Dual-booting. What is it and how do you do it?

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2003-01-05 08:13pm

It’s for using two operating system at once.

Usually some sort of windows and Linux on one drive at the same computer.

The trick is Partition your drive into two or more partitions install windows first then install Linux.

And no I don’t use it

Exonerate · Post by **Exonerate** » 2003-01-05 08:14pm

I've heard that its better to install Linux before Windows.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2003-01-05 08:43pm

Exonerate wrote:I've heard that its better to install Linux before Windows.

Nope windows install fucks up the MBR on the hard drive.

Generaly the only thing windows don't fuck up is if you have Win9x and install nt of some flawor.

In that case multiboot is possible but if you install Linux first then you can forget about that insall working after windows.

Btw MBR=Master Boot Record

Exonerate · Post by **Exonerate** » 2003-01-05 08:47pm

Ahh, thanks for clearing that up.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-01-05 08:49pm

Win2k doesn't fuck up the boot record, but Win9x does. The best way to do dual-boot is to have several PRIMARY partitions, and then use LILO to choose. Do this:

1) Partition your hard drive 50/50. Do NOT use extended partitions; use primaries, and if FDISK won't let you, then get one of the freeware partition programs that will.

2) Install Windows 9x on the first partition.

3) Use FDISK or something similar to change the second partition to the active partition. It will now be drive C:.

4) Install Win2k/XP on the second partition.

5) Now use batch files to switch back and forth, or use XOSL. This is much better than the built-in dual-boot method, which commingles boot files between the two operating systems.

Alternatively, if you want to dual-boot Linux and Windows:

1) Partition half the HD for C:

2) Install Windows on C:

3) Install Linux. Let it auto-partition the remaining half of the hard drive.

Done. It will take care of everything else.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2003-01-05 10:07pm

Darth Wong wrote: Alternatively, if you want to dual-boot Linux and Windows:

1) Partition half the HD for C:

2) Install Windows on C:

3) Install Linux. Let it auto-partition the remaining half of the hard drive.

Done. It will take care of everything else.

Now if you are doing this on a twin hard drive system would you just install Linux onto the second drive or what?

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2003-01-07 07:22am

I think you can boot linux off another physical hard drive using lilo from the MBR on the first harddrive. If not try GRUB or loadlin.

Crazy_Vasey · Post by **Crazy_Vasey** » 2003-01-07 07:42am

loadlin works great if you don't want to overwrite your boot sector or need to be able to boot into linux after reinstalling windows 98, it's what I use (well I have it but I ain't booted into linux in ages, just no need)