Mepis-friendly linux distros for dual-boot

dealerman · 07-09-2005, 10:39 PM

I'm going to be installing SimplyMEPIS 3.3.1 in the next few days and was wondering what are some good distro choices for a dual-boot friendly system. I do not have any form of M$ bloatware OS installed. A couple I've been considering are Suse 9.3 and Slackware. My experience so far is only with Mandrake 10.1, but I'm not afraid to try anything that might be recommended (I have nothing critical or irreplaceable that needs backing up).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

fair_is_fair · 07-09-2005, 10:52 PM

Mepis is a great choice for the main distro. Why not try a variety?

PCLinuxOS, Kanotix, Frugalware, Alinux, Minislack, are pretty nice.

You can take a look at the top 50 at distrowatch.com and see what grabs you.

dealerman · 07-09-2005, 11:17 PM

Yes, so many distros, so little time...

Really the main reason I ask is to avoid GRUB or LILO conflicts (I want them to play nice). I've still got a lot to learn...

syg00 · 07-09-2005, 11:50 PM

I be prepared to believe that none of the distros recognise (and account for) other linux distros when building the boot-loader config. I can't recalll any I've tried anyway - they all seem to find Windows o.k.

My advice (and practice) is to not allow any distro after the first to install a boot-loader. Just add an entry to your menu after successful install of the latter distro.
Some however don't allow you that option - for those I just re-install grub and fix things manually.

acanton · 07-10-2005, 01:18 AM

You might want to take a look at:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=339297

-Al

JoshR · 07-10-2005, 01:56 AM

I've personally used the 3rd party boot system GAG, and it works fine IF you don't allow the install to put the loaders on the mbr. Make them put it on the Master block or the root partition or whatever they call it. Also you can load a few distros on later partitions, and have your bottom lady, you main squeeze, the one you will use the most) install with grub on the mbr and it works, too.

As for what I'm doing now is to partition my HD in advance with either "Rescue CD", or a Mandrake partitioner. Both are very easy to use. If using Mandrakes', just exit after all your partitions are formatted.

I put 1primary of 8 gigs, another at 6 gigs, then a 512 MB swap (used by all), and then 1 big extended for the rest (save about 10 gigs, though). Divide that into up to 64 logical partitions if you want. I recommend you leave the last 10 gigs free for future expansion and troubleshooting.........No partition there at all.

For distros, (me being a noob), I'm using either Ubuntu or Fedora Core 4 for the main one, then Slackware, then Debian to tinker with. Also a bunch of new little ones at the end of the drive. I'm playing with Arch, Gentoo, DSL, LFS, BeatrixL, and Feather to get on a USB drive (no joy so far)> I wipe the MBR a lot right now.

see the thread "mbr wipe programs" on the software forum......Hope this helps you save the many hours I spent

JR

fair_is_fair · 07-10-2005, 04:44 PM

I use the same method as JoshR. GAG installed to MBR and grub/lilo of each distro installed to root partition. This method is really trouble free. Easy to install and uninstall operating systems this way. No fooling with the MBR.

dealerman · 07-10-2005, 08:37 PM

Excellent info, thanks ya'll. One more question. My linux box does not have a floppy. I can yank one from my other computer, but would rather not unless it's really necessary. Can I get away without it?

Al Hawley · 07-10-2005, 10:38 PM

I also am trying different distros. Mepis uses grub and so does SuSE. SuSE 9.3 does a nice job of identifying and including the other OSs in its boot menu. Mepis detects and includes them, but not by their recognizeable names. You can edit /boot/grub/menu.lst in the partition that is the active boot partition to modify what is shown on the boot menu at startup. You must be root to edit menu.lst.
Most modern distros are using grub; some give a choice of which loader to use.
Al

JoshR · 07-10-2005, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dealerman
Excellent info, thanks ya'll. One more question. My linux box does not have a floppy. I can yank one from my other computer, but would rather not unless it's really necessary. Can I get away without it?

You don't need a floopy. Just use CD Rescue or load Mandrake in your Cd and boot from there. Partion them all and format. Then install all the distros you want.

JR

Nix_Hard · 07-11-2005, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dealerman
Yes, so many distros, so little time...
;)

Guess this link will only make the problem worst ;-)
FrozenTech's LiveCD List Currently displaying 277 LiveCD/DVDs
NH

speedy-3 · 07-13-2005, 08:09 PM

I have linux mepis and win xp pro instaled on my hard drive but Dual boot dosen't work

first I install mepis then windows anad after that windows just start to boot automatically,,,, so i reinstal grub..... and I got the same thing only this time linux has boot atomatically......

how can I get to choose witch OS to boot??????

speedy-3 · 07-13-2005, 09:27 PM

ok I dont know how but i re-install the GRUB again and it works