Making RedHat Linux 9.0 and Windows XP to Dual Boot

First, I should make note that I am in no way “good” with Linux.  However, I do wish to share my knowledge on how I got Windows XP and RedHat 9.0 installed.

Hardware Setup
One 40 gigabyte hard drive
512 MB Ram
Two CD-ROMs

Boot Manager
I will explain how to use the Windows XP boot manager (which seems to also be the same as 2000 – minus a few changes) to load Windows XP and RedHat Linux (using the LILO boot manager).

General Notes
I have not tried using anything other than the Windows XP boot manager.  When I installed Linux I used LILO as the boot manager, but did not install it to the MBR.

I have also used NTFS, which does not seem to be as popular to use when dual booting.  I have had no problems what-so-ever with it.

RedHat 9 has the newer LILO version, so you shouldn’t need to change anything to get it over the 1024 cylinder limit.  I didn’t have to change anything as to how LILO was setup.

Hard Disk Drive Setup
What I did was put Windows XP at the beginning of the drive, and formatted in NTFS.  NTFS is much more reliable and I’d recommend using it over FAT32.  I made the NTFS partition 30 gigabytes.  When I installed Linux, I just used the “Auto partition” option, which made a 100MB boot partition and a 6.8GB main partition and a 1019MB swap partition.

Install Windows XP
When I installed XP, I simply made a 30 gigabyte partition, formatted in NTFS file system, and installed XP.

Installing Linux
When I installed Linux, I used “Auto Partition”.  Once I got to the LILO configuration, I went to advanced settings and changed it from MBR to first sector of boot partition (I believe).  Then I finished installing Linux as I normally do.  I do, however, highly suggest you make a boot disk when setup asks you to do so.

Setting up Dual Boot
The way I got dual boot to work was by running, BootPart (http://www.winimage.com/bootpart.htm).  To run BootPart, run the following commands:

BOOTPART.EXE

Some text should be outputted, such as:

Code 0: C:  type=7   (HPFS/NTFS), size =  xxKB 1: C:  type=83  (Linux native), size = xxKB 2: C:  type=83  (Linux native), size = xxKB

Next, run:

BOOTPART 1 C:\LINUXBOOT.BIN Linux

Change “1” to wherever you placed the boot partition.  Mine was the second partition (the information from running the first command should help with this, the first number you see in the output is the partition you use).

Reboot
Now reboot, and try it.  You should see Linux as an option, and, if all goes well, Linux should boot.  Once you select Linux, you should notice the LILO boot manager comes up and asks you witch to boot to.  On my system I changed "DOS" to "Back", as indication that I can go back to the Windows boot manager.  But you can do whatever you wish, or just remove it completely by editing to LILO config file (should be stored at: /etc/lilo.conf).

Other References
http://www.enterprisedt.com/publications/dual_boot.html


If you have problems, please leave notes here.

Other Notes:  http://www.geocities.com/epark/linux/grub-w2k-HOWTO.html

I have also, successfully, installed this on the same hard drive (40 gig) on another computer using the GRUB bootloader.  I had some trouble with LILO on the other computer (after I repartitioned the hard drive), but GRUB works fine also.  In fact, I would recommend GRUB over LILO.  In the advanced settings of the bootloader, I enabled LBA32 support -- not sure if it was required or not, but hey -- it worked!  

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a post and I'll contact you ASAP.

i have a problem with the dual boot of debian and windows xp, the thing is tht installed win xp first the C driver, or hda1 is sized 15gb, and the debian root partition is in the same hda as hda5 sized to 10gb, but when i typed the boot options into lilo.conf i made it look like this -> other=/dev/hda1
       label=WinXP
#       restricted
#       alias=3

and now when i select it lilo just says " WinXP then it says loadin WinXP and then it just hangs there....im all out of ideas, any help from here?

I've not tried booting using the LILO installed on the MBR.  I have the Win NT bootloader installed.  So, I have no clue.    You could reinstall the WinXP bootloader by running the Windows XP setup (not the acutal setup, just where it copied files in the blue screen, text installer).  Then you follow the directions above.  That should work.  


- Justin

Another issue -- if you do mess up your MBR, and install GRUB into the MBR, you can easily change it back to the NT bootloader, by running the Windows NT/2000/XP setup (just the blue screen setup, not the full setup -- which is loaded once you boot from the CD).  This will (not 100% positive on WinNT, but it's pretty much the same, so it should work) fix your MBR.  There is also another way, I believe, on the Windows setup disk -- recovery console. I believe you type fixmbr, which also repairs the MBR.  However, if your disk is corrupted, I would NOT use the fixmbr, as I have seen it trash a HDD.  One further note, I haven't done much experience with fixmbr, you can read more about it here.

...me lost

Someone who knows about linux/xp my AIM NAME = Godfath3r07
EMAIL= mdilidio_44@hotmail.com

if u can tell me how to get linux on my computer, that'd be GRRRRRREAT

hehe

Justin, can u please e-mail me, or message me to help me with this...thnx

It'd be better to post/ask questions here, as I've not been able to see you on AIM.  

Hello:

I am doing the exact samething except that I am using my HP laptop to do it. I already have windows 2000 running on it and I have currently only ONE partion a c: which has about 32Gbs free. I have no other partitions. I have been reading alot of posts everywhere and I have a few questions. I have decided to with the stable version of debian. and I want to use Grub. But I read everywhere where people say Install GRUB to the MBR. but how do I go about doing that from windows? where do I download GRUB to and the how do I install it from windows 2K? also when I make the new partition for Debian? is it at the time of install, do I just let the linux installer take care of that or should I use partition magic? and if I use partition magic how should I format the partition (which filesystem)? So far these are the steps that I have outlined to follow:

- defragment my win 2K harddrive (to move it to the front of the HDD)
- Before I do anything, make a startup disk for windows partition
- Create partitions
   - one swap partition (usually around 2x your RAM)
   - a root partition (~5 GB )
   - make another partition that I will mount at /home
- make a startup disk for Linux during the setup
- download a version of Knoppix to use as a live cd in case you need to fix something
   - Make sure you get the EN version from 051704

But from here where do I go? how do I install GRUB? and what do I do after I install GRUB? or is grub included in the boot floppy for Debian? if so do I just boot from the debian floppy? I've read that I need to adjust some configurations on GRUB so that the boot loader gives me windows as an option. How do I do that and when? Really sorry about all the questions, I dont want to come accross like I havent done my homework but is just that most places I been to tell you to do it but not HOW to do it. Any help at would be appreciatted it. Thanx!

The Debian installer should ask where to install GRUB.  I wouldn't install it to MBR.  I've never tried it.  It may work, but I liked the WinNT Bootloader best, so that's why I never attempted to install another Bootloader.


- Justin

I have windows xp and I want and now I also want to install redhat linux but im not sure how to partition my harddrive.  Can somebody please give me instructions on how i would partition my harddrive so I can install redhat linux and also keep my windows xp.  I know I first have to defrag my harddrive to move everything to the front of my HDD but dont what to do after that.  I never partitioned my HDD before so if you could give some help I would apprecitate it.  THanks.

Use a program such as Partition Magic (it's the only one I know about), however, it costs a little money.  http://www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic/

After that, just resize your XP partition, and leave the other partition unformatted.