MultiOS boot problem

[Pietro Guccione]

My problem is the following.
My new system is a AMD Duron 900, with 256MB RAM and a Quantum FB 30GB. The MotherB is a Abit KT7A. So I suppose my system is quite new.

I want to install 2 OS, Windows ME and FreeBSD 4.3. I partitioned the disk in 15 GB per OS, and installed successfully FreeBSD on the second half. At the present I have only Windows 98 available so I tried to install it on the first half (dividing the 15GB in C: and extended partition D: with fdisk).
The system seems to not recognize any OS (with the freeware boot selector OS-BS2.0 v8 of a german guy). If I try to put FreeBSD on the first GB (but I don't want to do this!), FreeBSD starts, but Windows 98 doesn't start anyway!

Questions:
Is OS-BS old and should I try to substitute it with the selector of FreeBSD ?
Can I partition my disk in two halves and install FreeBSD on the second half ?
Is the problem of Windows 98 and will I resolve it when Windows ME will be available ?

[lysdexia]

Hi Pietro
I have my hard drive partitioned with Win98se as C: and Linux as D: I have found that you have to install Windows first, as it does not recognize other operating systems. Linux happily installed after that and set up the dual boot.

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ya think?

[Pietro Guccione]

Thanks
So you say me:
first: partition the HD as tou want,
second: install Windows (SE or First edition is the same ?)
third : FreeBSD (or Linux).

But: Are the systems beyond 15 GB bootable ?

Thank you again.

[lysdexia]

I dont see why not, although my 20gig drive is split into 4. I guess it depends on how old your computer is and how your operating system accesses the hard drive, you may need to use a disk manager.

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ya think?

[ziba-june]

Hi, I personally don't believe in putting more than one OS per drive. I have a few of these removable storage devices(bought it for $19.00 each)each with on harddrive and a different OS. I had set my HD to auto in the CMOS and I switch harddrives as needed.

In your case I suggest you go to Fdisk and remove extended Partition and another primary partition instead. In order for any OS to boot up they need to be on Primary partition (you can have upto four partitions on any HD). Put windows on the 1st partition and your other OS to the second Partition and it should work.

[Pietro Guccione]

Thanks, it works! Problem closed
Now I'm fighting with another problem related to X server on FreeBSD

See you soon