I have Windows XP Pro and also Linux Suse 9.3 Pro. Windows XP Pro is on one hard disk drive (D0) while Linux Suse 9.3 Pro is on another hard disk drive (D1). Windows is the default OS.

Whenever I want to run Linux Suse 9.3 Pro I have to go to the CMOS Setup utility and change the BIOS settings as follows:

1st Boot Device: SATA150 TX2plus D1 { for L Suse 9.3 Pro }
2nd Boot Device: SATA150 TX2plus D0 { for Win XP Pro }
3rd Boot Device: Toshiba DVD ROM SD M1202

Since I am Linux beginner and would like to continue using Windows XP Pro is there any way of handling the dual booting through the Win Boot.Ini file?

Or is it absolutely necessary to perform the dual booting using Linux grub? Which is the safest way and what is the exact procedure that one should follow?

Your kind assistance will be highly regarded.

You need to use grub. Grub will boot windows, but the windows BL will not boot Linux.

Grub is not so hard. First, read the documentation, write your grub.conf file, then actually install grub to the MBR:
Without details of your partitions etc, this is exact of a procedure I can give you. Again, just read the docs (available online, or from 'info grub') to learn the format of grub.conf

There is a way to use the windows "NTLDR" (that's what XP uses) to give you a menu, and chain-load the Lilo or Grub boot loader. Google for "lilo ntldr boot" or "grub ntldr boot" depending on which boot loader your Linux disk uses. There are many web pages which give detailed instructions. Also, search this site because it is a common question. Also, you could make the second drive the active one, and use the Lilo or Grub boot loader to chain-load the XP's loader.

Good Luck.

What I am looking for is how the dual booting can be performed by
Linux Suse 9.3 Pro and displaying the boot options available when
it starts. I have Windows XP Pro installed on one disk (D0), and
Linux Suse on another disk (D1).

Whenever I want to switch from one OS to another I have to do it
through the CMOS Setup Utility. The default boot order should be

D0 that has Windows XP Pro
D1 that has Linux Suse 9.3 Pro
cdrom and NOT floppy (fd0)

but I do not know how to make the modifications.

Your kind assistance will be highly regarded.

Boot Loader Setup

Boot Loader Type GRUB
Disk Order /dev/sdb, /dev/sda
Default Section SUSE LINUX 9.3
Available Sections SUSE LINUX 9.3 (default),
XEN,
Windows,
Floppy,
Failsafe --SUSE LINUX 9.3
Activate Boot Loader Partition No
Replace Code in MBR Leave Untouched
Use Dedicated Boot Loader Area Yes
Back up Affected Disk Areas No
Add Saved MBR to Boot Loader Menu No
Save Method Save Only Changed Files

File name /boot/grub/device.map

File contents

(fd0) /dev/fd0
(hd1) /dev/sda
(hd0) /dev/sdb

File name /etc/grub.config

File contents

setup --stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 (hd0) (hd0,0)
quit

{ Comes from System / YaST / System / Boot Loader Configuration in
KDE 3.4 Graphical User Interface }

CMOS Setup Utility | Advanced Setup

Share Memory Size 32MB
Quick Boot Enabled
1st Boot Device SATA150 TX2 plus D0
where D0 = Windows XP Pro
2nd Boot Device SATA150 TX2 plus D1
where D1 = Linux Suse 9.3 Pro
3rd Boot Device Toshiba DVD-ROM SD-M1202
Try Another Boot Device Yes
Bootup Num-Lock On
Boot To OS/2>64MB No
Graphic Win Size 64MB
DRAM Cas# Latency By SPD
Auto Detect DIMM/PCI Clk Enabled
Spread Spectrum Disabled

sfzaborsky@Home:~> su
Password:
Home:/home/sfzaborsky # lspci
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 741/741GX/M741 Host (rev 03)
0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS]: Unknown device 0003
0000:00:02.0 ISA bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS963 [MuTIOL Media IO] (rev 25)
0000:00:02.1 SMBus: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS961/2 SMBus Controller
0000:00:02.5 IDE interface: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 5513 [IDE]
0000:00:02.7 Multimedia audio controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] Sound Controller (rev a0)
0000:00:03.0 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0 Controller (rev 0f)
0000:00:03.1 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0 Controller (rev 0f)
0000:00:03.3 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 2.0 Controller
0000:00:09.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
0000:00:0b.0 Unknown mass storage controller: Promise Technology, Inc. PDC20375 (SATA150 TX2plus) (rev 02)
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP VGA Display Adapter
Home:/home/sfzaborsky #

{ Comes from the Konsole Shell }

MyComputer [ My SUSE box ]
CD-ROM
OPTORITEDVD RW DD1205
TOSHIBA DVD-ROM SD-M1202
Disk
HDS728080PLAT20
MAXTOR 7B300S0
Display
Silicon Integrated [M]661xX/[M]741[GX]/[M]760 PCI /AGP
VGA Adapter
Floppy
Floppy Disk
Keyboard
AT Translated Set 2 keyboard
Monitor
Monitor
Mouse
ImPS/2 Generic Wheel Mouse
Network Controller
Allied Teleyn International RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+
Network Interface
Ethernet network interface
Loopback network interface
Network interface
Printer
Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 1200
Sound Device
Elitegroup Sound Controller
Storage Controller
Floppy disk controller
Promise PDC20375 (SATA150 TX2 plus)
Silicon Integrated SiS5513 EIDE Controller (A,B step)
Unknown
AMD Duron (tm), 1600 MHz
Belkin Hub
BIOS
Linux 2.6.11.4-21.9-default ehci_hcd EHCI Host Controller
Linux 2.6.11.4-21.9-default ohci hcd OHCI Host Controller
Main memory
Partition [ repeated 8 times ]
PnP Unclassified device [ repeated 11 times ]
SiliconIntegrated 741/741GX/M741 Host
Silicon Integrated PCI bridge
Silicon Integrated Sis961/2 SMBus Controller
Silicon Integrated SiS963 [MuTIOL Media IO]
SiS 6330
System
USB Controller
Silicon Integrated USB 1.0 Controller
Silicon Integrated USB 1.0 Controller
Silicon Integrated USB 2.0 Controller

{ Comes from SUSE Hardware Tool }