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Anyone tried a XP-Vista-Linux triple-boot?

Z

zacharace

Senior member
Hey all.
Just curious if anyone's tried to triple boot with Windows XP, Vista Beta 2, and Linux? I have a 3-partition setup (80 gig XP, 50 gig Vista, and 30 gig soon-to-be-Linux), and wanted to fill up the 30 gig with either Red Hat 9, Ubuntu 6, or Fedora Core 5.

Obviously, the issue is the bootloader. Would GRUB or lilo allow access to both XP and Vista? Any ideas?

Thanks,
Zach
 
RH9 is pretty old, I wouldn't try to run it unless you have a very, very good reason.

And it should work fine, GRUB and LILO are both very capable bootloaders. Any problems that you'll run into will most likely be one of the Windows installations interfering with the other one.
 
Nope..........not that easy. Grub will overwrite the Vista bootloader and fixing Vista will result in Grub not working.

There is a guide to how to do this correctly at ProOne forums otherwise you're in for some poblems..........
 
Nope..........not that easy. Grub will overwrite the Vista bootloader and fixing Vista will result in Grub not working.
Click to expand...

That seems unlikely. MS has always put their bootloader at the beginning of the boot partition and not the MBR and I don't see a reason them changing that for Vista. Adding an entry to grub to boot vista should be as simple as XP.
 
Hmmm...I might just uninstall Vista and put Linux on that partition...it's been giving me some problems when I try to access my documents from my XP partition. I change the "owner" to me and now "Access Denied" errors pop up when I try to access it from XP.
 
Get a new HD and experiment on it. Atleast, that's what I do to avoid issues between my Windows and Linux installations.
 
Originally posted by: Nothinman
Nope..........not that easy. Grub will overwrite the Vista bootloader and fixing Vista will result in Grub not working.
Click to expand...

That seems unlikely. MS has always put their bootloader at the beginning of the boot partition and not the MBR and I don't see a reason them changing that for Vista. Adding an entry to grub to boot vista should be as simple as XP.
Click to expand...

Well, it may be unlikely, but, it's true. Vista uses boot.mgr and BCD. Grub will not recognize this and Vista will not be available. Now, this can be corrected by adding several command line entries to Grub, but, it's not as easy as it was with XP where Grub would simply recognize the MS bootloader and you would have XP available.

Also, a revised program is near release "Vista Bootloader" which will allow the program to take control and installation of Linux will be as simple as it was with XP. Also, from what I've read, Grub is also in the works to be altered and allow it to recognize the new MS bootloader.

EDIT: Do not make the mistake many people made when Vista became available.........if you simply do a repair of Vista, it will overwrite Grub and then you will have more work to do to recover your Linux install..........
 
Now, this can be corrected by adding several command line entries to Grub, but, it's not as easy as it was with XP where Grub would simply recognize the MS bootloader and you would have XP available.
Click to expand...

You're talking about two different things. If GRUB can be configured to load Vista then nothing has changed from GRUB's point of view and the boot code is still in the boot record of the Vista boot partition. And secondly GRUB never did any OS autodetection of it's own, that's all up to the distro. Before they would automatically add an entry to menu.lst for you and eventually I'm sure they'll be updated to detect Vista as well.

Also, a revised program is near release "Vista Bootloader" which will allow the program to take control and installation of Linux will be as simple as it was with XP.
Click to expand...

Call me pessimistic but I doubt it'll be that simple. But it's good that MS is finally recognizing that there are other OSes out there.
 
Originally posted by: Nothinman
Now, this can be corrected by adding several command line entries to Grub, but, it's not as easy as it was with XP where Grub would simply recognize the MS bootloader and you would have XP available.
Click to expand...

You're talking about two different things. If GRUB can be configured to load Vista then nothing has changed from GRUB's point of view and the boot code is still in the boot record of the Vista boot partition. And secondly GRUB never did any OS autodetection of it's own, that's all up to the distro. Before they would automatically add an entry to menu.lst for you and eventually I'm sure they'll be updated to detect Vista as well.

Also, a revised program is near release "Vista Bootloader" which will allow the program to take control and installation of Linux will be as simple as it was with XP.
Click to expand...

Call me pessimistic but I doubt it'll be that simple. But it's good that MS is finally recognizing that there are other OSes out there.
Click to expand...

LOL! 2 things........

I'm not an expert at this......I'm merely pointing out what is being talked about at most Linux forums and other forums which have threads on the topic as well as my personal expieriences. Grub has problems with Vista's new bootloader........it can not identify it, it does not work to simply install Linux after Vista in a dual boot or multi-boot environment the way it did with Win XP. The only way it works is to manually edit Grub........I've had to do this on 3 of my systems now.

Dual/Multi-Booting Vista/Linux

Lastly, the program "Vista Bootloader" has nothing to do with MS.........😉 It is a thrid party piece developed by Pro One.......

Vista Boot

 
The only way it works is to manually edit Grub
Click to expand...

Then that means it still works, GRUB has never done anything automatically, all of the autodetection stuff is in the distro's installer.

Lastly, the program "Vista Bootloader" has nothing to do with MS......... It is a thrid party piece developed by Pro One.......
Click to expand...

Ah well, that's gay then. Wonder how much that'll cost.
 
Originally posted by: Nothinman
The only way it works is to manually edit Grub
Click to expand...

Then that means it still works, GRUB has never done anything automatically, all of the autodetection stuff is in the distro's installer.

Lastly, the program "Vista Bootloader" has nothing to do with MS......... It is a thrid party piece developed by Pro One.......
Click to expand...

Ah well, that's gay then. Wonder how much that'll cost.
Click to expand...

LOL! Ok.............let's look at the original question.............
Obviously, the issue is the bootloader. Would GRUB or lilo allow access to both XP and Vista? Any ideas?
Click to expand...

The answer to that is no, it will not without manually editing Grub.

And to answer your other question.......Vista Boot is FREE........it has been around awhile already as it was written while the first, non-public betas were out. The programs written are and always will be free............😀
 
Originally posted by: EndGame
Originally posted by: Nothinman
Now, this can be corrected by adding several command line entries to Grub, but, it's not as easy as it was with XP where Grub would simply recognize the MS bootloader and you would have XP available.
Click to expand...

You're talking about two different things. If GRUB can be configured to load Vista then nothing has changed from GRUB's point of view and the boot code is still in the boot record of the Vista boot partition. And secondly GRUB never did any OS autodetection of it's own, that's all up to the distro. Before they would automatically add an entry to menu.lst for you and eventually I'm sure they'll be updated to detect Vista as well.

Also, a revised program is near release "Vista Bootloader" which will allow the program to take control and installation of Linux will be as simple as it was with XP.
Click to expand...

Call me pessimistic but I doubt it'll be that simple. But it's good that MS is finally recognizing that there are other OSes out there.
Click to expand...

LOL! 2 things........

I'm not an expert at this......I'm merely pointing out what is being talked about at most Linux forums and other forums which have threads on the topic as well as my personal expieriences. Grub has problems with Vista's new bootloader........it can not identify it, it does not work to simply install Linux after Vista in a dual boot or multi-boot environment the way it did with Win XP. The only way it works is to manually edit Grub........I've had to do this on 3 of my systems now.

Dual/Multi-Booting Vista/Linux

Lastly, the program "Vista Bootloader" has nothing to do with MS.........😉 It is a thrid party piece developed by Pro One.......

Vista Boot
Click to expand...

That how-to looks interesting, thanks. I appreciate everyone's comments. I'll try to do the how-to tonight or tomorrow and I'll let you know how it came out.

Zach
 
The answer to that is no, it will not without manually editing Grub.
Click to expand...

The answer is yes, you're adding criteria to the question that weren't there originally.

The programs written are and always will be free...........
Click to expand...

Without the source code I have no faith in them to keep it free.
 
Originally posted by: Nothinman
The answer to that is no, it will not without manually editing Grub.
Click to expand...

The answer is yes, you're adding criteria to the question that weren't there originally.

The programs written are and always will be free...........
Click to expand...

Without the source code I have no faith in them to keep it free.
Click to expand...

LOL! You obviously have a need to be right..............that's fine....😀

Here's what you do though..........like the OP asked, just install XP like he did, then add Vista....any flavor...........then, install any distro and Grub/Lilo...........reboot and tell me that you get Grub with the options of booting Xp & Vista without doing ANY editing to Grub/Lilo..............you won't😉

That's what the OP wanted to know (as shown by his last post). You answered that yes, he could load any of the Linux distros and Grub would boot with the options to boot his distr of Linux/XP/Vista...........(it won't). I answered that he could not simply load Linux after his XP/Vista installs without edit Grub. (which it won't). That's the bottom line.

Yes, technically, the problem is with the new bootloader included with Vista and yes, technically, Grub has the ability to recognize/boot it, but, not without editing Grub. But, that isn't what the OP wanted to know.............he wanted to know if he could load one of the Linux distro's along with his installs of XP/Vista and if he would be able to boot to Linux/XP/Vista the same way you could with just XP/Linux..........you can't, you MUST edit Grub before you are able to do this successfully.

As far as Vista Boot Pro.............Pro Ones programs have always been free..........do I know positively what will hapen a year, 5 years, 10 years from now? No.............but I do know all the programs they've developed to date are free as we speak.😉

 
LOL! You obviously have a need to be right..............that's fine....
Click to expand...

It's not a need like I have OCD or something, it's just that I am right.

Here's what you do though..........like the OP asked, just install XP like he did, then add Vista....any flavor...........then, install any distro and Grub/Lilo...........reboot and tell me that you get Grub with the options of booting Xp & Vista without doing ANY editing to Grub/Lilo..............you won't
Click to expand...

I don't care if you have to edit menu.lst after the installation, it still works just fine. What you're doing is akin to saying that Windows doesn't support my NIC because I have to install drivers after the installation, neither are true statements.

You answered that yes, he could load any of the Linux distros and Grub would boot with the options to boot his distr of Linux/XP/Vista...........(it won't). I answered that he could not simply load Linux after his XP/Vista installs without edit Grub. (which it won't). That's the bottom line.
Click to expand...

It's not the bottom line, you're adding more to the question than was there. It may have been what he meant to ask, but it's not what he asked and there's no way to infer that from his text either. But maybe I'm just blind, please point out where he said something like "without configuring the bootloader".

Yes, technically, the problem is with the new bootloader included with Vista and yes, technically, Grub has the ability to recognize/boot it,
Click to expand...

Actually no it's not and no it doesn't. Grub doesn't know anything about NTFS or Windows, when GRUB loads Windows all it does is hand off control to the boot record on the partition you tell it to just like the initial BIOS does to the code in the MBR. There is no knowledge there at all, it just says "here you go" and hopes for the best.

No.............but I do know all the programs they've developed to date are free as we speak
Click to expand...

And if they disappear tomorrow you're screwed. No thanks, I'll stick to boot loaders with the source code available.

Also you might want to take a look at your keyboard, your period key seems to be sticking.
 
Originally posted by: Nothinman
LOL! You obviously have a need to be right..............that's fine....
Click to expand...

It's not a need like I have OCD or something, it's just that I am right.

Here's what you do though..........like the OP asked, just install XP like he did, then add Vista....any flavor...........then, install any distro and Grub/Lilo...........reboot and tell me that you get Grub with the options of booting Xp & Vista without doing ANY editing to Grub/Lilo..............you won't
Click to expand...

I don't care if you have to edit menu.lst after the installation, it still works just fine. What you're doing is akin to saying that Windows doesn't support my NIC because I have to install drivers after the installation, neither are true statements.

You answered that yes, he could load any of the Linux distros and Grub would boot with the options to boot his distr of Linux/XP/Vista...........(it won't). I answered that he could not simply load Linux after his XP/Vista installs without edit Grub. (which it won't). That's the bottom line.
Click to expand...

It's not the bottom line, you're adding more to the question than was there. It may have been what he meant to ask, but it's not what he asked and there's no way to infer that from his text either. But maybe I'm just blind, please point out where he said something like "without configuring the bootloader".

Yes, technically, the problem is with the new bootloader included with Vista and yes, technically, Grub has the ability to recognize/boot it,
Click to expand...

Actually no it's not and no it doesn't. Grub doesn't know anything about NTFS or Windows, when GRUB loads Windows all it does is hand off control to the boot record on the partition you tell it to just like the initial BIOS does to the code in the MBR. There is no knowledge there at all, it just says "here you go" and hopes for the best.

No.............but I do know all the programs they've developed to date are free as we speak
Click to expand...

And if they disappear tomorrow you're screwed. No thanks, I'll stick to boot loaders with the source code available.

Also you might want to take a look at your keyboard, your period key seems to be sticking.
Click to expand...


OK.........................................You won..............Nothin...................Man.................😉
 
VistabootPro is only for people who are too lazy to figure out how bcdedit works. And bcdedit will always be 'free' since it comes with the OS.
 
OK.........................................You won..............Nothin...................Man.................
Click to expand...

If you really think this is some sort of competition I feel sorry for you, I'm just trying to help you understand what you're confused about.
 
Originally posted by: stash
VistabootPro is only for people who are too lazy to figure out how bcdedit works. And bcdedit will always be 'free' since it comes with the OS.
Click to expand...


That would be correct.😉 It does have it's plusses over BCDEDIT though too.....whatever can make my time/use easier............😀
 
title "Windows Vista"
root (sd0,0)
chainloader +1

😕 GRUB doesn't use (sdn,n) now does it? I thought it was (hdn,n) for all PATA/SATA/SCSI devices.
 
Originally posted by: stash
VistabootPro is only for people who are too lazy to figure out how bcdedit works. And bcdedit will always be 'free' since it comes with the OS.
Click to expand...

That's exactly the reason I'm choosing it!
 
GRUB doesn't use (sdn,n) now does it? I thought it was (hdn,n) for all PATA/SATA/SCSI devices.
Click to expand...

Yes, grub uses hd for all BIOS disks because it can't tell the difference, it just relies on the BIOS to support and order them.

That's exactly the reason I'm choosing it!
Click to expand...

Woohoo, choose ignorance proudly!
 
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