can i do a dual partition with NTFS ??

[DimZiE]

on my system i've already set up a dual boot system but with FAT32, since i needed the larger filesize capabilities of NTFS i'm thinking of switching to NTFS.. currently i used partition magic's boot manager..

i've tried an NTFS dual boot system in the past, but it doesn't work.. so can anyone can point me in the right direction on how to do this..

thanks

 

[sandorski]

What OSes were you using when you first tried Dual Booting with NTFS?

The eason I ask is that I believe that as long as both OSes can use NTFS, they should work in Dual Boot. Win9x and Linux can't use NTFS, so you wouldn't be able to Dual Boot with them.

 

[Taz480]

As far as I know you can dual boot with any file system. Shouldn't matter other than FAT file systems won't see the NTFS partitions. But you can still create the multi boot system. On my triple boot, I had WinME first, FAT32 on C:, then W2kPro, NTFS on D: and lastly, XP Home, NTFS on G: and all NTFS would see everything but FAT32 will only see FAT32. EDIT- So, ya you can even dual boot Win9x/ME and linux with NTFS. Right now I have Ubuntu and XP dual boot, NTFS and EXT3.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Taz480
As far as I know you can dual boot with any file system. Shouldn't matter other than FAT file systems won't see the NTFS partitions. But you can still create the multi boot system. On my triple boot, I had WinME first, FAT32 on C:, then W2kPro, NTFS on D: and lastly, XP Home, NTFS on G: and all NTFS would see everything but FAT32 will only see FAT32. EDIT- So, ya you can even dual boot Win9x/ME and linux with NTFS. Right now I have Ubuntu and XP dual boot, NTFS and EXT3.

That's true, but to clarify: Win9x and Linux would require a FAT32 Drive/Partition to boot from. Win2k/WinXP would require a NTFS Drive/Partition to Boot from.

 

[xtknight]

Actually I believe you can infact get Linux on an NTFS partition with a special driver. But obviously you want an ext2/ext3/ResierFS/what-have-you partition for Linux and FAT32/NTFS for Windows. Don't any of the Linux file systems have big file support like NTFS?

The main problem I can foresee is the boot loader. What you want to is it to install any and all Windows FIRST, then Linux LAST. Reason being: NTLDR doesn't support chainloading Linux. LILO and GRUB can chainload Windows.

 

[Taz480]

Originally posted by: sandorski

Originally posted by: Taz480
As far as I know you can dual boot with any file system. Shouldn't matter other than FAT file systems won't see the NTFS partitions. But you can still create the multi boot system. On my triple boot, I had WinME first, FAT32 on C:, then W2kPro, NTFS on D: and lastly, XP Home, NTFS on G: and all NTFS would see everything but FAT32 will only see FAT32. EDIT- So, ya you can even dual boot Win9x/ME and linux with NTFS. Right now I have Ubuntu and XP dual boot, NTFS and EXT3.

That's true, but to clarify: Win9x and Linux would require a FAT32 Drive/Partition to boot from. Win2k/WinXP would require a NTFS Drive/Partition to Boot from.

Uh...Ya,......isnt that kinda what I said? Except my Linux isn't using FAT, its using EXT3 But, ya, thats basically what I said describing my triple boot.

 

[Taz480]

Originally posted by: xtknight
Actually I believe you can infact get Linux on an NTFS partition with a special driver. But obviously you want an ext2/ext3/ResierFS/what-have-you partition for Linux and FAT32/NTFS for Windows. Don't any of the Linux file systems have big file support like NTFS?

The main problem I can foresee is the boot loader. What you want to is it to install any and all Windows FIRST, then Linux LAST. Reason being: NTLDR doesn't support chainloading Linux. LILO and GRUB can chainload Windows.

Very true, I concurr. In fact Ubuntu setup instructions suggest installing XP first and then Ubunt. I did just that and the Grub Boot Loader replaced my MBR as the default loader. But I believe DimZie isn't even concerned with Linux right now. If all he installs is different versions of Windows, Windows' normal loading MBR will show all OS's. DimZie, just make sure you always install the oldest version of Windows first and on up.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Taz480
DimZie, just make sure you always install the oldest version of Windows first and on up.

Yup, that's another thing. I don't think the old Win9x bootloader can load WinNT, while the WinNT one can load Win9x.

Overall scheme of things in order of installation:

1. Windows 9x
2. Windows NT (2K, XP)
3. Linux (LILO/GRUB)

I'm fairly sure Win2K bootloader can load WinXP. NTLDR is the same between the two I think.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Taz480

Originally posted by: sandorski

Originally posted by: Taz480
As far as I know you can dual boot with any file system. Shouldn't matter other than FAT file systems won't see the NTFS partitions. But you can still create the multi boot system. On my triple boot, I had WinME first, FAT32 on C:, then W2kPro, NTFS on D: and lastly, XP Home, NTFS on G: and all NTFS would see everything but FAT32 will only see FAT32. EDIT- So, ya you can even dual boot Win9x/ME and linux with NTFS. Right now I have Ubuntu and XP dual boot, NTFS and EXT3.

That's true, but to clarify: Win9x and Linux would require a FAT32 Drive/Partition to boot from. Win2k/WinXP would require a NTFS Drive/Partition to Boot from.

Uh...Ya,......isnt that kinda what I said? Except my Linux isn't using FAT, its using EXT3 But, ya, thats basically what I said describing my triple boot.

Hmm, ya. Thought your last sentence may have confused things, but after reading it again my "clarification" is rather redundant.

 

[DimZiE]

it was NTFS (W2K) NTFS (WinXP) extfs2 (Redhat 7).. i can remember exactly why it wouldn't work back then.. but it works now
the current configuration are 60GB WinXP> For Games(NTFS).40GB WinXP > Work Apps(NTFS). 512 MB Linux swap. 10782 MB> Linux Root(extfs3). 10 GB /usr(extfs3) on one 120 GB HDD and three data partitions on a60GB drive each had 20GB..

thanks guys,, i think the first time i've tried it i think i've installed GRUB on the MBR thus overwriting NT's bootloader.. this time i managed to get it right and installed it on the partition instead of the MBR.. and just edited the boot.ini to include the linux on boot..

thanks guys