Ok, so i want to dual boot windows xp on my mandrake 9.1 system, i have all the cd's i need... but do not know how to exactly go about getting this done.

I'm not a complete linux noob, i have installed mandrake 9.1 on my system and can navigate the gnome desktop, and can find my way around the HD using the command prompt. But i have no idea, in any way, of how to get windows on my linux system.

Could use help through AIM 1v1 actual talking, or post here with a list of slightly explained commands to do.

Sorry to ask this, i searched a bit to no avail, direction to another thread is fine too.

Thanks

Hi! I'm at work, no IM handy..

Mandrake should have picked up your windoze install during your Mandrake install. However, that's besides the point now. Do you have graphical Mandrake? If so, login as root and fire up the Mandrake Control Center. In there you can edit your boot options. You'll need to add windoze to your boot loader, but we need some info first so we can give you a bit of better info. Post up what you get from typing:
fdisk -l /dev/hda

And also tell us anything you know about your partition scheme.

And how are you booting into each OS currently?

Cool

Ok, atm im running on win xp, but im just about to install mandrake if that would be easier :P

I'm unsure of what you mean by 'mandrake control center' and do not know how to get to my partition scheme. Heh, I should install mandrake 9.1 to start off then eh?

he he, I was under the impression you were command lining your posts, from something like lynx or links

Yeah, during the Mandrake install it should do just fine picking up your existing windoze install and adding it to the boot loader. It's a very rare-ity anymore to see errors from this.

Cool

Alright, I'm going to start installing linux onto my comp via the iso's and installer startup majig. If I run into any problems I'll be sure to post.
Thanks for your help.

You're welcome, good luck, and defaults are usually there for a reason **Rule of Thumb for Mandrake for a Newbie**

Cool

Btw... how do i run a scan disk in win xp... it says to do that on the linux install, but i cannot find the scandisk like exe. I check my accessories\ system tools but all thats there is defrag.

man im a nub :P

Go to:
Start
Run
Type:
cmd
Press Enter
Then type:
chkdsk (I think)
If that doesn't work type:
help
And find the one closest to that, and run it.

Defrag too.

Cool

Yea i got it dual booted persay... Linux runs fine, but at startup i boot 'windows' and then it brings up the windows xp loading screen, followed almost instantly by the computer restarting again. Coming to the boot screen.

This occurs each time i try to boot windows. WTF ! :P Help appreciated. Linux works fine and all

edit: Yea i did all that defrag and things... and i suppose i successfully dual booted, though windows doesnt seem to go.

Can you describe your partition setup, or go into linux (which I'm guessing you are in?) and type:
fdisk -l /dev/hda
And post up the results. Also post up the contents of /etc/lilo.conf by typing:
cat /etc/lilo.conf

Cool

[file@localhost /]$ cat /etc/lilo.conf
boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
default="linux"
keytable=/boot/us.klt
prompt
nowarn
timeout=100
message=/boot/message
menu-scheme=wb:bw:wb:bw
image=/boot/vmlinuz
label="linux"
root=/dev/hda5
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="devfs=mount hdd=ide-scsi acpi=off quiet"
vga=788
read-only
image=/boot/vmlinuz
label="linux-nonfb"
root=/dev/hda5
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="devfs=mount hdd=ide-scsi acpi=off"
read-only
image=/boot/vmlinuz
label="failsafe"
root=/dev/hda5
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="devfs=nomount hdd=ide-scsi acpi=off failsafe"
read-only
other=/dev/hda1
label="windows"
table=/dev/hda
other=/dev/fd0
label="floppy"
unsafe
[file@localhost /]$

[root@localhost /]# fdisk -l /dev/hda

Disk /dev/hda: 20.4 GB, 20491075584 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 2491 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 2048 16450528+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda2 2049 2491 3558397+ 5 Extended
/dev/hda5 2049 2285 1903671 83 Linux
/dev/hda6 2286 2333 385528+ 82 Linux swap
/dev/hda7 2334 2491 1269103+ 83 Linux
[root@localhost /]#

Make yourself a boot disk for linux since you've got that working, then fire up a console as root and type:
lilo -u

This should remove lilo from the MBR. Then see if windoze boots..

Cool

How do i make the boot disk ?

Check the mandrake control center. You can also try looking around the menu's, or just try typing:
mkbootdisk
Into a terminal if all else fails.

Cool