How to install MostlyLinux, Redhat or Fedora on a PC with Windows XP
This is a detailed description about how to set up MostlyLinux on a PC where WindowsXP or Vista is already installed. This document uses MostlyLinux distributions, however, this tutorial is applicable for Redhat, Fedora and CentOS.   Things you should know before starting installation

Before you start follwing information you need.

• For installing MostlyLinux you need at least two partitions
• You need at least 3gb. To have properly configured productive desktop 15 to 20gb is required.

Before starting installation identify a partition in your WindowsXP or Vista which you are in a position to delete.

Note
Please note Microsoft systems always use C: drive which should not be deleted.

If your partition layout is something like that in Figure – 1.

Figure - 1

To install MostlyLinux or Redhat Linux you need forgo or spare one of this partitions that is D: or E: or F:.
You cannot delete C: as Microsoft operating systems needs one primary partition which C: is. Once you have identified the partition that you want to delete backup all data in that partition by moving it to anather partition or writing it to one or more CD or DVD.

For example if you have decided to delete F: backup all data in it if these data is important for you.

Figure – 2

You may not be lucky and your hard disks partitioning scheme could be something like Figure – 2 and you are not in aposition to delete D Your only option then is to resize D: with Parted Magic a free tool
available from here http://downloads.partedmagic.com/32/pmagic-3.2.iso.zip. It is a CD image of bootable Linux whose exclusive purpose is to parttion hard drive. Unzip this file and this ISO image with Nero or PowerISO or similar other tool.

In our next part we assume you have identified the partition to be deleted.

Now insert MostlyLinux DVD or CD in your CD/DVD drive and reboot your system to boot from CD/DVD drive. If your system fails to boot from CD/DVD drive check your bios setup and make CD/DVD drive as the first boot device. To activate bios setup you may have to hit Delete key. In some systems it could be F2 or F9. Figure – 3 shows a screen capture of bios setup menu.