multiple operating systems

[devinmcmahon]

i just bought a new 80gb hard drive, and combined with my 60gb hard drive, i now have 140GB.. Since i now have enough room for more than one operating system, i was wondering which operating systems would you choose.. I know i want XP.. Any operating systems you would like.. I have all of the versions windows, and was thinking of putting 98SE on it.. Should i put a version of linux or lindows on it? What should i put on it?

[Jumby]

It's hard for some else to answer that question. You need to ask yourself what do you want to use, and why? But with a hard drive that size, why not do all 4...XP, 98se, Lindows and Linux, each on a seperate partition of course. Then after you do it and realize you don't need one, delete it.

[setoguro]

I get dizzy thinking of all that room and what could be put there . If you are are new to Linux then you should maybe try Mandrake or Redhat here . I don't think I would go with more than one just because of the time element. With too many distros how would you be able to put the time into them all to get to know them. Enjoy and have fun.

[devinmcmahon]

ok thanks... ive decided to try red hat linux and have 98se and xp on it. I cant wait to get this set up!!

[rond36]

I have had 4 operating systems on my P4 2.0A system Win ME, 2 installs of Win XP, and Mandrake Linux 8.1. A word of warning if you install Linux to a hard drive that already has Win XP installed on it and is part of a Multi-boot setup Linux will write its root partition before the Win XP partition and you won't be able to boot to Win XP because the NT boot loader will detect an unknown (Linux) partition in the MBR before the Win XP partition and the Win XP partition has moved from where boot.ini has it listed as being. The best way to avoid this is to install both versions of Windows on the first HDD and install Linux on the second HDD.

If it is too late one way to fix Win XP is to edit boot.ini to list the correct partition

Before Linux install

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
C:\windows="Microsoft Windows 98 SE"

After Linux install

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
C:\windows="Microsoft Windows 98 SE"

[devinmcmahon]

its not too late because i havent installed any operating system yet.. I have to reformat my hard drive for the new system im building with the second hard drive.. what i wanted to do is have all the OS's on the 60 gb primary hard drive and use the second 80gb drive as a secondary HD for files for the os's to share.. but thanks for the advice and i will keep that in mind.

[devinmcmahon]

could you give me advice on how i should install these three os's? what is the best way to place them on my hard drives? In other words, what order should i install xp, 98se, and red hat?

[rond36]

Partition the 60GB drive with 3 20GB partitions one for Win 98SE and one for Win XP the other one for data. Partition the 80GB drive however you want leaving 20GB un-partitioned. Install Win98SE first followed by XP using advanced settup and choosing the partition. Win XP will settup the duel boot for the MS operating systems. Install Linux on the 80GB drive in the un-partitioned space and it will settup its partitions and install its boot loader (LILO or Grub) to the boot sector producing a menu asking if you want to boot to Linux or Windows if you choose Linux, Linux will load if you choose Windows the NT boot loader will produce another menu asking if you want to boot to 98 or XP.

A word of caution if you need to format and reinstall Win 98SE you will remove the Linux boot loader and NT boot loader from the boot sector of the 60GB drive and will not be able to boot XP or Linux