Dual-booting Linux and Win 2k 1

[TonyGroves]

I would like to install both Linux (most likely Suse 9.1) and Windows 2000 on my machine, but don't want a repeat of what happened the last time I tried, when I ended up messing up the MBR and having to low-level-format the drive.

Does anybody have any advice as to which OS I should install first, and are there any particular things I need to take care with to ensure that the dual-booting system works out OK?

With apologies to those who don't like to see cross-posting, I have posted this on both the Windows 2000 and Linux forums, as it would be good to get views from both the Linux and Windows sides.

 

[jocasio]

TonyGroves:

Just a question: Why do you want to dual boot? If you are just 'playing around' what you could do is install Windows and then use VMWare to create guest machines. I Windows 2000 (the host) and am using VMWare to create several virtual machine: FreeBSD, RedHat Linux, and NetBSD. These Virtual machines can share a internet connection through the host and you can have it set up in full screen mode so you actually think it's running that particular OS. IF this is not the case, then I beleive you should install Windows first and create a partition for Linux (This is the case with FreeBSD).

Anyway, I hope this helps a little.

jocasio

 

[TonyGroves]

Thanks for that, jocasio.

I am committed to sticking with Windows for the foreseeable future, and have no real need to use Linux for anything, but I would like to switch over to Linux now and then with an eye to maybe eventually moving to Linux entirely. Keeping the two OS's entirely separate, apart from shared data partitions (FAT presumably) would allow me to operate in either pure Windows or pure Linux mode, without introducing the possible complications and performance hit of virtual machinery, however convenient it may be.

I already have Suse running solo on my laptop and accessing my main machine's data directories via Samba, but I find laptops quite claustrophobic and can't use them for any serious work, which is why I want to put Linux on my main machine.

 

[wolluf]

Agree with jocasio - install 2k first then install linux & let linux install create the partitions it needs. You can also let its boot manager (lilo or grub usually) set up dual boot menu. This option will write into the mbr - but to remove you don't need any low-level format - just fixmbr from recovery console or fdsik /mbr from a 98 boot floppy will restore standard mbr. Or you can get it to install boot manager to its own partition's boot sector and use a third party boot manager (I use

http://www.boot-us.com)

to create the dual boot.

 

[bcastner]

Install Win2k and then install Microsoft Virtual PC and then install linux. The trial of virtual PC from Microsoft is still free:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx

I have nothing against the earlier notion of using VMWare for the same purpose.

A dual boot is old fashioned and not as attractive an option (based on the original posters needs) as using either Virtual Machine software.

 

[TonyGroves]

Thanks for all those replies.

I suppose the nightmare I had the first time I tried setting up dual-booting must have been a fluke, so I'm looking forward to trying it again, taking on board those tips. And if that gives problems, I'll have a look at the virtual-machine route, which I hadn't thought of.

Thanks again.

 

[pweegar]

So, what is 'old fashioned' when it comes to having multiple OS's, all of which are bootable??? It's GOOD to have both Windows AND Linux, as full blown, operational OS's.

IF you want to just play with Linux, simply down load one of the 'Live' versions, and burn the image to a cd. You don't have to install anything, AND you get a working OS, running from your CD. Susie 9.1 has one, along with a new verson from a place called Ubutu or something like that. Both run from CD.

 

[bcastner]

With Virtual PC implementations I can have Windows and LINUX without rebooting every time.