Will Linux run out of Win2k's boot manager?

[Skooter]

...if not, how could I install win2k and linux on the same harddrive. Obviously put them on seperate partitions, but then what? Thanks.

 

[Zach]

Lilo can have a windows entry, which will load up the Windows boot loader. Install Linux after windows, and it'll usually be made for you (unless you opt not to install Lilo). I say usually, I've only used Redhat and Mandrake but I assume others do this.

Getting Linux into the NT boot loader is more trickey. Quite messy I think, but anal folks like it. I wouldn't bother, but you can look it up. It involves copying the Linux boot sector (which must be on it's own partition, not in the MBR like it usually is -- for me and by default at least), and plopping it in the c:\ so the NT loader can see it. Weird.

Of course, you could just boot Linux from floppy! 😀

 

[Skooter]

What's the best/easiest way? I know nothing about linux. Wanna install it so I can learn it.

 

[Zach]

The easiest way is installing it last. Like if you wanna dual boot Win2K and Win98, you install Win98 first then Win2K, right? If you want Linux in there, it is more 'aware' of other OS's then even 2K (as opposed to the dumb and blind Win9x line), and will take care of things. Just put/move your other MS OS's on there to have a good 2 or 3 gigs free. I've done Mandrakw isntalls that took about 3 gigs, but most of my Redhat installs seem to take only 1.5. I've heard that Mandrake is more bloated, but the difference might be me being lazy when choosing packages. Anyway, you install Linux into some free space (and last), and install Lilo into the MBR. It'll figure things out and have a "win" or "windows" entry by default, which will load up the NT boot menu.

That's the easiest to boot and isntall. The easiest, just as far as installing goes, is to not install Lilo and use a boot disk for Linux.

 

[SUOrangeman]

bootpart from www.winimage.com and add ANY bootable partition to the Win2K/NT4 boot manager. Just be careful not to let those other OSes (Linux or otherwise) write to the MBR when you install them.

-SUO