I didn't want to mess with repartitioning my only hard drive so I installed as slave a second drive just for Linux. I've already installed Fedora Core 4 on the new one.

Since this is the family computer, I'd like Windows XP to load as a default. From the research I did before installing, it seemed that using Window's boot loader would be good for my circumstances. But I cannot figure out how to configure it.

Most of the FAQs I've found say to make copies using this "dd" utility, but I can't start Linux to do that.

I wouldn't mind having to pop in a boot floppy every time I wanted to use Fedora, if it would save me this trouble, but I can't even figure out how to do that. What are your suggestions for this set up?

i have the same setup - ie. windows xp on the master; debian is installed on a portion of the slave. there is
a 'boot-loader' called 'grub', which gives me the opportunity during power-up, to choose between
debian (default) or windows. default can be changed anyway you like it by modifying grub configuration
files.

So then GRUB is put on the master, replacing whatever is usually used by Windows?

You can also use these instructions to use the xp boot loader, but first you'll have to get back into linux.
Insert the 1st cd (or the dvd) and at the prompt write 'linux rescue'. Once the system is all started up and you're at the prompt again write # chroot /mnt/sysimage (or whatever the previous instructions tell you is the name of the partition your system was mounted to) and then reinstall grub (#grub-install /dev/hda). After that it's your choice which bootloader you prefer.

I followed those instructions, usingI copied the linux.bin file. It was 512 bytes as expected but if I open it with a text editor it seems that it's just full of spaces, there are no strange characters like I'd expect.

If I start my computer and select linux from the boot list, the computer seems to get stuck, displaying a flashing underscore in the top left corner like it's trying to load something but can't.

I don't see what I'm doing wrong, and I'm pretty sure the created linux.bin file isn't supposed to be empty.

did you install grub?

Even if you use the xp boot loader you need to use grub to get into linux. The xp boot loader points to the location of grub to start linux. The most logical place to install it is on the same partition your /boot is. After doing that try the dd stuff again.

There's also a MUCH easier option, if you have the right BIOS. I
installed Win2k on the master and Slack on the slave. Then I switched them, and made the Slack drive master (since Win refused to install on slave). Then as it runs POST before booting, I hit F11 (or F10, can't remember...) and a menu pops up and let me choose to boot from the master drive, the slave drive, or the CD drive. So on the rare occasion I want to use Windows, I just choose the slave drive and all works perfectly. This is very convenient, I don't need to edit anything.