[ronhum]

First off i'm brand new to linux. I recently bought a second hardrive and set it as a slave. I would like to have linux mandrake 9.1 installed on it and leave Windows XP on my primary master. How exactly would I go about installing it to where my computer boots up properly and it be installed on the correct drive. I'm sure it has somethign to do with lilo but what exactly do i choose? Step by step instructions are welcome, thanks

[codejockey]

You will need to do two things: (1) direct Mandrake to install on your second hard drive (/dev/hdb for the slave device on the primary channel or /dev/hdd for the slave device on the secondary channel in Linux lingo, assuming you have IDE drives) and (2) choose your bootloader configuration (lilo or grub or some other variant).

Task (1) is simple enough, as Mandrake will graphically show you your disk layout on all drives that it finds, and prompt you for where to install Linux. Just be sure you choose /dev/hdb or /dev/hdd (your second, and presumably empty, hard drive). Note that you can partition the drive as you like. Once you have finished partitioning (which can be as simple as accepting the Mandrake default), Mandrake will install on your second drive.

Task (2) is a bit more complicated, but not insurmountable. I can't remember what Mandrake uses as the default bootloader, but as long as your primary drive is connected when Mandrake installs, it will recognize your existing Windoze partitions and offer you the option of making those visible from Linux. I believe Mandrake also configures the bootloader so that you can dual-boot to either Windoze or Linux (but since I don't run Mandrake, I can't test this out directly).

Hope this helps.

[lynch]

Just to add to what Codejockey has said:
Mandrake 9.1 uses Lilo and should configure the dual-boot automatically,though it chooses itself as the default OS.If you install using Expert Mode you are given the option to choose the default OS.But it's easily changed later by editing(as root) the /etc/lilo.conf configuration file and changing the "default=" with the label of your windows entry.After saving the changes type:
/sbin/lilo
You should see a couple lines saying:
adding linux
adding windows
lynch

[stonewall]

I would recommend anyone that wants to dual boot and already has 2 harddrives to buy a couple of drive caddies.

All you need to do to go from xp to linux is turn off pc, pull out drive and slide in your linux drive and turn back on, easy.

No complications, no hassle and at only £8 or so per caddy a fairly cheap solution.

[codejockey]

What?! -- and miss all of this mind-numbing, hair-ripping, incredibly frustrating fun?!?! What kind of weirdo are you? ()

[stonewall]

[VidsGuy]

I have my Linux on a 20GB slave drive and my XP on the 40GB primary master.


When I installed Linux, I didn't opt for either LILO or GRUB. Instead, I created a Linux boot disk on a floppy.


When I want to boot up Linux, I just use the boot floppy. Nice and simple, with no conflicting bootloaders.

[VidsGuy]

I have my Linux on a 20GB slave drive and my XP on the 40GB primary master.


When I installed Linux, I didn't opt for either LILO or GRUB. Instead, I created a Linux boot disk on a floppy.


When I want to boot up Linux, I just use the boot floppy. Nice and simple, with no conflicting bootloaders.