Dual boot Linspire & Win XP - new master boot record?
 

Right now, I have Windows XP and Centos 4.1 on my hard drive. I want to replace Centos with Linspire. I started to install Linspire, but I got stuck. After selection the partition containing Centos for installation, Linspire asked me if I wanted to create a new Master Boot Record. Do I want to do this? I would rather live without Linspire than hose Windows XP. Has anybody had luck dual-booting Windows XP and Linspire? Officially, dual-booting is not supported by Linspire, but it seems like it should work.

Thanks,

Jim

Re: Dual boot Linspire & Win XP - new master boot record?
 

Yes. It is possible to use Windows' boot loader to dual-boot, but it's extremely complicated because Windows doesn't want to make it easy for you to dual-boot with other non-Windows operating systems.

You won't hose XP. The worst that can happen is that your boot loader won't boot to Windows. If that happens, just use the Windows XP disc to fix the MBR.

Yes. In fact, when I tried out Linspire, I was quadruple-booting Windows XP, Mepis, Ubuntu, and Linspire.

They're just trying to cover their legal asses. They give instructions for how to do it, but they also say NOTE: Disclaimer: Dual boot configurations are outside of Linspire Inc Support policy and is not officially supported at this time because they don't want to have to support people who try this out.

Thanks. It worked fine.

Jim

How did you get it to work
 

I've spent the alst 24 hours straight, with a 5 hour break for sleep and meals, and can not for the life of me get the linspire end to boot. it will consistently freeze during "restoring session"/"Remounting File Shares"

renaming kde etc., changing grub stuff does not work.

I was about to deem that it was impossible to dual boot linux and xp pro on a dell laptop until I saw this post.

If you have any advice before I go on a postal spree or off of a bridge ;), PLEASE let me know right away.

First, you are hijacking a thread--OP says his problem was solved, which is our signal to go back to sleep.

Second--to help you--we would need YOUR configuration and how specifically you are trying to set things up

apologies. I had posted a new thread - but received no responses.

On a DELL Precision M65. Nvidia 512MB graphics card. Partioned the drive into NTFS Windows XP Pro, shared drive, and Linspire 5.0 (using automated Linspire install disc).