[NTLUG:Discuss] Linux for Windows

[greenglow484@juno.com]

>From: Al Wyatt <amw at rocketmail.com>
>Reply-To: discuss at ntlug.org
>To: discuss at ntlug.org
>Subject: [NTLUG:Discuss] Linux for Windows
>Date: Sat, 9 Sep 2000 07:40:35 -0700 (PDT)

	<snip>
>for lilo.  Well, I musta done something bad cuz every
>time I'd go into Windows it would say something like
>"Windows has detected an error in your system
>registry.  Windows will reboot and fix it."  I'd press

	<snip>
>things started messing up.  It's a long story, but I
>got frustrated and formatted my hard disk and put
>Windows on it and said forget Linux.  Well, I don't
>really want to forget Linux (I've calmed down) and now
>am looking at a partitionless install as a less
>drastic way of messing with my computer.  I saw Linux

	<snip>
>you can start from Windows.  I'm wondering what the
>group's experience is with this or other similar
>partition-less installs.  I realize it'll slow down
>hard-disk access some, but does it make it unbearably slow?

Al --

I'm running 2 Win OS'es, plus Mandrake Linux, on my box; 2 HDD total, a
total of 4 Win partitions, plus 4 Linux partitions.  Of course, a_lot_of
other folks -- in N. Texas and across the planet -- are doing the same
types of things.  If all installed properly, the OS'es generally leave
each other alone, and co-exist pretty well.  

I tried installing, out of curiosity, Linux for Windows about 2 weeks
ago; it's on the new Maximum Linux mag. CD.  I was never able to get it
to boot, using either of my Win OS'es, nor DOS.  The one time it did
start booting, it stopped.  I took it off my machine, and I never looked
back.  

I have heard some fairly good reviews of it.  Other folks on this list
have said it's fairly slow; I've also heard that several times.  

IMO, the best way to run Linux is to run it in its natural, intended
state, on its own partitions and not in a combo-Win-Lin setup.  Doing it
in Win, you have any memory/ kernel difficulties, of Win, running in the
background, while the Linux is going, I guess.

Since you've already partitioned (I guess using DOS fdisk.exe) and
reinstalled Win once or twice, you have a lot of knowledge most folks
don't.

Of course, all this is at your own risk.  Back up all your data and other
stuff before you do anything.  Don't do it unless you're knowledgeable
and willing to reinstall OS'es, spend some time at it, and to get it
working.

Put the Linux on last.  You could do 3 partitions of 2 gig each, for Win.
 Leave the other 4 gig unformatted.  Then, put on the Linux and format
the 4 gig that way.  With each OS, thus plenty of room to install, store
stuff under Win and Linux, etc.

With the new LILO (which I_think_is in Mandrake 7.1), you can put Linux
anywhere you want; does not have to be below the 1043 cylinders, or
whatever.  If that's not correct, you can still create 2 (never create
just 1) boot floppies, and boot Linux from those.  (I won't go into LILO
install, booting, etc.; presume you have knowledge of that stuff.  Plus,
Mandrake etc. helps you set that stuff up.)

IMO, either the Mandrake, Corel, Caldera or Storm distros install
extremely easy.  Come to NTLUG next Sat. morn (see the webpage) and buy
CDs of each for $5 apiece; what a deal!  :-)

This list probably can't help you with Win error messages.  As another
msg. said, if you are still having problems with the Linux install, post
with very specific error msg. text, etc.  What are the messages; what are
you running/ doing; etc.  HTH
--
  Douglas D. Darnold	Principal/ Attorney
  LAW OFFICES OF DOUGLAS D. DARNOLD <greenglow484 at juno.com>
  P. O. Box 12461	Dallas  Texas 75225-0461	Voice: 214-368-0068


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