Am I safe to run Ubuntu alongside Windows XP?

Question

I recently downloaded the Linux Ubuntu operating system to my Compaq Presario 8000 PC, which originally runs on Windows XP. I felt the need to upgrade to a new OS knowing that support for XP has ended. Rather than burning the iso. file to a DVD and installing Ubuntu from there, I went the easier and quicker way by using Windows Installer. The difference that makes is, when you use the DVD, Ubuntu replaces XP on the computer. But when using the installer, Ubuntu and Windows XP both have a presence on the computer and you can choose which one you'd like to use each time the computer starts up. My question is if it is safe to do this... will my computer encounter viruses and other problems since XP still exists on there, or am I safe as long as I keep it on Ubuntu at all times? Would it have been safer to have XP removed, or does it even make a difference?
Thank you for your answers!

Answer 1

If you use the windows installer for ubuntu and install ubuntu inside windows, if windows has any problem and will not bot you will also lose ubuntu. Since xp is no longer supported there is a bigger danger of xp gettting malware.

If you use the dvd to install ubuntu you do NOT have to remove xp when installing ubuntu. If you overwrtie the windows partition during the ubuntu install then yes you will lose xp. You have to make sure that you know which partition is which nad install ubuntu on its own partition.

http://www.wikihow.com/Install-Ubuntu-Linux

Follow those instructions carefully and you can have xp and ubuntu reside side by side on the computer. If xp becomes corrupted you will still be able to run ubuntu.

Try to run ubuntu from the dvd before installing. If everything works you should not have any problem with it working after the install.

Answer 2

When you start your Windows/Ubuntu dual-boot system, GRUB (the bootloader) will only load the operating system you select. Ubuntu and Windows are on completely separate partitions, so only one will be running at any given time. As far as Ubuntu is concerned, the NTFS partition with Windows on it is just a bunch of files.



Unless you have a specific reason for keeping Windows XP, you might consider just getting rid of it and going Linux all the way.

Answer 3

It is safe.As long as you keep the anti-virus up to date and also any Ubuntu updates, then you should

be fine.



If it was me, I would stick with Ubuntu.Only use XP offline, so nothing can connect to it or uninstall it completely.