I currently have my system partitioned (Single 70 GB HD) with BootIt NG as detailed below with primaries unlimited and must say that I have found it great to work with.

BootIt NG
WinME
WinXP Home
WinXP Home (2nd Install)
WinXP Pro

My problem is that I now wish to install Mandrake Linux 9.1 but after reading the BootIt instructions I am still very concerned that in doing so I will destroy some of my existing setup. My previous experience has all been with Windows based OS's and perhaps after working with Linux for a while the instructions ( Lilo & Grub etc and how and where to place them) will make some sense to me.

Perhaps if anyone is aware of a site that will do a little more handholding on first experience with Linux they could let me know. If I was installing on a empty HD I would be quite happy to experiment but if it is possible as I am sure it is to complete this task with BootIt with my system intact I would be delighted.

Many thanks

You should be able to just install MDK 9.1 and let it take care of the process for you. I have Win2k on one drive and MDK on the other. I just put in the MDK install CD and let it go. It set everything up for me. However there is the Linux Documentation Project which has lots of info for using Linux:

http://www.tldp.org/tldp-redirect.php?url=/

Good Luck,
Ted.

Thanks for your reply Ted I will look at the site you mention to see if it helps but my main worry is that it may overwrite my existing MBR and make access to the rest of my system difficult.

Regards