Debian dual boot from floppy?

mstrick · 02-03-2004, 08:59 PM

I am planning to run the Debian distribution and Windows 2000 and there is one thing that I can't quite figure out.

I want to load Debian on an extra, dedicated 20 Gig hard drive. I don't want to dual boot in the traditional way with lilo. I want to not disturb my Windows disk at all, so I would like to boot linux from its dedicated drive when I insert a floppy (or a CD). If I don't insert a floppy, I want to boot Windows in the normal way.

How do I do this? It is probably right in front of me in the Debian install guide, but I am mission it somehow.

Mike S

TBC Cosmo · 02-03-2004, 09:14 PM

You can set the debian hd as boot device and let lilo or grub point to windows. This way, windows is not touched, and you don't need to use a floppy. If you insist on the floppy, you just need to create the boot floppy during debian install, and use it to boot from when you want linux.

vectordrake · 02-04-2004, 07:08 AM

I just had to do that because the used HD I aquired had some proprietary bootmanager from Ontrack. It wouldn't let LILO, Grub, or GAG past it. When I put that drive first and booted from it, I could access bot OSs first try (some challenges are best not met

).

That's the way to go. Reverse the drives and boot from the Linux drive. If you wanna switch back later, the Linux will appear to be 'gone'.

BTW. I never hear of GAG in public. Has anyone else discovered this super-powered free bootloader?