Linux/Windows on same computer

[Vampiel]

Ok, I havent done this in a long time so I think I should ask for advice before I proceed with this.

Anyone recommend any dual boot programs to run Linux/Windows on the same HD? Also how would I go about partitioning it? Can I use fdisk or majic partition8, I think when I did this a long time ago I had to use one that came with Linux.

I want to install Debian(linux) and right now I have WinXP Pro on a 160gb wd hd with 1 NTFS partition on it currently.

[Vampiel]

Also, when I make the new partition im going to use Linux Ext3, should I make it a primary or logical (allready have windows installed)

[crossedup]

Ive always used Partition magic from within windows and made a 10 gig or so unformatted partition then booted from the Linux cd and let it make and format its own partitions in the free space.

Never had any trouble that way.

Using the Linux version is always more of a pain.

[Paco103]

I've started using Topologi Linux for my dual booting. No messing with partitions and all that. Only problem I see is that it's Slackware based, so if you want Debian it's obviously not it. It runs right on top of your Windows partition though, just creates a virtual file system, even on NTFS. Seems to run pretty good, and it's not a stripped down version.

If you want to go the REAL way though, Partition Magic has never given me any problems at all. To do it with Fdisk you'll have to basically redo your entire computer, as it won't just resize your windows partition, you'll have to delete it and start over.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, your new partition will have to be logical, as only one primary can exist per physical disk, and Windows has already claimed that (and always will if it can).

[delRhode]

Originally posted by Paco103
Also, if I'm not mistaken, your new partition will have to be logical, as only one primary can exist per physical disk, and Windows has already claimed that (and always will if it can).

Eh... not quite right. A hard drive can have up to 4 primary partitions... the trick being that only one of them can be 'active' at one time. So, with a second primary partition as Linux boot, the Windows partition wouldn't be visible to Linux, and vice-versa (which can be a good thing, especially since NTFS support under Linux, last I knew, was fairly dodgy).

[Vampiel]

Thanks for the information. Now I just have to find a web site to d/l linux drivers.

[Paco103]

Thanks delRhode, I didn't know that. I've never seen a way to set up multiple primary partitions, but it would make sense then that they couldn't work at the same time. Got any other info on this, like maybe an overview on how to do it/how it works? I'm just curious now!

[delRhode]

Heh... haven't done this in a while, so I hope I'm not too far off. Of course, if you do this, you're installing everything from scratch anyways, so all you're losing is time at worst...

Okay, you boot up from something other than your hard drive, then run fdisk. You create at least 2 primary partitions, sized for the operating systems you want to install. I say at least two, because you might need a little tiny one for your boot loader - can't remember for sure.

At any rate, set the one you want Windows on as active in fdisk, exit and save partition information, then do your windows install as normal. It should just install on your chosen partition without any grief. Then, start your install with your linux distro. Choose the other partition, and install away. Make sure to set up that boot loader to handle both systems (which, these days, *should* be fairly easy).

One nice trick you can play here, too... in addition to your primary partitions, set up an extended partition with a logical drive, formatted FAT32 or whatever both OS's can read. Then, you'll have a data drive that you can read from either system, in case you want to move things from one OS to the other more easily.

Hope that helps...

[Vampiel]

Originally posted by delRhode

One nice trick you can play here, too... in addition to your primary partitions, set up an extended partition with a logical drive, formatted FAT32 or whatever both OS's can read. Then, you'll have a data drive that you can read from either system, in case you want to move things from one OS to the other more easily.

Hope that helps...

Thats a good tip, thanks for the info. didnt think about that.

[Vampiel]

OK, I have a major obsticle here. I finally figured out what was happening. When Im on the 2nd or 3rd step of installing were it states Partition a hard disk (wich I allready did with part magic8) it only gives me the option to select the windows partition and not the other partition that I set aside for linux. Now I went down to view partitions and it shows BOTH partitions. This has me really confused. I tried skipping this step and installing it on the part. that I used part magic8 with, when I restart to finish the install it just freezes at the LILO dual boot. Any linux experts out there?

[delRhode]

Okay, I'm at home now, so I can look at my dual-boot machine and have more of a clue as to what I'm talking about...

While it is possible to use the multiple primary partitions like I was talking about earlier, that's not the only way. An easier setup (which is what my Red Hat did with only a little prodding) is a single primary partition and an extended partition with logical drive(s). Install windows to the primary, install Linux to a logical drive in the extended partition. LILO installation will overwrite the windows bootloader, but that's just fine in this case.

So (using Linux terminology), I have one hard drive (hda), which has a primary partition (hda1) and an extended partition (hda2), and the extended partition contains my main Linux drive (hda5), a swap drive (hda6), and my FAT32-formatted transfer area (hda7).

If you're still bent on getting Linux on that second primary partition, you might try going back to fdisk (or whatever) and manually setting it to 'active' before starting your Linux install.