Dual Boot Windows XP & FC4 with FC4 already installed

kt8993 · 11-12-2005, 12:17 PM

May I know how do I install Windows XP for Dual Boot Windows XP & FC4 when I FC4 already installed. I have a partition that I can format for Windows XP.

I just need to know how to make it dual boot after installing Windows...

I know it's easier to install Windows XP first and then Install FC4, but I already have apps and configs under current FC4 that will take time for me to reconfigure...

Thanks.

apepost · 11-12-2005, 12:25 PM

You'll need to install Windows as usual. It'll overwrite your mbr, so you'll have to fix that manually afterwards.

kt8993 · 11-12-2005, 12:45 PM

How do I fix the MBR manually after work? Do I do the FC4 installation disk to correct it?

Thanks.

apepost · 11-12-2005, 04:03 PM

Boot the FC4 installation disk.

type "linux rescue" and push enter when the prompt arrives.
Choose your language and keyboard layout.

Choose "NO" when it asks you about networking.

Push "Continue" on the next box about mounting your partitions.

type "chroot /mnt/sysimage/"
type "grub-install"

zaken · 10-18-2006, 12:01 PM

Thankyou very much!

I think my mind is going, Dave, I can feel it... I can feel it...

pixellany · 10-18-2006, 02:21 PM

Or......
Write the Linux mbr to a floppy. This will boot the FC4. Once everything else is working, then you can copy it back.

Assume that you have one hard drive---/dev/hda:
Put mbr on a floppy:
dd if=/dev/hda of=/dev/fd0 bs=512 count=1

Put it back:
dd if=/dev/fd0 of=/dev/hda bs=512 count=1

sn68 · 10-18-2006, 02:40 PM

@Pixellany
Will the method described (floppy & dd) dual boot or futher editing of grub.conf is required to dual boot?
If it is simply restoring previously installed grub which had no knowledge of windows installation then I think it will not dual boot.

pixellany · 10-18-2006, 05:13 PM

You have to edit the config file: /boot/grub/menu.lst (aka /boot/grub/grub.conf)

The exact entries will depend on how your disk is setup.

Running in Linux, do "fdisk -l" as root, and post the output here. Tell us which partition is (or will be) windows.

One nice thing about installing Windows first is that the typical Linux installer detects the Windows install and automatically sets up grub.

michaelk · 10-18-2006, 05:26 PM

If using the dd method you only want bs=446 not 512. The partiton table starts at 446 bytes. In your case it doesn't matter since you have an existing parition already for windows. However, if you did make any changes using the dd will overwrite the new table. Once you restore grub you will need to add an entry to the /etc/grub.conf file for windows.