An
OS is installed on the computers' hard disk, inside an area called hard disk
partition. There are several ways for installing a new operating system. The
installation method is based on the system hardware and end-user requirements.
Generally, you have four basic options for the installation of a new operating
system:
Clean
Installation
We
can perform a clean installation on a new computer or in those cases where
there is no upgrade path between the current operating system and the new one.
This type of installation deletes all data on the hard disks partition where
the current operating system is installed. A new PC requires, of course a clean
installation. You can also do a clean install when the current operating system
installation has corrupted files or does not work properly.
Upgrade
Installation
Sometimes,
it is also possible to perform an upgrade. When you perform an upgrade, OS
configuration settings, installed programs and data are preserved. With this
installation you have nothing to worry about, because you will not lose any
personal data. You will just replace the old operating system files with the
new, upgraded files. However, keep in mind that after the upgrade the
applications and drivers that are incompatible with the new OS will not work as
expected.
Multi-boot
Installation
Another
option is to install multiple operating systems on a single computer. You can
install each OS inside a different disk partition and this way every OS will have
its own files and configuration settings. On multi-boot installations, the
users see a menu when they open their computers and they have to select the
desired OS. Of course, only one operating system can run at a time.
Virtualization
This
is relative new technique that is often used on servers. With virtualization we
can run numerous copies of an operating system on a single set of hardware and
create this way several virtual machines. Every single virtual machine works
like a separate computer. This technology makes a single physical hardware
resource to appear like multiple logical resources.
Before
starting any operating system installation you have to make sure that all the
hardware is certified to work with the new operating system. Also confirm that
the hardware resources meet the minimum installation requirements. Moreover,
when you perform an upgrade it is a very good practice to perform a virus scan
before starting the installation and a complete full backup of all your
personal data.
One
method that helps you protect your data is this: Create multiple partitions on
the hard disk and install a different OS on each partition. Then copy all your
data inside an empty partition that does not contain an OS. This way you can
upgrade the operating system without the risk of losing any data. Backup and
recovery of data files is also easier with this design.
It
is also important to decide the type of file system to use. The file system
controls how the OS stores and tracks the files. There are several different
file systems available. The most well-known are: FAT 32, NTFS, HPFS, ext2 and
ext3. Every operating system is designed to use one or more of these file
systems. There are advantages and disadvantages on every file system. Careful
consideration should be made to the type of file systems supported by the
selected OS and the benefits of each.
You
can find several programs to modify the partitioning structure and file system
of a hard drive after installation, but it is better to avoid them if possible.
When modifying either the file system or partition structure on a hard drive,
data loss may result. Careful planning can help preserve the integrity of the
data.
