ok, im know there are a lot of threads out there like this one, but none of them relate to my situation here...

well, i have this computer running on xp pro, and i already have a separate 80 gig hard drive installed and ready to format, only thing is, i dont know how to set up a dual boot for my system. im not new to linux really...i want to run RedHat 9.0 on the other hard drive. i know how to format hard drives, but i dont know how to format a hard drive that isnt the main hard drive, and like i said before, i dont know how to dual boot it. if anyone could give me a link to a step by step walkthrough or if anyone would be nice enough to list steps, not too detailed, on how to do it. all help would be appreciated,

make xp your slave and the blank HD yuour master.

Install RedHat 9 on the master

edit the

/boot/grub/grub.conf

and add the required infromation.

I have it on my machine at home but cant remember it. it is something like this

map hda0 hda1
map hda1 hda0
makeactive


but the syntax here it not correct

I will edit with the correct code when I get home

You will format the drive when you go thru the installation process of RH9. You will get to a screen durring the installation process that asks you if you want it to automatically partition your hard drive or if you want to manually partition with Disk Druid. I recommend using Disk Druid. On the next screen, find your empty hard drive and add your partitions. You will need at least a '/' partition and a swap partition. You can also make separate partitions for /boot or other folders.

As for the dual booting, you will have to install a boot loader, also durring the installation process (the next step after you choose your partitions). You can install either GRUB or LILO. You should be able to install one of them to the MBR (master boot record), and then when you boot your computer, it will give you a menu of which operating system you want to load. I'm currently having problems with getting my boot loader to work, but i've seen many other people who seem to have no problems.

I'm in the same situation and after fitting a new hard drive, I set the bios to boot from CD rom and then slipped in the Red Hat 9 installation disc 1...

It was easy peasy from there. I followed all the on-screen instructions and made sure that I chose my second hard drive, hdb, and loaded the grub boot thingy when I was prompted to. I used the automatic partitioning option and it all works lovely.
On boot up, DOS (ie windows XP) is the default option, but Linux is offered as a choice. I choose whichever I need.

thats exactly what i want to do, where did you get the info about doing this? experience or followed steps on a tut? if there is a tut for it, i'd really appreciate the link. i dont know how to do this boot load stuff, i really wish i did, im a newbie (kinda) to linux...so...yea, all of your comments have helped, thanks.

The installation is pretty straight forward. I bought the book "Red Hat Linux 9 Bible" by Christopher Negus. It came with RH9 and seems to be a descent reference book. Red Hat has it's own installation guide though at https://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/...install-guide/

Hit DEL on boot up in windows (or similar key - it will say on screen) and you get to the Bios. I bought a mag that told me what to do. However, it is easy. Have a browse round all the options until you find the boot up from options and change the setting from the floppy to the CD rom drive - it will be listed in the bios. Then, exit and save.

I was terriried of doing this at first, but all your doing is changing the floppy option to the CD rom option. DON'T delete the option that links to your hard disc though as windows won't boot again!
Have a fiddle round and exit without saving at first....