installing win xp on a linux system
 

Would like to ask what effect that would have on my linux system (w/ lilo installed in the mbr). Have 2 harddisks, listed in linux as /dev/hdb and /dev/hda, linux installed on /dev/hdb, my intention is to install windows on /dev/hda and dual boot with linux. However, i don't know what win xp would do to my mbr - erase lilo, thus disabling linux?

Would like some advice on how to go about doing this without much grief, thanx!

It'll erase Lilo, but if you put in a Linux boot cd and type rescue (mandrake) LILO will be restored.

As far as I'm aware, while the XP "should" go straight onto whatever hard drive you tell it to, it normally will automatically overwrite the MBR.

Then the options are make a boot disc so you can boot the linux distro and then re-run (or is it re-install) lilo, telling it to go to the first section of the MBR so you have a lilo based option for the dual boot

or

Install the XP, then re-install the linux distro.


It may be a good idea to try the first option, because if it doesn't work, you can then just follow up with the second - Personally I'd go that way, because I have a seperate /home partition and a linux re-install doesn't touch that, so there's no corresponding loss of personalisations or personal data (mail etc etc).

regards

John

p.s. There may be a better way of doing this, but (a) I don't know what it is, and (b) the process as explained above is painless and relatively straight forward!

Hope that helps some?

Guess there's no other way than? Coz my linux disk seems to be faulty, that's why i was hesistant about doing the install. Will try ur suggestions, thx!