Installing Multiple Linux Partitions and Windows

chaimarnstein · 11-25-2008, 03:24 PM

I have a machine with multiple disk partitions, and I want to install Fedora, Ubuntu, as well as Windows 2008 Server.
While I have already installed all 3 to different partitions, I have not been able to boot all three.
I can boot Fedora or Windows server, but not Ubuntu.
Would someone be able to list the steps to make all three bootable?

Randux · 11-25-2008, 03:31 PM

What are you using to boot them with? LILO? Grub? Something else?

If you already have everything installed you just usually need to update your boot loader config and in the case of LILO, run LILO again to update it.

tnlawndart · 11-25-2008, 03:43 PM

have you considered Xen or VM? made my life much easier and could play w/all at the same time.

billymayday · 11-25-2008, 03:46 PM

Most likely running grub rather than lilo since both of those distros use grub.

Can you boot Fedora, and post the contents of /boot/grub/menu.lst, and the output of "fdisk -l"?

pdtpatrick · 11-25-2008, 04:03 PM

First off lets start with the most important question - why would you partition your harddrive that way? are you trying to use it to test and learn? or are you planning on all these servers to interact? In any case i would suggest just install one OS and then use VirtualBox or VMware or Xen and install the rest this way you can interact with all them which gives you a better scope of things.

However if you would like to stay with your predetermined partitions then download a program called GParted and burn the iso .. boot off the CD and create your various partitions and label them. This way when you launch your various OS, you'll only use the partitions marked for that OS. Makes life easier

Well good luck

pusrob · 11-25-2008, 04:57 PM

You can also use GAG as a bootloader. It can be useful, because it installs onto your MBR and you can modify it at any time. I mean when GAG comes in you can select an OS to boot, or you can select Setup to modify your current OS list and order and when you're done, you're back to the main screen with the modified OS list. Remember: if you want to boot a linux with GAG, you still need to install grub or lilo to the boot sector of the partition you have your linux on (it is not the MBR). To avoid long booting process, set the timeout parameter to 1.

chaimarnstein · 11-26-2008, 09:18 AM

First of all, thank you all for the quick responses. I am impressed at your knowledge and your perceptive questions.
I am trying to learn new things, and I wanted to do this in stages. So, yes, this is my lab environment.
The 1st stage was to be able to install multiple operating systems. 2nd stage, as some of you alluded to, was to get VMWare installed, and have these operating systems run concurrently. My plan was to boot the previously installed Operating Systems under VMWare.
I am using Grub as the bootloader.
Now, I need to review all your responses again. One or two of you mentioned Gpartd, and I actually did use it.
So, this is my lab / self-teaching environment - let me go back to it, and I'll get back to you all, hopefully, in a day or so.
Thank you all.