Dual boot with Windows XP Sp2

rforrister · 08-27-2008, 11:26 PM

Hey, I have tried the Live CD and like the look and feel of Mepis really well. How hard is it to dual boot with Windows XP. Have to keep Windows for wife and little ones to use.

Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

Rob

John VV · 08-28-2008, 02:09 AM

most if not all new linux distros can boot windows just fine , however windows sometimes dose not like linux . You need to decide HOW you are going to dual boot
I have not installed Mepis so i am not completely sure.
there are two main ways to dual boot linux/windows , search Google ( http://www.google.com/linux )or here
1) use the linux boot loader to start windows
if using GRUB it looks like this

Code:

title Windows_XP
	rootnoverify (hd0,0)
	chainloader +1

2) use the windows boot loader to start linux
I use this method using the dd command
it looks something like this ( my command for fedora 8 )

Code:

dd if=/dev/sdb3 of=/mnt/windows/fedora8.bin bs=512 count=1

then i edit the Windows C:\\boot.ini and add a line to it
I take it you have read the mepis docs
http://www.mepis.org/node/1
and looked through some forums
http://mepislovers.org/forums/index.php
http://www.mepisguides.com/
and of coarse here

archtoad6 · 08-28-2008, 07:51 AM

Method 2) is way too complicated for a new or casual user unless you really, really feel the need to preserve the Win bootloader.

Method 1) is what MEPIS will do automatically if you select the MBR option -- I believe it's the default -- when you get to the installer's GRUB screen.

I have been a MEPIS user since ver. 2004.04 as well as the leader of a weekly installfest meeting for about the same length of time. I've installed Debian, several 'buntus, Mandr[ake|iva], RH(EL), SuSE, & possibly others I don't remember; AFAIAC, MEPIS has the easiest installer of them all, starting w/ the Live CD being the install CD.

Your biggest problem will be deciding how to repartition the drive (I assume there is just one). You will need to add a swap partition & a MEPIS partition at a minimum, & possibly a (shared) data partition as well. I like separate data partitions for their own sake, but now that Linux is reliably writing NTFS, they aren't necessary for for sharing any more. The exact pattern will depend on the size of the drive, how much space is free, how RAM you have, & your expected Linux usage. Provide some details & we can discuss/offer more specific advice.

Whatever new partitions you decide on, be sure to defrag XP before you repartition. That means you will have to run the GUI equivalent of chkdsk /f first. It's also an opportunity to clean out the deadwood before you start.

rforrister · 08-28-2008, 11:01 PM

Well,

I have a 100gig hard drive, intel dual core, 2 gigs ram, nice video card, etc. I hope to split the hard drive 70/30 with Windows. Have to keep windows for wife and child. I actually use Linux quite a bit at work but I was not sure exactly how Mepis dual boots from Live CD. I have performed such manuvuers with Suse, Fedora, and ubuntu but Mepis has a very distinct look and feel. As a new user of Mepis I would like to know as much as possible before attempting to Dual Boot.

Thanks for any advice you may have.

Rob

pinniped · 08-28-2008, 11:41 PM

If you use method (1) described above, make sure you have a rescue CD (I think the Mepis Live CD should do) to boot Linux and fix things up if WinXP ever 'fixes' the MBR. To avoid MBR wars I usually use method (2) - however, using 'dd' is extremely dangerous - one little mistake could mean you've just wiped your partition table, so (1) is the safest and easiest.

John VV · 08-29-2008, 12:36 AM

the reason i use the dd method is windows has " fixed " a working GRUB install a few times
and if using vista one might want to look at some news articles
http://apcmag.com/vista_sp1_wont_ins..._microsoft.htm
http://suprbay.org/showthread.php?t=27758

syg00 · 08-29-2008, 12:43 AM

The bitlocker thing was discussed here on LQ a while back. Short answer - it's probably not an issue for most users.
If you want to use the Vista loader, go get easyBCD - a freebie for Windoze; it finds a Linux install and adds it to the boot menu for Vista.

Personally I still prefer to use grub.

JerryNew2Linux · 09-03-2008, 08:38 AM

You might want to take a close look at the MEPIS 7 User's Manual, which has a detailed discussion on how to do this. As already stated above, the installer makes it dead simple, but I recommend you pay careful attention to the re-partitioning.