Way to "hide" linux?

[SpeedFreak03]

I want to install Linux again on my box, but when others use my box, the bootloader confuses them (i tell them to just let it go, but they think its an error etc). Also, I like to get to my windows desktop fast (i still have to use windows primarily for a couple reasons), and it sits at the bootloader for 5-10 seconds. So my question is, is there a way to set up the bootloader up so that I have to hold down a key (such as shift, crtl, ect.) for the bootloader to come up, and if I dont press the key it automatically boots to windows, without any prompts? I have Windows XP Pro, and prolly Mandrake (because slack wont work well with my mouse scroll, and JAMD (like red hat) doesnt support NTFS). I know both of these issues can be resolved, but I don't have all that time right now (later on I will use JAMD again though).

Cliffnotes:
1. Is there a way to set up the bootloader up so that I have to hold down a key (such as shift, crtl, ect.) for the bootloader to come up?
2. Using Windows XP (NTFS) and Mandrake (not yet installed).

Thanks in advance, Josh

 

[skyking]

It is a different direction, but I would suggest installing mandrake on a seperate drive and doing the switching in the BIOS, if a bootlaoder really will confuse the other users. Granted, it will take you one more step to get into your other OS, but it will eliminate others stumbling into your mandrake install, and it will not be visible in windows.

 

[mjquilly]

you could change the bootloader to only wait for a second or 2 before booting windows by default.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Yeah the BIOS thing sounds like a good idea! Also, I was thinking that if I set the bootloader for 1 second, it would hardly show up, but it would give me time to press a key, to stop the timer. Keep the ideas coming though!

 

[MedicBob]

Don't use a bootloader at all to dual boot and boot off of a floppy to get into *nix. I did it for a bit, but got sick of having to use the floppy.

 

[drag]

Here's what you do.

Just don't worry about the bootloader, just disable the menu in your config.

then get rid of windows, but not before saving the Icons from it.

Then install XPde window manager

Then just replace all the names and icons for linux apps with the equivilent from windows.

If they notice a difference, just tell them that your using a power tweak application or something.

They'll probably won't, though.

If your using lilo or grub, you can put a pretty graphic there at boot up time, so they won't think it's a error. Just something to stare at as it boots up for the first couple seconds.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

lol drag I have tried that XPde thing before, but I had trouble getting it running. I will try it again though! I think I will play around with LILO and see what I can do. Thanks for all your help though!

-Josh

 

[Vadatajs]

It's your computer. Tell the other's to get used to it or stop using it. Simple as that. Don't bend over backwards for someone who's too stupid/lazy to actually read the screen before pushing a button.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Originally posted by: Vadatajs
It's your computer. Tell the other's to get used to it or stop using it. Simple as that. Don't bend over backwards for someone who's too stupid/lazy to actually read the screen before pushing a button.

true true

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: SpeedFreak03
... and JAMD (like red hat) doesnt support NTFS). ...

It's not at all difficult to recompile the kernel to add read-only support for NTFS..

 

[pitupepito2000]

why don't you just make a bootfloppy disk. That way when you want to boot into linux just put in the floppy otherwise it will go by default to windows

 

[civad]

I would go by the floppy disk way also

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: SpeedFreak03
... and JAMD (like red hat) doesnt support NTFS). ...

It's not at all difficult to recompile the kernel to add read-only support for NTFS..

i've been wanting to learn how to do this! Do you have any guides for it? Because one time I almost got it, but I messed up somewhere (i forget the details). The floppy disk idea is probably the best, because also if I decide to remove linux (I will be when I build my new system), I don't have to mess with reinstalling XPs bootloader. Thanks for all the input though, and let me know about the guide!

-Josh

 

[SpeedFreak03]

I installed Mandrake, and set LILO to display for 1 second. So, what happens is, the BIOS comes up, then it sits at a blank screen for a moment, then it says "loading windows" and the Windows XP boot screen comes up. If I press any key while the blank screen is there, the bootloader comes up, and lets me choose Linux or windows. I didn't do the floppy thing because it turns out my floppy doesn't work! haha I never use it anyway in this box so it doesnt matter.

-Josh

 

[JustMike]

Use the regular Windows loader with a short time-out and boot Linux from that... there's a howto on this.

 

[txxxx]

No offence, but the people your sharing with cant be that dumb, not to choose "windows" from a list ?

 

[JustMike]

Especially when it's the default and all they have to do is press ENTER.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: SpeedFreak03

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: SpeedFreak03
... and JAMD (like red hat) doesnt support NTFS). ...

It's not at all difficult to recompile the kernel to add read-only support for NTFS..

i've been wanting to learn how to do this! Do you have any guides for it? Because one time I almost got it, but I messed up somewhere (i forget the details). The floppy disk idea is probably the best, because also if I decide to remove linux (I will be when I build my new system), I don't have to mess with reinstalling XPs bootloader. Thanks for all the input though, and let me know about the guide!

-Josh

You should be able to google for kernel compilation howto guides quite easily. They key to NTFS support is that while you're in the "make menuconfig" or "make xconfig" kernel configuration phase, look under File Systems and you'll be able to enable NTFS read support (do NOT enable write support). You can enable it directly or as a module.

Once the kernel is compiled, you can then mount NTFS drives directly, and you can place entries in the /etc/fstab file to have them mounted automatically on boot. When you're ready to do all this, start a new thread..

 

[Drift3r]

Originally posted by: SpeedFreak03
I want to install Linux again on my box, but when others use my box, the bootloader confuses them (i tell them to just let it go, but they think its an error etc). Also, I like to get to my windows desktop fast (i still have to use windows primarily for a couple reasons), and it sits at the bootloader for 5-10 seconds. So my question is, is there a way to set up the bootloader up so that I have to hold down a key (such as shift, crtl, ect.) for the bootloader to come up, and if I dont press the key it automatically boots to windows, without any prompts? I have Windows XP Pro, and prolly Mandrake (because slack wont work well with my mouse scroll, and JAMD (like red hat) doesnt support NTFS). I know both of these issues can be resolved, but I don't have all that time right now (later on I will use JAMD again though).

Cliffnotes:
1. Is there a way to set up the bootloader up so that I have to hold down a key (such as shift, crtl, ect.) for the bootloader to come up?
2. Using Windows XP (NTFS) and Mandrake (not yet installed).

Thanks in advance, Josh

http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/rpm/downloads.html

Download the right rpms for your version of RedHat or Fedora. Then do 'rpm -ivh kernel-ntfs*.rpm' at the console in the same directory where you downloaded the rpms. After that read both of these links.

http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/info/ntfs.html#4.10

http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/info/ntfs.html#4.9


Remember to make the directory in /mnt and use the same name for the directory in /mnt as in your fstab file ! So if you are using '/mnt/windows-D-drive' then you need to use that name as well in you fstab file or else it will not work !

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Originally posted by: txxxx
No offence, but the people your sharing with cant be that dumb, not to choose "windows" from a list ?

Well sometimes its little nephews and stuff like that, but I have a special windows XP account for them (set up so they can''t mess anything up). For there ages (6-8) they are pretty smart though. But the 1 second thing is still working great, and I am working on XPde lol.

 

[Cogman]

One thing you could try is putting a bitmap boot logo, that way it looks less like an error. Then just make the first 5 boot options windows, and change the boot time to 3-4 seconds. So your boot could look something like this
"push enter here"
"or here"
"or even here"
"maybe here"
"could be here"
"linux (not here)"