Re: Windows XP upgrade
- From: Matt Payton <mattpayton@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2005 18:20:02 GMT
On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 00:04:54 +0000, Ed Doyle wrote:
> Hi,
> I have a perfectly working system at the moment. It can boot Linux,
> or Windows 2000, or Window ME. Originally, the machine came with
> Windows ME installed. Eventually I used Partition Magic to
> create a d, e, and f, partition and I installed Windows 2000 in the
> d partition leaving windows ME in tact in the c partition. I used the e
> and f partitions for windows programs and data. Later I created some ext3
> partitions and installed Linux Fedora Core 3. Grub gives me a choice of
> booting one of my linux kernels, or other, and other gives me a choice of
> Windows 2000 or ME.
>
> However, now I would like to wipe out my c, d, and e partitions and
> install Windows XP in that space, keeping the f partition and Linux
> partitions in tact.
>
> My concern is how to do this without having Windows XP install wipe out
> the MBR and make it so I can not boot my linux system.
It's pretty much certain that a new Windows install will over-write the
MBR. So you'd then have to boot off something else ( rescue cd, boot
floppy, etc. ) and reinstall/initialize grub. Personally, I like tomsrtbt
- http://www.toms.net/rb/
knoppix also makes a very good rescue tool. I'm not all that familiar
with fedora, but older redhat cd's used to be able to do rescue functions.
> Has anyone done this kind of upgrade
I have done it a while ago, although I was using lilo as the boot
loader, not grub. You'll also find tons of hits if you google things
like "grub reinstall windows" or similar.
> and if so, what are the things to be careful of.
If your current Windows installs and linux are on the same physical
disk, and you change the partitioning for windows, this will change the
way the linux partions are numbered...So you'd have to again use a boot
cd/floppy and change your fstab to match the new disk layout. If Linux is
on a different physical disk, or if you left the partioning as-is for
Windows and simply formatted + reinstalled, this wouldn't be an issue.
Make sure you can boot from cd/floppy *before* you mess with
anything.
Make a note of the current disk layout for Linux...Where / is, where your
swap is, etc. Like hda5, hda6, whatever.
Backup whatever is important.
Make sure when (re)installing Windows you are *sure* you
are using/formatting only the windows partitions.
After the WinXP install, boot from cd/floppy, and check what the Linux
partions are seen as now. If they're different, you'd have to edit your
fstab to match, edit your grub config, then reinstall grub. After that,
you should be fine.
IMHO, I think it's better to use seperate physical disks for different
OS's, whenever possible.
--
- Matt -
.
- References:
- Windows XP upgrade
- From: Ed Doyle
- Windows XP upgrade
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