without using a boot floppy
 

My same hard disk has already 2 Windows oses dual-bootable. I will add Linux to the same hard drive (although I have a second one but the second disk has not enough space). It will be a normal distro. I don't prefer the ones that run from CD. I have done investiagation quite a bit and now I understand Linux could be installed and booted in at least 2 different ways:

1) boot from a floppy
2) install Linux loader (Grub or Lilo) onto the superblock

I have already tried out the first way in a different machine. But can someone confirm me the following 3 points when I do it (later) in the SECOND way:
a) the installation process will NOT write anything to any existing Windows partitions. Not at all.

b) only the master boot sector (which is 512 bytes, and no other disk block) will be adjusted by the installation process.

c) the new partition where I shall select to install Linux will be adjusted (of course!). I have already created an extended partition with a few "drives" when I installed Windows. I think I can remove the last drive in the extended partition to make way for a mount point for one needed Linux file system (such as /home or /boot). If so, will the installation process make changes to those logical drives in the extended partitions at all?

The main reason for all my questions is: I want all my existing stuff remains accessable after the installation. I wish you understand.

Thanks.

Re: without using a boot floppy
 

Unless you tell it to it won't.

If you chose to install lilo in the mbr this is
correct.

I'm not quite sure I understand what you're trying to
say about the drives in the extended partition, and
that you intend to use for Linux ... if you delete some
logical drive (in winDOHs terms) and tell Linux to
use that space during installation this is all it will use.

Be aware that you should have at least two partitions
for Linux to use, one Swapper and one for the actual
OS.


Cheers,
Tink

You should be safe, but it is always a good idea to backup at least important data, just in case...