Dual boot mint13 and xp. Mint is already installed.

secoya · 09-19-2012, 09:21 AM

Hi all,
My first post, so I hope I don't appear too dim. I have Linux Mint 13 on an old lap top and I am required to do a dual boot install with my old xp os. Initially Mint used the whole hard drive, but using parted magic I have managed to adjust the partitions and created an ntfs partition for the install. I understand that the windows install will overwrite grub and then I won't be able to access Mint. How can I perform the install and avoid this problem. Please help.

camorri · 09-19-2012, 10:03 AM

Quote:

How can I perform the install and avoid this problem.

In short, you can't. Redmond code will overwrite the MBR.

Once XP is installed, you will have to re-install grub. Here is a link to one How-to.

-->http://www.av8n.com/computer/htm/grub-reinstall.htm

Another option would be to install XP as a virtual machine. This is how I run XP. There are several 'virtual machine' systems. I use VirtualBox from Oracle. XP runs better in v-box then when its installed as a stand alone system. I don't do gaming, so if the install is for games, your best bet may still be a dual boot option.