Multiboot with Debian, Windows XP, and FreeDOS

RodWC · 10-31-2005, 07:24 AM

Hi all. My current setup is with Debian on the first drive, XP on the second (that worked best, though I use XP more). The first drive is a 60gb, although with Debian I am using only a tenth of that and the rest is unpartitioned. I want to create a FAT32 partition and make a third boot option: FreeDOS (this would come in very handy for me). What I need to know is how to set up FreeDOS on the partition, and then how to configure the GRUB bootloader to add the option (this is probably the most important. The other I can probably figure out on my own).

The Windows XP was a bit of a trick, as I had to map/remap the drives in the bootloader. And I'm thinking that adding a third option may be even trickier.

Just for a recap, the current setup is:
hd0/0 - Bootloader and Debian 3.1
hd1/0 - Windows XP

Here's what I want:
hd0/0 - Bootloader and Debian 3.1
hd0/1 (or whatever it needs to be I guess) - FreeDOS
hd1/0 - Windows XP

Thanks for any suggestions/instructions!

Rod

TruongAn · 10-31-2005, 09:35 AM

I will give you the sample grub config file for your ideal system:

Code:

title Debian
 root (hd0,0)
 kernel /boot/<the linux kernel>
 initrd /boot/<the initial ramdisk>
title Windows XP
 rootnoverify (hd0,1)
 chainloader +1
title Freedos
 rootnoverify (hd1,0)
 map (hd0) (hd1)
 map (hd1) (hd0)
 chainloader +1

To boot to your Debian you will have to give grub the path to linux kernel image (in common, its name start with vmlinuz) and init ramdisk
After the path is the kernel options, it depends on your distro. If your debian is OK, you should keep the line for Debian unchanged
Try it.
I hope it will work. But I can't quarranty anythings because I have not used windows for one year and I have never configure grub to boot DOS.
You may access the grub info page

Code:

info grub