Install linux on windows partition

Forum: User Feedback
Topic: Install linux on windows partition
started by: sankarv

Posted by sankarv on July 19 2006,04:26

Is it possible that i install DSL in windows partition itself but can configure to have boot options as windows and DSL seperately in the boot loader (probably it will be windows boot loader) while booting?

if so please tell me how to do that..

Posted by mikshaw on July 19 2006,12:21

If your partition is fat16, a frugal/poorman's system should work. I think fat32 might work as well, but it depends on whether the kernel/initrd includes support for fat32 (it doesn't boot from reiserfs, so i doubt fat32 works...if it does, someone has his priorities messed up). I don't know if it does. It is a super bad idea to have a traditional-type (not compressed) install on a Windows partition of any kind.

I've heard once or twice that it's possible to use Windows boot loader to boot Linux, but I've never done it, don't know anyone who has, couldn't tell you how it's done, and you probably won't find much support for it.
There is a program called loadlin that will boot Linux from DOS, but i don't know anything about that either....may be just another emulator?

In any case, my opinion is that mixing components of different operating systems is like mixing parts from different models of anything else (cars, for example). They can be forced to cooperate, but why do you want to go through the trouble when it's much simpler and generally more stable to use an operating system's native components?