Xp and RedHat incompat.

Kalabew · 07-12-2003, 02:48 PM

Just installed RedHat 8.0 on a Compaq 2100 laptop (shame, shame, yes, I know). The com was already running Xp home, so I set up an ext3 partition with Partition Magic, and started the install setting Linux as my default OS. Now, when I boot, GRUB shows Linux and DOS as options. When I select DOS, I get an error message and then the BSOD. Are there any known incompatibilities?

None of the data on the NTFS partition is vital. I just don't want to have to wipe the drive. Also, I only have a win modem that I haven't been able to run in Linux (the only reason I keep Xp around). Would it just be easier to get a Linux compat. pcmcia modem?

Cyclo · 07-12-2003, 03:42 PM

Try redhat 9, i've had no problems with it and XP home, but i got rid of xp last week, because i dont need it

Kalabew · 07-12-2003, 03:59 PM

Thanks for the reply, Cyclo.

I've just downloaded RH9. I was wondering. Do you know if I install RH9 over RH8 whether or not it will fix the problem? God I hate microsoft!

Mathieu · 07-12-2003, 04:43 PM

Installing RedHat 9 is always better than RedHat 8.

Although this may not fix the problem.
What was the error message ?
Was it something like "NTLDR not found" ?

If you intall Linux and WindowsXP and use GRUB as the boot loader, it should work fine.

You mention Partition Magic.
Before intalling Linux, what bootloader were you using ?
Partition Magic bootloader or WindowsXP bootloader.

I ask because partition tools like Partition Magic and System Commander do strange things.

Skyline · 07-12-2003, 09:08 PM

Hi Kalabew

If set up right, you wont find any problems dual booting Red Hat 9 and XP.

The Kernel in Red hat 9 supports a wider variety of hardware than the one in 8 - I would just use Red Hat 9.

You might want to try:

A single NTFS partition for XP
A separate FAT32 partition for Data that both OS's can read/write to.
An ext3 ROOT partition for Red Hat 9
And a Swap partition for Red Hat 9

Winmodems are still a problem in Linux - save yourself a headache and go with what's easiest.

bulliver · 07-12-2003, 11:00 PM

If you post your grub.conf it might shed some light on the problem....remember that reinstalling the OS is a windows solution.

Kalabew · 07-13-2003, 02:49 PM

Thank you for your help so far.

Ok, I'm going to show just how much of a newbie I am... How do you view the boot.cfg? Yes, I do believe that the error message (when trying to boot windows) was 'NTLDR not found'.

HSAdude · 07-13-2003, 05:56 PM

RH9 should work just fine with XP. The problem may be that GRUB isn't able to chain-boot Windows. GRUB can't boot Windows itself, so if you put GRUB on the MBR then you won't be able to load Windows. You'll have to reload Windows so the MBR is redone to do Windows and reinstall and put the boot loader on the first sector of your boot partition. You will then have to use a boot floppy to load Linux unless you use a 3rd party boot loader like Partition Magic's to load both of them.

Mathieu · 07-13-2003, 06:47 PM

Actually, GRUB is able to boot WindowsXP.

I had the same problem before. You mentioned you used Partition Magic, I believe that Partition Magic moved the files (boot.ini, ntldr and ntdetect.com) required to boot
WindowsXP from the C:\ to a subdirectory.

- First thing you need to do is to make a Linux Boot Disk. If you didn't make one during the installation of Linux, use the mkbootdisk command ( mkbootdisk <kernel_version> ) or use the GUI.
- Then use the WindowsXP CD, there is an option that Repairs WindowsXP Installation. It will rebuild the MBR with the WindowsXP bootloader.
- Once that is done, boot into WindowsXP. Make sure that the boot files (boot.ini, ntldr and ntdetect.com) are in the C:\. If there are not, use the Find to look for them.
- Use the Linux Boot Disk and boot back into Linux, use grub-install ( grub-install /dev/hda ) to install GRUB back to the MBR.

Now everything should work. Unless I forgot something...

Note: the GRUB configuration file's location is /boot/grub/grub.conf

P.S. I never liked Partition Magic, System Commander and other similar bootloaders/partitioning softwares. They take to much control over the booting process.

TheOneAndOnlySM · 07-13-2003, 07:46 PM

i think your problem may have been creating the ext3 partition in PartitionMagic (i used it too and have become pretty good with understanding it)
anyway, when u installed linux, did u use disk druid or automatic partititioning?

ps. if u get back into windows, erase your linux partitions and keep unallocated space (should be colored gray), that way redhat 9 can automatically partition and install grub with no hassle

HSAdude · 07-13-2003, 11:09 PM

Oh. I got this from the RH9 installation guide:

Quote:

GRUB can load a variety of free operating systems, as well as proprietary operating systems with chain-loading