Adding a 2nd distro on a dual boot XP system
 

I've recently added PCLinuxOS as a dual boot option on my XP based laptop. I would like to now try Debian but without deleting PCLinuxOS. After trying both I will decide which one to keep. Can I just install Debian and repartition etc as I did when installing PCLinuxOS?

It should be possible, yes.

Absolutely!!

What is the current setup? (Do fdisk -l and post the output here).

If you do any more partitioning, try to leave extra space for just this kind of thing.

You have a minimum of 2 choices with the bootloader:

1. Let Debian install a loader, and then update that config file to recognize PCLinuxOS.
2. Tell Debian NOT to install a loader. After it is done, reboot into PCLinux and add Debian to the bootloader config file.

Pixellany
 

Thanks for your reply. Much appreciated!

Fdisk -l produces the following (I have 2 SD cards of 2Gb and 64Mb attached):


Disk /dev/hda: 100.0 GB, 100030242816 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 12161 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 1 382 3068383+ 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/hda2 * 383 4650 34282710 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda3 4651 12161 60332107+ 5 Extended
/dev/hda4 6241 12000 46267200 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda5 4651 5543 7172991 83 Linux
/dev/hda6 5544 5679 1092388+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/hda7 5680 6240 4506201 83 Linux
/dev/hda8 12001 12161 1293201 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sda: 2002 MB, 2002255872 bytes
58 heads, 57 sectors/track, 1182 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 3306 * 512 = 1692672 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 1183 1955263+ 6 FAT16

Disk /dev/sdc: 65 MB, 65536000 bytes
8 heads, 32 sectors/track, 500 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 256 * 512 = 131072 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 * 1 500 63972+ b W95 FAT32
[root@localhost ~]#

Ok, I see a FAT32 for Windows
then another FAT32--- for data?

then 3 Linux partitions--one of these is PCLinux? The other two are unused, or are they mounted to the PCLinux install?

If nothing else, maybe you can cut that second FAT32 down and create another Linux partition.

FWIW, I would set that disk up quite differently:

#1 Compaq--as-is
#2 Windows Reduce to maybe 15GB, depending on how many apps you have
#3 FAT32 Maybe reduce, depending on how much data you have
#4 Extended (to the end of the disk)
Logicals:
#5 Swap 1GB
#6 Linux #1 7GB
#7 Linux #2 7GB
etc.
empty space after the last Linux partition

Pixellany - the original XP config had 1 hidden partition for XP recovery then Drives C and D of approx 50Gb each. I repartitioned C drive for PCLinuxOS and the Linux partitions are all for that distro. I did think of using some of D drive (not the active partition under XP) but wasn't sure wether it might cause problems. You were quite right as D drive is XP Data and has 25Gb unused.

I also noted your comments on Lilo and the two options. I think I will continue with the PCLinuxOS boot and add Debian afterwards - at least I know that version on Lilo is working.

If I have problems I will repost.

Thanks for the help!

Problems!

When I try installing Debian 3.1 (from CD) the partitioning stage only recognises my 100Gb HDD as hda and offers the option to partition the whole drive and loose all existing partitions. So I abandoned the installation at that point!