Partitioning

Usually, you get your device preinstalled by OEM and this means you have whole disk space dedicated to your WinXP. If you don't intend to erase it, you need to make some space for your new MeeGo installation.

In order to repartition the disk, we need a fancy tool that is capable of looseless partition operations. I decided to use EASEUS Partition Master because i) I found it and ii) it was free. If you have some LiveCD versions of, say, Ubuntu or Fedora you can also boot it and use GParted shipped. The idea remains the same - to move all existing data into one space and cut out some free space for new, unallocated area. With EASEUS it was fairly easy.

First, you'd better defragment your disk so you're sure no data left in the physical area of the disk you will cut. It usually takes some time, so once you hit OK go and get your coffee.

 

Next go to 'Move/Resize' and define a new size of your Win partition. You can put numbers or move the slider. I suggest to allocate at least 8G for MeeGo, however if memory servers, the installer will go on with 4.2G at least.

If you forgot to defragment the drive, no worries - it'll do it anyway.

Installation

Once repartitioning is complete just reboot the device from your USB key. In case you don't have booting key, please refer to MeeGo release page to learn how to do it.

Installation process looks quite generic. Next, next, next, and when you get to partitioning screen let the installer use remaining disk space and proceed. Never mind boot settings as installer shamelessly ignores your settings anyway.

Booting and post install

First time boot has to be completed in MeeGo to let you access fully operating system. Once it's done go to Applications -> Terminal:

$ sudo vi /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf

prompt 0

timeout 5

To have some time for the decission before it boots.

 

#menu hidden

To show the boot menu

label meego
        menu label MeeGo (2.6.33.3-11.1-netbook)
        kernel vmlinuz-2.6.33.3-11.1-netbook
        append ro root=/dev/sda3 quiet vga=current
label Other
        menu label Windows
        kernel chain.c32
        append boot 1
        menu default

Put menu default for your OS that you want to boot automatically and save&exit. From now on every time you boot you have a choice of OS to start.