SUSE 9.1 and windows XP: dual boot

carlolin · 06-20-2004, 10:35 PM

Hi.

Need some advice.
I have a PC with WINDOWS XP Home edition. I want to install SUSE 9.1 and have a dual boot option.

I have two hard disks in this machine. One for Windows XP and the second HD has been added for SUSE 9.1.

When I launch the intallation of SUSE 9.1 from the first disk (I have the CDs), SUSE by default try to install itself in the "first" hard disk (hda-the one with windows) proposing to resize the hard disk. So I manually configure SUSE so that it install in the "second " hard disk (hdb). No problem. It partitions automatically the hdb.

Then I look at the BOOT LOADER SETUP. By default it install the boot loader (GRUB) in the first hard disk (hda). I would prefer to make as little changes as possible to the hard disk with Windows.

So I would prefer changing where the boot loader is intalled. I have two choices:

1) instal it in the "Boot sector of boot partition" of the second hoard disk (/dev/hdb6)
2) install it in the floppy disk (/dev/fd0)

Any suggestion what is best?

There is also an option called "DEFAULT SECTION". Now is is LINUX.
There is another option called "AVAILABLE SECTIONS:" Linux (default), Windows, Floppy, Failsafe, Memory Test.

Do you know what this is?

Thanks for the help

carlolin

homey · 06-20-2004, 10:39 PM

I use the default ( hda ) every time and have no problems from that.

justinmc · 06-20-2004, 10:45 PM

You can install it on hda with no problem, as whats actually happening is that youre installing grub into the master boot record of hda.

It won't affect the window's partition in any way.

I don't recommend installing it to hdb, as then you have to switch your device booting order inthe BIOS.

if you want to install it to a floppy, then the only time you can boot into Linux is with that floppy, otherwise, it will boot into windows

carlolin · 06-20-2004, 10:54 PM

Hi Justinmc,
thanks alot

I have been told that when you insall service pack for Windows, it will wipe out the configuration of the dual boot.

this is why I am thinking not to put it into the hda. I do not mind to have the boot from the floppy. Do you know any drawbacks about the floppy?

Or, if SP2 (it is coming..), wipes the configuration of the dual boot in hda, do you know how I can recreate it?

Thanks
Carlolin

homey · 06-20-2004, 11:49 PM

You could make a generic grub boot floppy which is kinda handy as you can use on most any system that I know of. This will allow you to repair your boot loader in the MBR.

Code:

fdformat /dev/fd0
mke2fs -m 0 /dev/fd0

dd if=/boot/grub/stage1 of=/dev/fd0 bs=512 count=1
dd if=/boot/grub/stage2 of=/dev/fd0 bs=512 seek=1

Boot the floppy to the grub prompt. ( grub > )
Enter root directory  and mbr information. For example...
root (hd1,1)
setup (hd0)

In that example, my linux root (hd1,1) means the root partition is on the second hard drive and the second partition. You should have that information before hand.
Setup (hd0) means that I am using /dev/hda ( the MBR ) instead of a /boot partition.

tpullen · 07-02-2004, 09:58 AM

hi:
i saw this question and had to reply.
i have some experience with this, since i've
spent about the last 10 hours messing around
with my stupid computer to get it to work.

i had windows xp on one hard drive.
i added another hard drive for suse 9.1.
i followed the installer's suggestions for everything,
which wanted to install grub on /dev/hda (xp drive)
and linux on /dev/hdb (suse drive).

when i rebooted, the computer just said "grub"
and wouldn't boot into either o.s.

very bad stuff.

i had to re-run the installer and change the boot loader options
to install not on the mbr but on the first sector of the boot record
or whatever.

incidently, at one point later on i was reinstalling windows xp
on the xp drive. can you believe that the xp setup kept saying that there were
"no xp compatible partitions available." there WERE, since i hadn't changed any partitions.

what's the issue?

i had a very suspicious thought which turned out to be correct:

i unplugged the linux drive from my computer and then tried to install xp,
and this time it had no problem with my partitions.
meaning, if windows xp can SEE a linux partition anywhere, EVEN IF it's not on
the drive you're installing windows xp to, it can/will refuse to install.
you have to hide the linux hard drive, then install windows xp, then install linux.
can somebody say lawsuit?

anyway, just a note to say that following all the suse recommendations can sometimes leave your computer unable to boot.
no need to freak out, just re-run the installer and change the boot loader location until you get it right. there's probably a way to just fix it by using grub-install
instead of reinstalling everything, but i don't know how yet.

hopefully this will help someone...