Ubuntu Linux on an existing Windows system, then the Ubuntu Linux installation routine replaces the Windows boot loader with the GRUB boot loader. The Ubuntu Linux installation routine removes the Windows boot loader by replacing the Windows boot loader with the GRUB boot loader.

Ubuntu Linux Training Tips: For many years I have seen an incredible number of forum posts where people have installed various distributions of Linux on an existing Windows system - and lost the Windows boot loader in the process - and want to remove the GRUB boot loader and go back to the way the system was.

This can be done in some circumstances, but there is no easy way to replace the GRUB boot loader with your previous Windows boot loader. In other words, there is no easy way to go back to your previous system set up.

The GRUB boot loader doesn't have an uninstall option, and even if it did, you would still have to put the Windows boot loader in place of the GRUB boot loader somehow.

I've installed several different distributions of Linux, including Ubuntu Linux, many times, and I much prefer to install Linux on a computer system that doesn't already have Windows installed on it.

I have personally had very bad experiences - after installing Linux on a Windows system - and then removing Linux from the system - and not being able to boot into Windows and access any of my Windows programs or data files!

You can click below to read several (over 50) free articles on various Linux training subjects:

http://www.ilearnlinux.com/free-i-learn-linux-training-articles

Click here to see some sample Linux training videos - Featuring Ubuntu Linux

Need to learn Ubuntu Linux Now with Ubuntu Linux Video Tutorials? - Click Here to Order

Need to learn Linux Admin & Commands Now with Linux Commands Videos? - Click Here and Order Now

Get Updates to this Ubuntu Linux Book Blog. FREE!

Privacy Notice: We will not distribute your email address to anyone. Period!

What do you need to learn about - Using Linux - OR - Working with Ubuntu Linux? - Just click "Comment" and ask!

Thanks for coming by and having a look at this "Ubuntu Linux Book Blog".

What do you need to learn about Ubuntu Linux - Installing from The Ubuntu Linux CD, Installing Ubuntu Linux software Updating, Running Ubuntu Linux programs from the Desktop?

Just click on "Comment" below to ask an Ubuntu Linux training question, make a suggestion for the Ubuntu Linux book, or just post a comment.

And you can put your email address in at the top right to get updates to this Ubuntu Linux training blog!

Thanks again for coming by - and I hope see you again soon!

Clyde Boom, http://www.iLearnLinux.com

The Easy Linux Training Guy

Easy, Self-paced Linux Training - in Plain English!