dual boot xp and linux?

[Rumata]

is it possible to make the boot loader in windows xp to load a linux instalation in another hard drive. let's say i have windows xp in the 1st ide chanel master hard drive, and linux in another hard drive in the second ide chanel as master. is there a posibility to choose which to load using the boot options in windows xp?

 

[ibuda]

There may be but it would probably be a lot easier to use a linux boot such as LILO or grub as they are a lot easier to configure. The RedHat install of linux automatically detects any windows installations and will set the boot up for you.

 

[Rumata]

cool. thanks for answering. i have used linux before i was just wondering if there could be a way to boot linux from the boot loader within windows xp..... i hope i can find some way it would be fun doing it

 

[wolluf]

Pretty sure you can't boot linux from XP's boot loader (as ibuda says - grub or lilo). Or you could go for third party boot manager (eg,

http://www.boot-us.com

- free for personal use - installs in mbr, boot floppy, free partition,

http://www.xosl.org

- free - needs a fat partition or a free partition to set itself up in).

 

[smah]

Actually, I saw some directions recently to boot with XP's boot loader instead of linux's. I think it was here at TT somewhere. I'll try to find it again.

 

[smah]

Here's one post thread54-534930, but I don't think it's the one I was thinking of. At any rate I would recommend lilo or grub instead of xp's.

 

[Bobg1]

Rumata, it can be done but if not done correctly you will loose the ability to boot anything. I must agree with the others, best to use lilo.

 

[wolluf]

smah - interesting, I wasn't aware of that -

http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/fhassel_grub_nt.html

also mentions it.

 

[AP81]

The Windows bootloader is nowhere near as good as GRUB or LILO. Just install Linux as normal then select the option to the install the bootloader on the master boot record (MBR). It will automatically configure it to dual boot.

 

[Rumata]

Very Much Thanks For Your Feedback guys. I love this place.
i think i'll go for the xp boot loader, just for the fun to do it and learn in the proces... bty... i know of some little programs that you can load in your windows os and explore a ext2 o ext3 partition and copy any file within to your fat32 or ntfs... maybe it is a better way to get the boot image.

 

[moejams]

OK - i have a serious problem!! I've installed RedHat 9.0, but I've just deleted the partition and re-formatted the drive that it was on. Grub was installed to dual-boot Windows XP and RedHat 9.0 - now I get a grub command line when booting my machine - how can I get Windows XP to start up again?? how can i get rid of Grub and go back to the default windows bootloader?

THANKS for ANY help

 

[denodave]

I am not sure I understand your problem. Which partition did you dlete?

Are you are saying you deleted the linux partitions and are trying to remove the linux bootloader?

The absolute easiest way to restore your old drive condition in this case is to use the drive manufacturer's disk utility to restore the MBR. I have made a practice of using such utilities to back up the master boot record immediately prior to installing linux. Then when I make changes to the HD structure and foul up the linux install I can make the bootloader go away by restoring the original MBR.

This link may help. It describes removing lilo but a similar process for grub ought to work:

http://jaeger.morpheus.net/linux/ntldr.php

Email me! denodave@yahoo.com
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