How to set up a dual boot

Forum: Other Help Topics
Topic: How to set up a dual boot
started by: fac23

Posted by fac23 on June 12 2005,00:35

I want to dual boot DSL and WinXP.
I need to know what file to copy into my C:\ and what to write in the boot.ini file so I can dual boot either at startup.
Thanks!

-Rob G.

Posted by SaidinUnleashed on June 12 2005,01:17

Just use lilo or grub to dual boot.

Especially if you are new to linux (and even if you aren't), making ntldr boot linux is a pain in the ass.

Posted by fac23 on June 12 2005,16:18

How do I use Lilo or grub? I'm new at this and I'm not quiet sure. Thanks!
Also I don't know how to get into linux without using partitioning software. What Am I doing wrong?

-Rob G.

Posted by meo on June 13 2005,11:16

Hi there!

Just open the menu and go from Apps --> Tools --> Install to Hard Drive and just follow the prompts. Then you will get a dual boot.

Have fun,
meo

Posted by RoGuE_StreaK on June 13 2005,13:57

I'm pretty sure no matter which way you do a HD install (ie., "normal" or frugal) you'll still need at least one other partition for DSL. Which means if you don't have a spare partition, you'll need to split your XP partition, which is always fraught with the danger of losing/screwing something. At the very least, do a full defrag before attempting to split off a new partition.
Dunno, maybe there is a way to boot DSL natively (as opposed to embedded, which I guess is another option) as frugal, with the KNOPPIX system on an XP drive?

don't think so, but it would be good if you could.
Hmm, any way to boot as a virtualCD from an iso file sitting on your drive? Frugal is kinda like an extracted iso right, so any way of actually booting from an iso image?

Now that would be cool. Being able to do a frugal install without actually having to make any partitions...

Posted by cbagger01 on June 13 2005,17:04

You can kinda do that with an XP (NTFS) partition, but it is slightly different than a standard poorman's install.

After burning a DSL CD-R disk, you then copy your dsl.iso file over to your C: drive (in this example, it's /dev/hda1 in linux). So you are left with:

C:\knoppix\dsl.iso

Then you reboot with DSL livecd and type:

dsl bootfrom=/dev/hda1/knoppix/dsl.iso

and it will use the livecd for initial bootup but then switch over to the *.iso file on your hard drive.

When booting is complete, you remove the cd-R disk from the drive.

Posted by cbagger01 on June 13 2005,17:06

You can get also get this to work with a boot floppy, but it requires building a custom minirt24.gz file with a modified linuxrc file and the ntfs.o driver file included.

Posted by fac23 on June 13 2005,19:30

it said I installed correctly when I installed onto my linux partion now when it reboots it goes into the standard windows startup menu. how do I get into Linux so I can use LILO to finish the dual boot set up?

Posted by AwPhuch on June 13 2005,21:53

boot floppy

Brian
AwPhuch

Posted by green on June 14 2005,01:52

will:

dsl fromhd

work in this scenario?

cbagger, thanks for the tip on this one. i need to give that a try..... you know, the ntfs thing....