Looking for the guide to dual boot
 

Hello! Newbie here. A couple of weeks ago I saw a step by step guide created by a gentleman that described how to dual boot XP and Linux. Explained what files needed to be added to C:\. I can't, for the life of me, find it again. Anyone know what I am speaking of? I was trying to be adventurous...thought I knew what I was doing...ended up losing everything on my HD :( I have XP and linux installed again, but can't get XP to boot...when I fixmbr...then linux will not boot. I remember adding menu file to the top of C and downloading some kind of loader...Sorry for being vague.. but memory fails me. Thanks!

Hello,

this should help you http://www.geocities.com/epark/linux...w2k-HOWTO.html

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online ping, etc.

Search here for the member "Saikee" and look at the links in his signature. The "booting" link below might help also.

What you are referring to is only one method--it allows you to keep the Windows boot code in the MBR. Personally, I think the more common method is easier: Simply install GRUB from Linux (e.g. as part of the install process), and set up the config file to boot Windows. The typical Linux installer does this automatically.

Thanks for the quick responses! I have installed GRUB but the Windows XP entry in menu lst seems to be incorrect...I've tried several different entries to no avail. Is the config file...menulst? Anyone have an example of what the "Windows" section should look like in GRUB menu.lst? By the way...I just found the guide I was looking for. It is an excellent guide for newbies trying dual boot.

http://www.icpug.org.uk/national/lin...00-linnwin.htm

Thanks Again!

It depends on your configuration.....
Here is just one example:
This works if Windows is on the first partition of the first drive

From Linux, run "fdisk -l" as root and post the results here.

sh-3.00# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/hda: 30.6 GB, 30614814720 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 3722 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 2550 20482843+ c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda2 2551 3060 4096575 83 Linux
/dev/hda3 3061 3570 4096575 83 Linux
/dev/hda4 3571 3722 1220940 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sda: 507 MB, 507379712 bytes
16 heads, 63 sectors/track, 983 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 1008 * 512 = 516096 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 983 495313+ b W95 FAT32
sh-3.00#

OK---it looks like the entry I gave you will work. Curious that XP is on a FAT32 partition instead of NTFS.....

I assume that /dev/sda is a thumbdrive or something.

Hello,
The entry you gave me worked fine. All is up and running again. I formatted XP in FAT32 because for some reason I was unable to access floppy drive when formatted to NTFS. I am using an older computer. Yes, /dev/sda is a thumbdrive.
Thanks Again!