Tri Boot Challenge

[aitai]

I want to create a multi boot environment with WIN98, WIN2K and Redhat Linux 7.0. I would appreciate any insight on executing a simple and painless install of Linux. Below are the specs of my current dual boot environment. Thanks in advance.

Current Environment;
Primary Master (C: drive, Primary Partition, Active, FAT32, 6.8 GB) [ WIN98 SE, 6.8 GB ]
Primary Slave (D: drive, Primary Partition, Not Active, FAT32, 14.3 GB) [ WIN2K, 5.98 GB ]
Unallocated space (D: drive, 8.32 GB)

Steps;
1. Format unallocated space (D: drive, Logical Partition, Not Active, EXT2 & SWAP (64 MB), 8.32 GB) using Partition Magic
2. Install Linux
3. ?

 

[bubak]

During installation of linux setup lilo or
create a bootdisc and after booting into linux setup grub or lilo.
it's easy

 

[ifincham]

Hi,

You should be able to do this with lilo . What you propose with the partitions is OK but I'd probably make the swap bigger - at least double your physical ram - as the newer 2.4 kernels like a bit more swap that before. Install rh7.x but make sure you do a 'custom' install as the 'workstation' and 'server' class installs like to wipe out everthing that exists already!

Install lilo into the MBR (/dev/hda if you have ide drives or /dev/sda for scsi). Now you have to re-configure lilo to chain boot the W2K bootloader. Add the following to /etc/lilo.conf :
other = /dev/hda1
    label = WIN2K
    loader = /boot/chain.b
    unsafe
(where /dev/hda1 is set to the partition that the W2K botloader is in) then (as root) do '/sbin/lilo -v' to update the actual binary lilo image. Reboot. Hopefully there should be a 'WIN2K' option on the graphical menu and choosing that should chain-load the Microsoft boot code as it operates now.

If you have partition magic you might try to use boot magic that comes packaged with it. That works in a similar manner to system commander and might be a better option. It that case you'd install linux as before but make certain to install lilo into the linux partition /dev/hdb5 (?) and not the MBR. Also, if you do this, make sure you take the option to make a linux boot floppy in case of problems.

Rgds