[Cabbage42II]

I've tried installing Linux and Windows on my machine a billion times and I can't seem to ever get it to work.

Generally what is happening is I install Windows and then install Linux and then when I try to boot windows I get the "missing NTLDR" error. I've tried not installing LiLo on the MBR and I've tried repairing and replacing my MBR through the windows CD after installing Linux and still to no avail.

Basically I'm tired of reinstalling all of this crap through trial and error. I've also worn out the "search" button on Google trying to find an answer.

Can anybody PLEASE help me install Linux (Redhat) on a system that already has Windows on it? I have 2 20G hard drives. One of them is partitioned in half and windows is on one of the halves.

[Sting3R]

ok here is the deal...what you are doing is overwriting the mbr....what you need to do is make a logical partition after windows for redhat...install redhat....when it asks what kind of formatting scheme you want you choose to keep the file system as is. then complete install....you will get a fedora screen everytime you boot prompting you to choose dos or linux.

now for partitioning I use "partition magic" simple software and easy to operate.It will show you your drives and will even ask if you want to format the new partition with linux, windows...etc. I stick with what works the best and for me its partition magic......or you can also partition via old trusty command line.

if you follow the steps and realize what its prompting you for it is quick and painless.


good luck
-sting3r

[Cabbage42II]

what you need to do is make a logical partition after windows for redhat...install redhat....when it asks what kind of formatting scheme you want you choose to keep the file system as is.

What do you mean by "after windows?"

And you mean that I should make the logical partition big enough for Redhat and any aps I want to install? (i.e. about 8-10GB?)

'Cause I already have the hard drive that has windows on in partitioned in half... Should I just delete the half that doesn't have windows on it and reformat it as a logical partition?

[fweaver]

The following web article gives the procedures to set up Dual Boot with Linux and Windows 2K/XP. If the PC has older BIOS that do not support LBA, you may be required to have all boot sectors within the 1024 cylinder boundary (8.5 Gig). Please read through the page listed below and see if it will answer your installation questions.

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

Frank

[Sting3R]

you already have windows installed

-pop in partition magic
-choose logical partition
-linux
-choose the open space to place the new partition

-when your installing redhat DO NOT FORMAT
-keep existing file system
-put the boot loader in the mbr

done

[Cabbage42II]

Well, I didn't QUITE do everything that you guys said, but it worked out for me in the end anyway. I mostly followed that article (thanks for the link) and even part of that was wrong (just some names of drives and such were mixed up I think) but I figured it out eventually. Thanks a lot for your help! I don't know how many more Linux/Windows installations I could sit through.

[hammerbill]

I like to have a few operating systems on my computers. I am not real fond of lilo, like linux in general it is kind of confusing to learn for beginners. Try partition magic (and its accompanying bootmagic) as suggested! I've been using it for years. It is one of the most reliable and easy to use programs for this sort of thing that you will find. You could even pick up a cheaper copy of pm version 6 or 7 on ebay or wherever for cheap that would probably do the trick depending on your windows version. I think bootmagic is pleasant and simple to use and comes with good support for problems.

[saikee]

Well I have never had the pleasure of trying out Boot Magic but I like to defend Linux's Lilo and Grub.

I have Grub booting 16 Linux systems and 3 copies of XPs. I could do it with Lilo too if it allows more than 16 booting entries.

My Debian Sarge's Grub picked out every kernel in my PC and compiled 34 booting choices automatically.

Lilo and Grub are designed to boot multi systems from day one and they don't need any assistance to compile their boot menu. The only necessary condition is each partition should have its own bootloader residing in it. Both Lilo and Grub during an installation will search the whole PC and include a partition if a bootloader is detected, without the user lifting a finger.

The users having difficulties with Lilo and/or Grub are likely using a 3rd party bootloader non-standard to PC convention, like shifting the tracks number for accommodating the booting code.

Lilo and Grub are the cleanest way to boot a PC and should work with all PC-based operating systems. They can be replaced and restored any time without damage to any installed system or altering the standard hard disk partition convention.