Using GRUB to trick Windows to fit on a different partition?

fyhuang · 07-12-2005, 03:52 PM

Hello,

I'm trying to dual-boot Linux and Windows. The problem is, Windows always wants to install on the first partition, and I want Linux to be on the first partition (or at least the boot/ partition so my BIOS doesn't stop GRUB from loading). I have heard that there is a way to configure GRUB or something to allow me to install Windows on the second partition, and install Linux on the first partition. This supposedly 'tricks' Windows into thinking that it's on the first partition.

Does anyone know of any information regarding this technique or my problem? If anyone could help me it would greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

marghorp · 07-12-2005, 04:01 PM

Why would BIOS stop GRUB from loading?

fyhuang · 07-12-2005, 04:05 PM

My BIOS is one of those stupid 'only boot from first 1024 cylinders' BIOSes. If I don't put boot/ within the first 1024 cylinders, GRUB tries to load stage 2 and gives me a 'geometry error'.

[edit] Well, actually it's not. It's a Dell BIOS. I've found that, after a certain point on the drive, it becomes impossible to boot (it's not 1024 cylinders, I suspect it approaches the 40-50 GB line but I'm not really sure). It's the same problem though - the Linux boot/ partition has to be near the front of the drive.

marghorp · 07-12-2005, 04:11 PM

What happens, when you install Linux first and Windows second, when the first partition is taken. I have done this a couple of times, but I don't remember.

Anyway, isn't GRUB installed on the MBR? Where is MBR? Isn't that in the first couple of cylinders?

fyhuang · 07-12-2005, 04:31 PM

MBR is in first cylinder/sector/whatever, but GRUB has two stages - first stage is in MBR, because it's small enough to fit there. Second stage is in the boot/ partition, because it's too big to fit in the MBR. First stage's purpose is to load the second stage. However, because of the BIOS if the boot/ partition is too far into the drive, stage 1 cannot find stage 2 and booting stops.

I'm not sure what happens when I install Linux first. However, there is a catch here - I already have an FAT32 partition as the first partition. It's a backup partition, and I want to keep it that way. Windows, however, will default to installing to this partition.

Thanks!