Re: Windows XP upgrade
- From: Stefan Patric <not@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 01 Jan 2006 15:05:43 -0800
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. Has anyone done
> this kind of upgrade and if so, what are the things to be careful of.
You can be assured that XP will wipe out your Linux MBR, but it shouldn't
mess with the other partitions. It may complain about "Unrecognized
partition type" or something like that, and ask if you want them deleted
or formatted. Just say 'No' and the install should proceed without
anything being done to them. But, play it safe, and backup all your
important data both on the Linux and the F partitions.
The best way to do this type of install is to make a boot floppy for FC3
(mkbootdisk) and use it to boot into Linux after you install XP, edit
/etc/grub.conf to add a boot menu item for XP, then, as root, do a
'grub-install' to install the new grub bootloader on the MBR. And you're
done.
Now, of course, there can be all kinds of problems that arise doing what
you're doing. For one thing, you haven't indicated which partitions are
Primary and which are Logical. I'm assuming that ALL Linux partitions are
Logical, and that the Windows' C, D, and E ones (the ones you're going to
combine into C for XP) are Primaries. And that F is a Logical. If they
are, then the install method above will work. If they aren't, when you
repartition and install XP, the boot floppy won't be able to find / (or
/boot, if you have one), since their partition numbers have changed. So,
be careful!
Another thing: Use Linux partitioning tools to repartition your drive for
the XP install, that is, delete C, D, and E; make a new C partition and
set the partition ID to NTFS or whatever you prefer. No need to format
it. The Windows install will do that. This way you'll be able to see, if
your Linux partition designation have changed. If your F partition is
fat16 or 32, leave it that way, so you can use it to share data across
OSes. Linux can read NTFS partitions, but it has problems writing to
them. Windows can't read anything but Windows/DOS type partitions. If
it's NTFS, you might consider changing it to fat: just backup the data,
reformat the partition as fat, and restore the data. Long file names will
cause problems under fat. If you have some, change them to the 8 plus 3
type.
Stefan
.
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