Re: Need to install Windows 2000 from scratch to HDDs with Debian/Linux

ANTant_at_zimage.com
Date: 01/23/05 

Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 14:35:52 -0600

> > I have Debian (Kernel 2.6.8) installed currently sharing two old IDE
> > HDDs. What's the best way to install a new Windows 2000 SP4 (all
> > updates) installation without messing up my current Linux EXT3
> > partitions? I have PartitionMagic v8.01, but I don't know if it is safe
> > to use (e.g., resize the existing partitions). I have never done this
> > (newbie) before so I am scared. :(
> >
> > Thank you in advance. :)

> first advice is DONT USE PARTITION MAGIC.
> Ive tried it twice and twice it has ruined the partitions on the disk.

> THere is a tool in LInux which allows you to resize partitions called
> qtparted. so run that and make a partition for windows.
> but before you install windows make a linux boot disk (mkboot or
> makebootdisk or somethng very similar).
> after you install windows in the partition you have made in linux you wont
> be able to boot linux because windows has overwritten the MBR.
> boot linux from the boot disk or a boot cd-rom like knoppix and restore the
> linux MBR using lilo or grub.

> some instructions on rescuing your MBR with lilo and knoppix:
> ==========================================================
> To answer your question, here is what you need to do:
>
> 1. Boot from the Knoppix CD.
> 2. Start a terminal application, e.g. konsole (press Alt+F2, then type
> "konsole"
> 3. Become root by typing "su -"
> 4. Mount your Knoppix partition: "mkdir /mnt/knoppix &&
> mount /dev/hdb2 /mnt/knoppix" (this assumes that your Knoppix installation
> is on the second primary partition - you can find out your hard disk's
> partitions by typing "cfdisk /dev/hdb")
> 5. Chroot into your knoppix partition with "chroot /mnt/knoppix"
> 6. Type "lilo"
>
> Now your master boot record has been restored and, upon reboot, you should
> be able to boot into either Windows or Knoppix.

Hi Sam1967. Sorry for taking a long time to reply. I have been busy.
:(

Thanks for the informative warning and post. I will avoid PowerQuest's
PartitionMagic at all cost then. It is a good thing I asked! First, I really
need to make a boot disk because I never made one. Debian (sarge installer?)
never did ask me to do that AFAIK. Another problem, I don't use LILO. I use
GRUB. For the heck of it, I tried making a boot disk to my A: drive:

# mkboot

Insert a floppy diskette into your boot drive, and press <Return>.

Creating a lilo bootdisk...
Kernel is at /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.8-1-k7 in /boot
Matching initrd image is /boot/initrd.img-2.6.8-1-k7
usr/sbin/mkboot: line 93: /etc/lilo.conf: No such file or directory
Could not find the requested kernel in your
   current /etc/lilo.conf .
The mkboot script can probably do better.

Here is the proposed lilo.conf:

# floppy lilo.conf
        boot = /dev/fd0
        install = boot.b
        map = map
root = /dev/hda1

You can install the boot-loader from this best guess,
or you can try to install from a `vanilla\' lilo.conf .

Which do you choose? (Enter B for best, V for vanilla): B
Installing the best-guess lilo.conf...
/usr/sbin/mkboot: line 261: lilo: command not found

I was worried so I rebooted the box to see if it even works. Nope, I got
"DISK BOOT FAILURE. INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER."

I can confirm that same boot disk failed in VMware v4.5.1's Windows 2000
SP4 guest image on a Windows XP Pro SP2 host machine.

So, now what? I will take my time with this since I don't want to hose
my Debian. :( 

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