From: BitTwister@mouse-potato.com   
      
   On Tue, 17 Jul 2012 10:39:42 -0600, Warren Post wrote:   
   >   
   > Can I then simply install a new distro to a new partition,   
      
   Absolutely. Just pick the custom function during the partition phase   
   and install everything in /.   
      
   > creating new  user for it?   
      
   Yes. It can even be the same user as your "Production" user.   
      
   > Or is there something else I should be aware of before   
   > jumping in?   
      
   Yes. You need to know how to re-install your Production boot loader.   
      
   > And are there best practices for doing this sort of thing?   
      
   o Make damn sure you know which partition you are installing into,   
   o make backups before starting install,   
   o verify you can read backups,   
   o verify you have backed up everything you might need.   
      
   > And yes, I've tried playing with live CDs, but after noodling around with   
   > a few I'd like to dig a little deeper and work with something installed.   
      
   My solution, installed VirtualBox, and do my installs there.   
      
   Advantages,   
   o uses less disk space if you use dynamic disks,   
   o can have several guest installed,   
   o can change desktops and be in the Production OS,   
   o I can bring up a guest OS in ~4 seconds if it is saved in the running state.   
   o can have several guest running and can play with network setup/commands   
     and what not.   
      
   Disadvantages,   
   Helps to have about a gig of spare memory for each guest running,   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)