change boot partition
 

Hi, i would like to install Debian instead of RH.
I have swap on hda2, RH on hda3 and Slack on hda3.
I have Grub on hda3 and i would like to install there Debian.
I don't know if the installation will go in the right way, so i would like to start Grub or LILO in Slack partition, is it possible?

Things should go absolutely seamless if your bootloader is in the MBR of /dev/hda

To make it this way, make sure you have in lilo.conf

boot=/dev/hda

and not hda3 or something. If you have hda3, change it to hda and run lilo.

Then once you get debian installed you'll have to edit lilo.conf to include the debian image.

I don't know about grub syntax, but it should be a similar concept.

--Rounan

When you install Debian, just overwrite the whole of your RedHat partition. When it comes to installing the bootloader, you have two choices, really. Install the bootloader to the MBR of /dev/hda and edit it later so you can boot your other OSs aswell. OR install the bootloader to the bootsector of your new Debian partition and then use another bootloader to choose OSs. Using the second method you get effectively 2 bootloaders - one to select the OS and then another one (that you have edited) to select different modes for Debian.

For example, if you wanted Debian to have an option to boot to a graphical login or to a text login, you could edit your /dev/hda3 bootloader to reflect this but leave your main bootloader alone. That way your changes would not affect your other OSs in any way shape or form.

Although I would personally just install the bootloader to the MBR of your harddrive.

I don't know what MBR mean.
I have Win XP on hda1.
I know this probably is a meanless operation but i am a linux newbie and i don't know if everything will work after i will install Debian. Everybody says it is not so simple.
Anyway i will try to follow your suggestions.

MBR = master boot record
Every drive has one, and linux partitions can have boot blocks as well.
As long as your bootloader is installed in the MBR of hard drive a (represented by /dev/hda), changing what's on the partitions might break the bootloader's links and make it unable to boot your new debian system right away, but all you have to do is remove the RH boot information from your config file, and replace it with Debian. You won't leave your system unbootable by installing debian, if your loader is on the MBR.

Read man lilo.conf, or equivalent for grub. It'll all become clear. ;)

--Rounan

Ok thank you Rounan.
I will take it easy. I hope you will help me with Debian.
I decided to install it because it is the only one completely open-source and this is the only reason i have to learn to use Linux.
But i am a newbie and it sometimes is very hard.
By the way. Thanks and see you.