dual boot win98 linux
 

I will be adding a second hard drive to old dell 4100. The master drive has windows 98 on it. I would like to add a "distribution" Linux OS to the second drive. Can any one suggest or refer me to a link or web site that provides a clear step by step process for this installation. Again 2 hard drives and 2 OS. I am NOT looking to install win 98/Linux on one harddrive. Thanks very much.

The Linux distribution (distro) you choose to install should detect both drives and ask you where to install. Select the new drive; define partitions; then begin install. The partittions you define will be formatted during the installation.

The most common bootloader to install is grub; but some distros will offer lilo instead. I find grub to be the easiest to work with.

During the installation, pay careful attention to the questions regarding where to install grub. Choose MBR, not root partition. Grub will then write a configuration file that will allow you to choose which OS to boot: win98 or Linux. Linux will probably be the default OS to boot, but that's easily changed by editing file /boot/grub/menu.lst (grub.conf on some distros).

For specific information on how to install Linux, go to the website for the distro of your choice, and check the documentation there. The instructions will vary from one distro to another, depending on the tools provided by a given distro.

Thanks that is a bit clearer. There are so many recommendations out in the internet space, it can be a bit confusing. Most net dual booting recommendations are for single hard drive. Is it possible to remove the harddrive containing WIN98 and install the 2nd drive and then install linux and then put both drives back in the box and then do the grub part. Or do it your way and just make sure you do the grub portion on the drive containing WIN98 ( master). Is your preference suse linux too. thanks so much "big rig driver". You are very kind.

I suggest you install it with Windows as the second/slave drive, with Linux as the master. Since the boot loader will be on the master drive, and since Windows already has its own boot loader, it would allow the existing Windows drive to be completely untouched, and could easily be moved to another machine as a standalone drive. I have done this numerous times. The installer should know how to set up this configuration correctly, but if not, you can get good advice here.

--- rod.

Hello! I have now installed ubuntu 6.06 to my primary master hard drive. And on my secondary slave drive is WIndows 98 second editions. Now the only issue is when I turn on my pc the grup loads up? however I am not given the doot boot option it boots right up to ubuntu. Any suggestions have to get the dual boot option request. thanks very much.

Please post the contents of /boot/grub/grub.conf, and the output from (as root)This should provide enough information to give you the necessary modifications to grub.conf
--- rod.

Most likely, this is because the timer is set to like 2 seconds, and Ubuntu is set as the default OS, and for whatever reason, hides the grub menu by default, so grub goes straight to Ubuntu(at least this is what it always does to me..). I've never really understood why Ubuntu does this, but it does.

Try this...

Open a terminal
Sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
Scroll down to the "##timeout sec" section....
Change timeout to around 25.
Scroll down to "##hiddenmenu" line... It will look something like this...

Change it to look like this.
(Note the # sign)

Save the file, and restart. If your grub.lst looks like above, then you *should* get a menu giving you the option of Ubuntu or Windows, with a 25sec timer. If Windows is not in the menu, then you'll need to follow up with theNabomr's instructions, so someone can help you had a Windows option to your Grub menu.

IGF

Hello IGF/Nabomr: I did learn how to "open terminal" but unfortnately making your suggestive changes did not do the "trick". The WIN 98 OS did not come up as a choice on thr grub menu. Perhaps I should do a restall on the primary with the second drive in place?.

on the other note;
/boot/grub/grub.conf, and the output from (as root)- look at the file it is very big...not sure how to do it (as root) and code fdisk -1. Well at least not yet.

Thanks MM

OK, for some reason, sounds like the Linux install didn't pick up windows, for some reason.

Before reinstalling, here's what I would do... If you reinstall Windows, its going to kill grub completely, and you'll have to install it, so I'd first try getting Ubuntu to see your current windows 98.

Open a terminal, and type sudo fdisk -l (note, thats a lowercase L, not a #1)

Its going to give you an output similar to this, but more since you have two drives.

After you do that, copy/paste your menu.lst in your post here. I'm not sure what the other poster was referring to with grub.conf, as I don't have that either. So go to the terminal, and type sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst When that opens, copy/paste your grub menu. There is a lot there to paste, easiest way, is at the top, Click Edit, Select all, then click edit again, and click copy.

Come to your post, right click, and paste.

IGF

Dt...........

I tried this;

code; sudo gedit menu.lst


title Windows
root (hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

windows showed in the grub menu but I got when I tried to access:

booting 'windows'
root (hd1,O)
error 11; unrecognized device string

any suggestions? thanks a lot!! in advance!!
MM

Without you posting the output of fdisk -l anyone trying to help you will just be pissing in the wind.

Post the output of fdisk -l. I'm not 100% sure how to add Windows as a boot option, Im sure someone here does. I just know if you're going to re-install Windows, if you don't have a lot invested in getting Ubuntu setup, just reinstall them both. Install Windows first, then install Ubuntu.

Did you install Linux with your Windows drive disconnected? If so, that might explain why Ubuntu's installer didnt find it.

IGF

mistake..sorry let me try fdisk-1. thanks MM
Yes, I installed linux with WIN 98 hard drive disconnected...should I try again...
I can't access my windows on the computer with lunix (Ubuntu) so I am doing this post on another computer...be nice

Disk /dev/hda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 9588 77015578+ 83 Linux
/dev/hda2 9589 9729 1132582+ 5 Extended
/dev/hda5 9589 9729 1132551 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/hdb: 20.0 GB, 20020396032 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 2434 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdb1 * 1 2026 16273813+ c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hdb2 2027 2434 3277260 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hdb5 2027 2434 3277228+ b W95 FAT32

thanks a lot!! IGF!!!
MM

Hey IGF; took you advice.....did a complete reintall....this time I connected the drive containing windows 98 as the slave!!....the grub works fine no changes need....works like a charm!!!...
in conclusion;
my dualboot solution using 2 hard drives;
install linux on the master drive and make your windows drive slave and your dual booting should work fine. thanks again IGF!!..

MM

Well, you don't necessarily have to make the Windows Drive slave, you just have to make sure grub gets installed to the MBR of the first booted drive.

Regardless..

Glad it worked..

IGF

Dual boot
 

Many thanks IGF!!
I did not want to mess around with the "MBR" on the hard drive containing Windows 98. What a nightmare that is reintalling with all those drivers! MM