Debian dual boot from floppy?
 

I am planning to run the Debian distribution and Windows 2000 and there is one thing that I can't quite figure out.

I want to load Debian on an extra, dedicated 20 Gig hard drive. I don't want to dual boot in the traditional way with lilo. I want to not disturb my Windows disk at all, so I would like to boot linux from its dedicated drive when I insert a floppy (or a CD). If I don't insert a floppy, I want to boot Windows in the normal way.

How do I do this? It is probably right in front of me in the Debian install guide, but I am mission it somehow.

Mike S

You can set the debian hd as boot device and let lilo or grub point to windows. This way, windows is not touched, and you don't need to use a floppy. If you insist on the floppy, you just need to create the boot floppy during debian install, and use it to boot from when you want linux.

I just had to do that because the used HD I aquired had some proprietary bootmanager from Ontrack. It wouldn't let LILO, Grub, or GAG past it. When I put that drive first and booted from it, I could access bot OSs first try (some challenges are best not met;)).

That's the way to go. Reverse the drives and boot from the Linux drive. If you wanna switch back later, the Linux will appear to be 'gone'.

BTW. I never hear of GAG in public. Has anyone else discovered this super-powered free bootloader?