Dual-boot with Windows, installed Linux first

trusted_content · 06-06-2003, 12:45 AM

I just installed RH9 on an old Toshiba Satellite and left a 500 mb. vfat partition around so I can install Win98 ( just to use one mp3 player which only works with proprietary windows software, argghh ).

Unfortunately, as you can tell, I did things in the wrong order. Seems Windows will overwrite the MBR with its own bootloader once I install it, thus disabling my Linux installation.

What exactly do I need to do, before and after installing Windows, so I can set up dual booting and be able to use my Linux partition again?

then · 06-06-2003, 01:33 AM

If your Linux installation is still on the HDD, try the following -

* change BIOS to boot from CDROM drive
* boot from your Linux CDROM
* answer the usual questions about keyboard, language etc.
* the Linux_OS installer on CDROM will recognise that you already have a Linux on HDD and offer to updgrade it
* opt to upgrade ONLY the bootloader and install it in MBR

regards
then

jt1020 · 06-06-2003, 02:26 AM

hmm.. when dual booting win and linux, always install linux in the last partition... trust me, everything will be alot better that way....

trusted_content · 06-06-2003, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jt1020
hmm.. when dual booting win and linux, always install linux in the last partition... trust me, everything will be alot better that way....

damn... I made a mistake throwing it in the first partition, then. Windows is second, followed by swap. If it comes down to me not being able to install Windows... worse things have happened.

jt1020 · 06-06-2003, 03:06 AM

hmm... I'm sure theres a work around though.... It's just gonna be more difficult...

Robert0380 · 06-06-2003, 03:57 AM

is that really still a problem? putting windows on the last partition? is this the same as putting windows on teh second hard drive and linux on the 1st in a 2 HDD configuration?

trusted_content · 06-06-2003, 04:12 AM

Well it wouldn't be the last partition, it's actually the middle one.

Here's my setup:

3.2 gb ext3 (linux)
500 mb. vfat (future site of windows)
320 mb. swap

EDIT: A DOS boot disk mounts the windows partition and fdisk says it is currently FAT16. A visit to mkfs should change it to FAT32. However, I keep reading that Win9x "likes" to be on the first partition. Is this "likes" more on the line of "needs" or will I be able to get it to boot off of the second one with some caveats?

kazuni · 06-06-2003, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by trusted_content
...left a 500 mb. vfat partition around so I can install Win98 ( just to use one mp3 player which only works with proprietary windows software, argghh )....

did you try vmware? i think that would most likely solve your problem for running that piece of software, (given the fact that u can install an OS on there, thus, win98 will boot in it and runs your application) of course, if you're an audiophile then i guess there is no alternative but to install that OS -_-;

Korff · 06-06-2003, 07:31 AM

Make a linux boot floppy.
Install Windows.
Boot to Linux from your boot floppy
Reinstall bootloader.

jt1020 · 06-06-2003, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Korff
Make a linux boot floppy.
Install Windows.
Boot to Linux from your boot floppy
Reinstall bootloader.

hmm... now thats a quality post... very informative, easy for a noob to understand and straight to the point....

trusted_content · 06-06-2003, 01:38 PM

Does VMware support USB like Virtual PC does? If so, then I'm golden.

Also, I'm assuming we have ascertained that Windows will work, despite being on the second partition?

Just checking.