Looking to buy my first PC...

[Candal]

I'm wanting a full size tower console having internal dual-HD, for dual-boot OS (XP Pro SP2+Linux). Been doing google/yahoo searches, but coming up zero. All I find is DIY install a second HD, hook up external second HD, and so on. Anyone know of any brand names/model numbers of consoles with dual-HD? Or am I not finding any because this is only custom built?

[jlreich]

Many manufacturers will let you add a secondary drive in the customization area while going through the ordering process. Another approach is to go to a reputable local PC shop and have them customize one of their systems for you. Customize is really a strong word for this. Adding a second drive is very easy at any point during or after a build. Just a matter of mounting it in the case, hooking up a couple of cables, then partitioning and formatting it in whatever OS you are in or during the OS install process.

Out of curiosity what Linux distro are you wanting to install?

[Candal]

Many manufacturers will let you add a secondary drive in the customization area while going through the ordering process. Another approach is to go to a reputable local PC shop and have them customize one of their systems for you. Customize is really a strong word for this. Adding a second drive is very easy at any point during or after a build. Just a matter of mounting it in the case, hooking up a couple of cables, then partitioning and formatting it in whatever OS you are in or during the OS install process.

Out of curiosity what Linux distro are you wanting to install?

Not really decided yet. I'm torn between Xandros, Linux Mint, & Fedora.
Need to do a lot more research on this. Anyway, regarding dual-HD, is this why both google/yahoo search failed to turn up any brands/model numbers? There are not any just out on the market (that is you have to special order or have custom shop put it together)? Was really hoping to have list of brands/numbers to comparison shop. Nothing's ever easy! Ah, doesn't a already made console have to have a open space to add a second drive?
I should warn you I'm new at this, so stupid (& really stupid!) questions are likely unavoidable. Oh, and thanks for responding to my post.

[jlreich]

Most systems you can buy at retailers will not have a second drive. For instance you can not go into Best Buy and pick one up. Some high end workstation class systems will have them but not the run of the mill consumer desktops.

doesn't a already made console have to have a open space to add a second drive?
Usually, but not always. But as above you won't find one with a second drive already in it. 98% of consumers are just fine with one hard drive.

By the way, you don't have to have a second drive to install Linux. Linux can be installed and live happily on the same drive as windows. Linux will even shrink the windows partition for you during the install if you like. So you can just look for a single large hard drive with enough space for all your data needs in both windows and linux. If you prefer a second drive to keep everything nice and neat I understand as I prefer this myself. But I do currently have Ubuntu running on the same drive as XP with vista on another drive just because that's the way it worked out moving stuff around at the time.

I should warn you I'm new at this, so stupid (& really stupid!) questions are likely unavoidable. Oh, and thanks for responding to my post.
As the old saying goes, there are no stupid questions... We were all new at this at one time.

[Candal]

Most systems you can buy at retailers will not have a second drive. For instance you can not go into Best Buy and pick one up. Some high end workstation class systems will have them but not the run of the mill consumer desktops.


Usually, but not always. But as above you won't find one with a second drive already in it. 98% of consumers are just fine with one hard drive.

By the way, you don't have to have a second drive to install Linux. Linux can be installed and live happily on the same drive as windows. Linux will even shrink the windows partition for you during the install if you like. So you can just look for a single large hard drive with enough space for all your data needs in both windows and linux. If you prefer a second drive to keep everything nice and neat I understand as I prefer this myself. But I do currently have Ubuntu running on the same drive as XP with vista on another drive just because that's the way it worked out moving stuff around at the time.


As the old saying goes, there are no stupid questions... We were all new at this at one time.

I'm already aware of the partitioning one HD to run both XP Pro & Linux, and that is my 'fall-back' option, but only as last resort if I can't get dual-HD. From what I've been able to find out, if you do the partitioning stuff you put all your eggs in one basket. If XP Pro crashes it takes out Linux, and vice versa. With dual-HD, there seems to be some separation, so if one OS goes 'belly-up' the other may survive. Well, I hate the idea of factory 'special order', or computer shop custom-builds, but guess I'll have to make the best of it. Not really sure where to start, or how to go about it. More boring
google/yahoo research I suppose...

[jlreich]

Though I don't recommend it because they will likely charge way too much to do it you could go into a place like Best Buy that has an in house computer shop, buy a system off the shelf, tell them you want them to add a second drive and they will do it. Or any computer you buy from anywhere and take it in to any computer shop and they can do this.

It doesn't sound like something you would want to do but I will throw it out there anyway. You could buy the second drive and install it yourself. Installing a hard drive is really easy. Open the side of the system, slide it in a slot, couple of screws, hook up the power and data cable. That's it. It would be much cheaper to buy it yourself and you wouldn't have to worry about it while looking for a system. Just need to be sure there is a slot for a second drive. Believe it or not, while it is prevalent it is not a given that a pre-built system will have a secondary hard drive slot. So definitely make sure.

Another option to toss out there is that there are several Linux distros that are able to install to a USB thumb drive or even a full external USB drive. Not certain about the distros that you listed, but I know Ubuntu, Puppy, and Damn Small Linux (DSL) can. I'm sure there are others that make it easy as well, but those I am certain about.