Documentazione di Ubuntu → Ubuntu 10.04 → Switching From Windows → Dual-booting with Windows → Planning your dual-boot configuration

## Planning your dual-boot configuration

When setting up a dual-boot system, you must make some important changes to the way your computer operates. While these changes are routine, there is the possibility that they could go wrong. By planning your dual-boot setup you can reduce the risk of error.

### Finding out about your current hard disk drive setup

In order to decide how to partition your hard disk ready for dual-booting, you will need to know how it is currently partitioned.

You need to find out the total storage capacity of your hard disk drive and the layout of the current partitions. This can be done from within Windows XP by using the Disk Management Snap-In.

1. Press Start → Run. The Run dialog should appear.

2. Type compmgmt.msc into the box provided and press Run.

3. Click Disk Management to show the status of all of the storage devices connected to your computer.

4. Find the device with the C: drive on it. This should be your primary hard disk (if you have more than one installed).

5. Note down the total capacity of the hard disk and the order and size of the partitions on the disk (if there is more than one).

### Deciding what partitions to use

Windows generally uses one or two partitions, though these are likely to take up the entire hard disk. You must decide how much disk space you will need for Windows, and how much you would like use in Ubuntu.

| Recovery partitions
Many computer manufacturers install recovery partitions onto their computers to allow you to restore Windows in case of problems. These tend to be small partitions which are inaccessible from Windows. Because these partitions may be the sole method of recovering Windows in case of a problem, it is recommended that you do not attempt to change or remove such recovery partitions.

Basic concepts |  | Setting up a dual-boot configuration