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Old 05-25-2012, 08:42 PM   #1
3novice378
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Question Dual Booting - Linux Mint 9 LTS & Puppy Linux 4.3.1


I am somewhat new to Linux because I have tried Ubuntu and Vector Linux but I still have trouble understanding how to use the terminal and how to configure files (if needed) or even where to find them.
I really do enjoy using Linux and the forums are very helpful to newbies.
I have searched the forums (the past three days) of Puppy Linux, Linux Mint and this forum and I have not been able to get this questioned answered and have my computer boot. I am sorry to ask this question again but here I go!
How do I dual boot the below Linux operating systems
1. I install Linux Mint 9 LTS on my first hard drive (sda)
2. I install Puppy 4.3.1 on my second hard drive (sdb)
I need a point in the right direction.
Thank you in advance for your help.
 
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Old 05-25-2012, 10:26 PM   #2
yancek
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You should find numerous tutorials on how to install both Linux Mint and Puppy online. Hard drives are named sda for the first drive, sdb for the second, etc. You would install one system to sda and the second to sdb. It will probably be easier to install Puppy first as I believe it still uses Grub Legacy while Mint uses Grub2 and it will be easier to detect and boot both systems from Grub2.

If you are going to install each to a separate drive and want to boot by selecting the drive from the BIOS, install the bootloader to the master boot record of the drive on which each system is installed. You can then run update-grub from Mint with both drives attached and it will create entries on the boot menu to boot both.

I would suggest that you find some tutorials on installing each system before starting, especially if you have not done this before.
 
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Old 05-26-2012, 12:33 AM   #3
barnac1e
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There is a simple solution to this actually. Go into the installed Puppy. In the menu, under "System" I believe it is, or if not, maybe its "Setup", but there is an option to install "Grub for DOS". Choose that option and follow the simple prompts. It will find both Mint and itself (Puppy) and it will probably list Windows too but that particular option cannot be changed but just look over the settings and confirm. Then reboot your system and you will see a familiar GRUB screen but it's blue looking. Oh and of course, do like @yancek says and install it to the MBR too. That should do the trick.

Last edited by barnac1e; 05-26-2012 at 12:34 AM. Reason: additional info
 
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Old 05-26-2012, 03:06 AM   #4
tommcd
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3novice378 View Post
I am sorry to ask this question again but here I go!
How do I dual boot the below Linux operating systems
1. I install Linux Mint 9 LTS on my first hard drive (sda)
2. I install Puppy 4.3.1 on my second hard drive (sdb)
I need a point in the right direction.
See my post in this thread on how to multiboot several Linux distros: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...uments-946782/
The salient point here is to choose one distro to control the MBR of the hard drive. That distro's grub will then be used to choose which distro to boot when you turn on the computer.
Using a common /data partition instead of a common /home partition will prevent potential conflicts between all of the hidden config files in each distro's home directories.

Last edited by tommcd; 05-26-2012 at 03:09 AM.
 
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Old 05-30-2012, 10:48 AM   #5
3novice378
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Registered: Jul 2006
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Sorry it took me awhile to answer. I did as you all suggested and the method that worked for me was
yancek said "It will probably be easier to install Puppy first as I believe it still uses Grub Legacy while Mint uses Grub2 and it will be easier to detect and boot both systems from Grub2". Then I went into Linux Mint and used Startup Manager and this found both systems and setup boot up to boot both systems.
barnacle - I tired your suggestions but was not able to find "GRUB for DOS" I was not given that option.
tommcd - I tried your suggestions but I couldn't quite follow what was happening.
A big THANK YOU to each of you for your help. I can now boot into both systems.
These forums are GREAT and everyone really does help a newbie understand Linux a little better. At least for me I can enjoy exploring and learning more.

Last edited by 3novice378; 05-30-2012 at 10:50 AM.
 
  


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