LinuxQuestions.org - Dualboot w/ Windows XP

- Linux - General (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-general-1/)

- - Dualboot w/ Windows XP (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-general-1/dualboot-w-windows-xp-118664/)

Dualboot w/ Windows XP

I was wondering if it was possible to use the dualboot feature in windows xp. IE: editing boot.ini

I tried to make a bootsect.lnx file and I tried /dev/hdc1 to /dev/hdc4 and none of them seemed to work. Either they a) went to a blank screen and nothing happend, or b) it just went back to the OS selection screen. Do I have to have a bootloader (grub or lilo) on the linux partition? I really don't want to have to, so i'm looking for other suggestions. Besides a boot disk of course. :P

Why not use Lilo on the MBR? It will work with WinXP, no problem.

If you're sure that it 100% work and detect my XP partition without any problem, and no configuration is nessary (as in ready to go after install). I was a bit 'scared' to install linux on this computer as this is my main computer. Linux wouldn't work on the other one and I really wanted it. :P

Both GRUB and LILO have dual booted Mandrake and XP fine for me. Working 100% good, with no extra configuration.

At first on 9.1, I used LILO, which booted XP fine. Because I was a complete newbie and had no idea what I was doing, I re-installed because I couldn't figure out how to login (!) and used GRUB that time. I don't know why. LOL.
That booted XP and Mandrake fine, for the 2 months I used 9.1.

Now I'm using 9.2 and LILO, and I haven't had any reason to boot up into Windows, but it's on the menu and I'm sure it'll work fine if I ever need to get into Windows.

I have windows on hda (1 big partition) and Linux on hdb (with /, swap, & /home partitions). LILO is, and GRUB was, on hda.

Just use GRUB or LILO. I don't think the windows bootloader would work as well, or be as easily configurable, etc.

--
Mandrake asked me where it should put the bootloader. I just stuck with the default, which was on hda.

no problem, it will work.

Whew, ok.

I installed GRUB to the boot partition, not the MBR. I then created the bootsect.lnx file and did the rest and it worked! Thanks to all the suggestions.

*Throws his boot disk in the corner* foo yah.