[NTLUG:Discuss] Umm, I'm in need of some advice.

[Gregory A. Edwards]

Kyle_Davenport at compusa.com wrote:
> 
> The new lilo works great.  Trying to set up partitions like that below did NOT
> work for me.  Win98SE had it's own idea of the partition table and linux and
> windows were both writing into the other's partitions - with disastrous results.
> 
> ___________________________________________________________________________________
> "Gregory A. Edwards" wrote:
> >
> > Damien Rakh wrote:
> > >
> > >...  HOw would I go about making it so that my
> > > computer lets me choose at bootup which operating system to go to?  Thanks
> > > guys and gals.
> >
> > This is how I normally partition a dual boot system from scratch, YMMV.
> >
> > Use the Linux install to partition the disk into 4 partitions.
> >
> > (for RedHat)  I don't use DiskDruid so I can't remember it it'll let you
> > do this, if not use the advanced install option.
> >
> >  1 10M primary (for Linux /boot)
> >  1 ??G primary set to active (for Windows)
> >  1 ??G primary (for Linux)
> >  1 128M primary (for Linux swap)
> >
> > By using this setup Windows won't see the Linux partitions and the Linux
> > boot will always be in the proper range.  If you don't make all of your
> > partitions primary Win98 will take the entire disk on you.
> ...
> >
> > Now do the Linux install and let Lilo (or other boot manager) be
> > installed.  When you setup your mount points for Linux do not mount the
> > Windows partition.
> 
> For those who haven't heard, LILO has finally done away with the 1024 cylinder
> barrier, so this split of /boot from / is not the neccessity it once was.
> (FWIW, I haven't tried this new feature of the new LILO personally; but I was
> quite happy to see the announcement a few months ago.)  The rest looks quite
> reasonable...
> 
> Kevin
>

Kyle,

The biggest key to this setup is doing the partitions as all primary. 
Win9x can only see 1 primary active partition at a time.  This goes back
to the DOS days.  The other key is to do the Win9x install 1st so that
Linux and Lilo get the last say on the MBR.  If Win98SE can see a
partition it will grab it and make it part of 1 monster VFAT and I never
could figure a way to get Win98 to NOT overwrite the MBR.

-- 
Greg Edwards
New Age Software, Inc.
http://www.nas-inet.com