I had a dual boot system with xp and mint. When I tried to install Debian over Mint it failed and I could not get into xp anymore. Now I have win 7 and PCLOS on another machine. I want to install Debain in place of PCLOS, but I dont want the install to fail and then stop me from booting into win 7. So, how do i do this?

tks,
pa

What kind of errors did you get during the installation of debian on the other machine? When you got to the partitioning part of the install what options did you select? With out knowing what you did, didn't do, or what kind of error messages you got during the install on the other machine it is hard to tell what went wrong with the other install.

Here: http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.p...512967#p512967

sorry no more details. I tried so many times and at each hang up I went online and did more research. I took many screen shots. I cant tell you exactly what issues I was having, because many times at different stages of install, I had issues and had to do more research. Over the course of 3 days I spent over 35 hours trying to get Debian onto that partition.

I did install Debian as a single os on a computer. Im relatively sure that i can install it as a dual boot, as long as the partition is unformatted and grub is not already on the HDD. Im sure my issue was installing it over another os, with grub already on the hdd.

From looking at your link the problem you seem to had was with setting up the partitions. To install over pclos do the following;
at the screen where it ask for partitioning method select manual
at the next screen select the partition that pclos root file system is on
If your not sure which partition pclos is on post back so we can figure it out.
then at the following screens select each one and the following options:
use as ext4
format to format the partition pclos is on
mount point /-the root file system
then select done setting up the partition
finish partitioning and write changes to disk
write changes to disk yes
at the software selection screen select debian desktop, print server, standard sysem utilites and laptop if your on a laptop
then the software will start to install
when it gets to the grub select yes to install the master boot record
If you get a fail to install grub error select go back, and contiune, install lilo.
If you have any other errors or questions post back so we can figure them out too.

I did all that. After pointing to the Mint partition, it gave an error about how the partition was set up. I closed the install, booted using the live mint DVD and went online to do research. I researched the error and learned what i needed to know. I then started installing Debian again. I set the partition up as directed in my research and it worked, but then had other issues later in the install process. Again, I closed the install, used the mint live DVD to go on line and do more research. Again, I learned what i needed to know and the very last install process, it loaded Debian onto the partition that previously had mint. All ended well....until boot. Grub never came up. I got an error every time I booted.

what was the error of how the partition layout and the error while rebooting and your partition layout

I cant remember. I went thru 6 tries to get it installed and the final try seceded, but would not boot. it was over the course of 3 days working intensely on this. I can post the screen shots, but i kinda feel that they might not help, since there are so many of them and my memory of specifics is rather limited. Still, I will, post them, if asked.

Well let start with the error you get when booting.

attached.

Attached Thumbnails

 

what is the output of the following at the grub rescue prompt

huh?

grub rescue> set
grub rescue> ls

You might read the link below which explains the problem:

http://ubuntujournal.blogspot.com/20...wont-boot.html

clear as mud. Wish me luck.

pa

I reinstalled xp and left some unformatted free space on my HDD for Debain. I tried again to install Debian and it failed. Im starting a new thread with specifics.

Thanks for all your help and if youd like to continue, please see my new thread titled "Debain not installing alongside windows (dual os)"

thanks much,
pa