n00b Question

sandy_obrien · 08-18-2003, 10:56 AM

Alright, I'm pretty new to linux, but here's my question:

I want to run Windows XP on a 80 gig drive, and run Redhat9 on a seperate 40 gig drive. I hear this is called 'dual booting', and you are given the option on startup to which OS you want to use.

Please take me step by step on how to do this. Which OS should I install first?

Help a n00b out, thanks alot!

-Sandy

Zb7 · 08-18-2003, 11:00 AM

It'd probably be best to install windows first, because it has an obsession with controlling the boot record. Then install redhat and have it install grub to the MBR of whatever hard drive you plan to boot from. It will give you the choices.

You asked us to take you through it step by step, but the installation for Windows and Redhat are fairly seamless, and will get you there with little trouble.

If you have other problems, Redhat.com has an installation guide for whatever you're looking for.

sandy_obrien · 08-18-2003, 11:11 AM

Alright, I got it down then. Thanks!

Skyline · 08-18-2003, 11:31 AM

As Zb7 said - its Windows first then Red Hat second with either GRUB or LILO to the MBR

Personally I'd put your Windows drive on the Primary master channel and your Linux drive on your Primary Slave channel.

Linux sees IDE drives like this:

/dev/hda - drive on Primary Master channel
/dev/hdb - primary slave
/dev/hdc - secondary master
/dev/hdd - secondary slave

sandy_obrien · 08-18-2003, 11:47 AM

GRUB? LILO? MBR?

I understand the rest, I'm not too familiar with the terminology.

Zb7 · 08-18-2003, 12:18 PM

Grub stands for GRand Unified Bootloader, and Lilo stands for LInuxLOader. They're programs that will control your dual booting. If you install them to the MBR (Main (master?) boot record), they give you an interface where you select which operating system to boot into.

Skyline · 08-18-2003, 12:19 PM

GRUB , LILO just refer to your Linux bootloaders - to load the kernel from the hard drive the BIOS needs to find a bootloader in a BIOS designated boot sector - the bootloader itself contains the neccesary "parameters" to find kernel.

The MBR is just the Master Boot Record - the boot sector on your 1st hard drive