Want to use Windows Boot Loader - Install to Boot Sector of Linux Partition?
 

Hello there, i am a newcomer to Linux. I have had some past experience but have never got into it like i have now. Really enjoying Ubuntu Linux, except hardware support (My laptop is new though).

I have decided i want to try some other distributions. I have tried Slackware in the past and found it was brilliant for letting me get under the bonnet and actually learn about linux, where i found it hard with a lot of distros suddenly jumping in my way as the bonnet is opened.

I now want to boot another distribution (Possibly Slack) but dislike using Linux Boot Loaders such as GRUB and LILO. I was wondering if there was a way i could get another distribution onto the Windows Boot Loader screen, i didn't configure it before because i am currently using the Ubuntu 'Wubu' Windows installer, which did all the job for me.

I was wondering if instead of installing Slackware to the MBR, if i install the boot strap to the boot sector of the main partition im creating, will i be able to select it as an OS using the Windows boot loader?

If anyone is able to help me, i will really appreciate it! :)

Cheers guys:)

Oh, and also i was wondering if anyone knew a suggestion for a distribution for me. I loved Slackware but really dislike not having a package manager. Also i have attempted to use ones like Slapt-Get and disliked them.

Does anyone know a distribution similar to Slack, but with a good package manager?

Cheers

If you want to use the windows bootloader and put a Linux distributin on a separate partition, you may be better off using EasyBCD. It will modify vista/win 7 bootloader with options to boot Linux.

http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1

If you are not using vista or win 7, this won't work. You didn't mentin your windows version. It is possible to boot Linux from xp. I don't know how having a wubi install of Ubuntu will impact your situation as I've never used wubi.

In the last link of my signature I carry the methods of Task E4 : using NTLDR (off Win2k/XP) and Task E5 : using bootmgr (off Vista/Win7) to boot Linux.

Yes it can be done but you put in 3 to 5 times amount of work than Grub for NTLDR. For bootmgr it is about 2 to 3 times more work. I have stretched bootmgr to boot 150 Linux. If you want bootmgr to boot just one system here is the tutorial I wrote to explain the key steps.

I think EasyBCD has been developed to configure bootmgr to boot other systems, including Linux, in a Windows desktop. This is a third party program and is easier than using boot loader's own utilities. To understand the inner working can only be achieved by working in the terminal mode with the boot loaders. They are all the same. If you understand one you know them all.

Grub2 can read a ntfs partition so one can put Grub2 inside any Linux. This is the thread I have just written.

The easiest, simplest and the most powerful boot loader is still Grub. Grub1 is easier than Grub2 but the latter is more powerful.

Just install your bootloader to the (root) boot sector as part of the Linux install. Then Use EasyBCD as suggested. For Win7 I found I had to use the Beta for EasyBCD2.
As for a distro, I still like Arch. Nice and lean, and pacman is excellent for what I need.

Caveat: I've never used wubi (and won't), so I don't know how that will affect things. Seems to cause a lot of angst judging by threads here.

I don't like using Wubi, but i am being lazy with my new laptop.

I have considered using Arch for a while, isn't it Slackware-Based, Always looked like an interesting distribution that i have wanted to try.

Also, cheers for directing me to that program, it looks like exactly the kind of thing i have been looking for, top bloke :)

Arch isn't, in any way that I'm aware of, affiliated with Slackware. They have a lot of similarities.

Have a look at Salix, if you're interested in Slackware based distros.
http://www.salixos.org/wiki/index.php/Home