Quick question about dual boot

[beyonddc]

Yeah, my b, I know I shouldn't post in here, but I just want a quick answer.

I will be formatting my system and planning to install Windows XP and Slackware Linux on it.
I have 3 harddrives right now, and 2 harddrives are for storage.
One harddrive will be partited into 2 and going to install XP and Linux on it.

I know I need to install XP first and then Linux.

My question is when I install Linux, will linux wipe out the data from my other 2 harddrives, or it will just install on the partition I pick.
Because I have important data on my other 2 harddrives, I don't want anything happen to it.

thanks

 

[mjquilly]

You don't really NEED to install XP first, it's just easier if you do.

And no, the Slackware installer will not randomly delete data from your drives, it will do what you tell it to.

 

[nodoubts2k]

first, when you install linux, you should have more than one partition for just the linux data. That said, you shouldnt have to.

 

[beyonddc]

so install XP first, or Linux first?
My past experience, I install XP first, then Linux, because Linux can detect Windows partition and create a dual boot when start up.
Can Windows do the same thing if I install Linux first?

 

[Kadarin]

I would install XP first, and then when you install Slackware, configure Grub (or LILO) to also point to the XP partition in addition to the linux root. Remember, for linux, you'll want at least three separate partitions: One for /boot, one for swap, and one for / (root). You may wish to have a separate /home partition, and other people have different ways of doing things for their own reasons.