multiboot Win2K, WinXP and RedHat Linux
 

I am trying to install Win2K, WinXP and Linux on a 60gig hd. I had Win2K and Linux working fine. I made 3 partitions with Partition Magic. 1st had WIn2K, 2nd was empty, 3rd had Linux. I deleted Linux because I wanted to make a clean install after completing the Windows installations and was unable to boot coz grub kept taking over boot process and failed coz I had already deleted Linux. I re-installed Linux and Win 2K came back. A friend advised me incorrectly that you should always install the latest Windows OS in the first partition and I did so only to realize that its the other way around. I.e I upgraded the Win 2k in 1st partition to XP now I want to undo that and put the Win 2K back without reformatting hard drive. I tried to reinstall the Win2K and a message came up that you can't install an older version of Windows on XP. So can anyone explain the best way to triple boot Win2k, WinXP and Linux, and if there is any way to re-install Win2K over XP. Also if you are using grub as boot loader, is it necessary to make a /boot partition when installing Linux. Lastly should most of your hard drive space for Linux go to /root or /home. Any advice on any of the above issues (yes they are many) would be highly appreciated.

Well, if your willing I would suggest to totally reformat your hard drive. Then create the partitions again, install the XP and 2K, and finally install Linux making sure you setup grub properly. I'm not sure about the whole Microsft mess with where to install 2K and XP. I do know that grub has no preference and will boot 2K no matter what partition it is on as long as it is properly configured.

While what Crashed says about making multiple partitions for Linux does help, its not absolutely necessary. If I were you, I'd back up whatever I needed to keep onto CDs, then repartition into 3 drives. First, install Win2k, then XP, then Linux. Where you put them shouldn't make a different if you do it in that order.

You do not need to create a separate /boot partition for grub (or even lilo anymore I believe). If you take this route, once you are done reinstalling Linux, if you don't have all 3 OS's as options to boot from in Grub, post here again and I'll help you add entries to your grub.conf.

May I ask why do you need Win2k and XP together? :). I see very few differences between them, only that 2k is way more solid and don't have loads of old junk drivers as XP does, the rest is pretty much the same (partitions system and other stuff). I simply don't think the upgrade from 2k to XP is worth. It's said that XP has a better "game" performance, but it's not true IMHO. I could run very few games with XP that 2k couldn't. So if it's for games let it be win98, 2k and Linux....
Well, for any other reason, try also getting a win98 boot disk. If something goes wrong with the boot like it did to you, you don't have to install all the time Winslow. Boot with win98 boot disk and type

fdisk /MBR

that would clean your master boot, setting it back to Win2k/XP ones :)and preserving your partitions and windows installations

Good luck :)

Yuck, Win98.

I love XP.

hehe :) I still cannot understand what peoples see in Winslow eXPeriment, but oh well. I kinda love it's "smart" setup wizard:

http://www.delinker.nl/juli3/xp.jpg

lol

That one is funny. :p

Best thing to do would be to take a blank computer, install 2k, then install XP on the other win partition, and tell it to dual boot, then do Linux last.

Remember, do DOS->Old Windows->New Windows->Linux

Keep that installation order and it'll go smoothely