Re: Linux, XP, Win2003 Server multi-boot

Thanks Phil,

I finally got the new machine - it came with one of those 'recovery' disks
(XP MCE) - and a 5 gig recovery partition that isn't supposed to be deleted.
Anyone know how to see the contents of this? I couldn't. I considered
formatting the first partition and using fdisk to break it up into 2
partitions, then using the recovery disk to reinstall MCE on one of the
partitions. I couldn't boot into DOS and ended up using the command prompt
window but never could find fdisk, so decided to keep the MCE.

I then installed the hard disk from my old computer - right now I'm just
using it to transfer files and programs to the new system (even though I did
have a backup). Once I feel I have everything in order - always lose
something when I get a new computer - I'll format that disk and install
Linux & Win2003 on it I guess.

I really don't know much about installing Linux (not a system
administrator - just a web designer), so this ought to be an adventure. So
many of the instructions for installing Linux seem to assume that you know
what everything is and and where it should go. I end up getting flustered.

Christina

"Phil Sherman" <psherman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:mqFPh.1130$Q23.670@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I like to use a variant of this on my Thinkpad laptops. The TP boot code
occupies more sectors than a "standard" boot and if improperly modified,
loses access to the HDD recovery partition.

I construct two appropriately sized primary partitions and then install XP
on the first one. The second contains the Linux /boot directory. Grub is
installed on the /boot partition just as you do. I've also done this on a
new machine by shrinking the C: partition using Partition Magic then
constructing the second primary out of the free space. I then use
Partition Magic to set the second partition as the active, bootable
partition. Once Linux has booted up, I modify the grub configuration file
to allow booting to the XP partition.

I also noticed on a recently purchased desktop system that the XP boot was
split between two primary partitions. This would further complicate this
process but is still doable because you can have four primary partitions,
one of which is usually reserved for the extended partition.

If you want to do it the other way, booting XP first, you can modify the
boot.ini file (read only, hidden, system attributes)in XP's root directory
to give you the option of booting linux's grub from the second primary
partition.

Phil Sherman


dold@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Christina <designer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
There are so many conflicting instructions I'm not sure what to do. Can
someone guide me to a definitive answer?

I installed WinXP first, specifying a FAT32 file system so that I could
mount it under Linux later. I made a nominal sized partition and left
the
rest of the disk unused.

Then I installed RedHat Fedora 6 and used the "empty" space on the drive
for the linux installation. I chose manual editing, and used an advanced
option on the "Grub" page to install the Linux boot in /dev/hda2, not on
the MBR. Windows doesn't know that Linux exists. The MBR is untouched.

I booted "rescue" mode, and did a dd of the first 512 bytes of /dev/hda2,
where the linux loader lives, to a file on the mounted windows volume,
and
then call that file from boot.ini as a dual boot.

Not definitive, to be sure, and no details.

This same method did not work for a machine with WinXP on the first
drive,
and Linux on the second drive. I used a windows tool called bootpart to
help with that install.

It did not work for a system with Linux on a bootable external drive.
There were more steps needed for that.

I found linuxforums.org to be helpful in my quest, but I don't find
definitive pages that seem to be current.



.

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