I wish to add MEPIS 3.3 to my present dual boot Win98SE & WinXPpro.

Present status:-

HDD Unit 0 (IDE1): Win 98 on Primary boot Partition Drive C: (hda1). Extended partitions Drive E: (hda5) and Drive F: (hda6)

HDD Unit 1 (IDE1): Win XP on Primary Partition Drive D: (hdb1). Extended Partition Drive G: (hdb5). Primary partition Drive H: (hdb3) NB This is an empty partition formatted in NTFS and reserved, hopefully, for Linux (MEPIS).

My problem:-

Presently booting into MEPIS from ROM but wish to boot from hdb3 (drive H) as above. When installing from within MEPIS I do not seem to be able to target this drive during the setup with any certanty and do not wish to have MEPIS installed on hda1 (Drive C: win98 & boot) or on hdb1 (Drive D WinXP) and thus risking corruption of these other 2 op systems.

Would much appreciate suggestions, especially as I am just venturing into Linux after too many years with MS. It's like a breath of fresh air.

Thanks

Well, you'll need to overwrite the MBR either way. Windows cannot boot Linux, Linux can boot Windows. But if this is your first attempt at Linux DONT.

Install Linux on it's own separate drive and learn how to handle Linux. Get to know how it boots and how to add other OSses to it. Do not risk your current installations if you don't know what to do when it goes wrong (and there is a reasonable chance it will).

Not true.
There is no need to re-write the MBR, and Windows certainly can boot linux. You need to copy over the boot sector record - not as easy (or convenient) as using grub/lilo, but eminently do-able.
Plenty of "first time" users ask this question; I amongst others have answered it more than once - olkar, do some searching here on LQ.

Installing to a separate drive (if available) is certainly a great suggestion. Gives more confidence when you go to format, or repartition. Been there, done that.
If it's not an option, will have to make do with what you have.

I've only installed Mepis on a single disk machine - I don't like automated installers in a mixed environment.
Not sure how it handles this sort of situation - I'll have a look tonight (Eastern Aus time).

The point being? The Windows bootloader can't boot Linux, but I'll be happy to learn if it is possible.

The point being you should quote me properly.
If the Linux bootloader is installed to a partition, a simple copy of the first sector to the Windows boot partition will suffice. Easy when you know how.

As for Mepis installing onto a second disk, my attempts were frustrated - 2 different images on 2 different CDs failed.
Might be my DVD reader.
Tests will have to wait until I have built a test box I can afford to compromise - sorry olkar.

Thanks for help syg00.

making slow but sure progress still booting into mepis from CD-ROM.

not sure how to install & get mepis (& boot loader) into a partition without damaging the MBR on hda1.

thanks olkar