Installing Windows afer Linux

[Kaervak]

I know it's better to install Windows first then Linux, but I really don't feel like doing my suse install over again. So, how much of a pain would it be to now install XP? My biggest concern would be it stomping all over Grub and screwing with the boot record. Is there a way to have Windows install, then reinstall the Grub boot loader or am I going to have to use a boot loader like GAG/edit the XP Boot loader? Thanks all.

 

[xtknight]

You can install XP when Linux is already on there, and it should overwrite the MBR and boot sector. After that you can tell SUSE to write GRUB to the MBR. The MBR should then be able to point to the Linux boot sector and the Windows boot sector. You do not want to put GRUB in the Windows boot sector, only the master boot record. I've gotten data corruption by doing the former and by later using the recovery console's fixboot.

 

[Kaervak]

Seems easy enough. I'll have to give it a shot and see what happens. 🙂

 

[Nothinman]

The fun part will be booting into SuSe after XP takes over the MBR, you'll need a rescue CD of some type since your machine will boot straight to XP after that.

 

[Kaervak]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
The fun part will be booting into SuSe after XP takes over the MBR, you'll need a rescue CD of some type since your machine will boot straight to XP after that.

I still have the Suse install DVD and there is an option on there to recsue/recover the system in the boot menu. That should do it right?

 

[postmortemIA]

Originally posted by: Kaervak

Originally posted by: Nothinman
The fun part will be booting into SuSe after XP takes over the MBR, you'll need a rescue CD of some type since your machine will boot straight to XP after that.

I still have the Suse install DVD and there is an option on there to recsue/recover the system in the boot menu. That should do it right?

you better make bootable CD-ROM.

link

make sure that you copy menu.lst

 

[Kaervak]

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
you better make bootable CD-ROM.

link

make sure that you copy menu.lst

Hey thanks. That looks like it will come in handy.

 

[Nothinman]

Or he could just boot a LiveCD, chroot to his installation and run 'grub-install /dev/whatever' to replace the MBR.

 

[pcgeek11]

I've done this many times with Suse. Boot from the DVD and then proceed by selecting installation as if you are going to install Suse. Then Where you select the type of install choose other or in 10.2 I think it says other options select repair when that comes up you can select to check and repair the entire system or as I do just select repair the boot loader, make your changes and make sure you write it to the MBR. Easy 5 minute fix.

pcgeek