win98+win2k+linux

[kornermi]

I have win98 + win2k dual booting right now. If I install Linux on this machine, will I have 3 options when the computer boots up? or Will my computer ask me just "windows or linux?" and if I choose windows, "win98 or win2k?". Which one will be the case? Thanks.

 

[Noriaki]

you have to add Linux to the Win2000 boot menu.

Install linux, MAKE SURE YOU DON'T let Linux install Lilo to the MBR, you need to keep Win2000's boot loader there, and make sure you create a boot disk while you install, since you won't have Lilo on the MBR you won't be able to boot linux without one.

After the install is done, boot linux from the disk and type

dd if=/dev/hda3 of=/mnt/DOS_hda1/bootsect.lnx bs=512 count=1

ok on the if= part, you have to use the partition you have set as your linux boot partition (you set this up during install)

the of= part can be any drive/folder you want as long as Win2000 can see it (it can't see stuff on linux partitions), I just picked my C:\ which is mapped to /mnt/DOS_hda1/ with Mandrake at least.... finally bootsect.lnx can be any name you want...I just picked that becuase it's fairly descriptive of what it does.

After this reboot to Windows and you should see this bootsect.lnx file on your C:\ (or wherever you sent it to)

add the line

C:\bootsect.lnx="Linux" (again change c:\bootsect.lnx as appropriate for where you put/named the file, and the part in "" is just what shows up on the menu so you can type whatever you want there)

at the end of your boot.ini file (you might need to be in DOS mode to do this actually)

Next time you reboot you'll have linux as an option on your boot menu

Edit: SUOrangeMan wrote a great article about this, over here.

 

[SUOrangeman]

Actually, my rambling is outdated now. There is a little util called bootpart that does all the hard work for ya. I'm looking for a link.

-SUO

 

[bubba]

If you just install linux, you will get the second method, i.e. Win or Linux? then Win98 or Win2K? This also works fine.

 

[badtz42]

The methods above wouldn't work if you install a real linux ie ext2 (at least I don't think so.) I have Grubs boot choose between linux or windows then ask between the 98 and 2k... works fine.

 

[Lowfat]

Or istall Lilo on a floppy. Use this to boot into linux, else you get to choose from win2k/98 as before.

 

[thornc]

kornermi,

Read the Linux+NT-loader Mini-Howto, the sugegestion that Noriaki made are all there

Linux Documentation Project...

Its about linux and NT, but it should be the same with w2k...i've used this procedure with
my nt+linux installations and it works fine.....

But if you don't what to fuss in your w2k installation, a linux boot disk is a good option,
normally during an installation most distributions will allow you to create one according to
your set-up....

Have Fun...