Where to put windows in a dual-boot

[relyt]

I was going to put Linux on hda1, swap on hda2, and windows on hda3. So itlooks like I'll have to install Linux first. But I heard windows overwrites the MBR, and you can't boot Linux, if you install windows after linux. How can I put the partitions the way I want them?

BTW, Storm Linux 2000 and Windows 98

[fancypiper]

I'm not sure Windows will install that way (hda3). I know it's happy on hda1.

I recommend that you make 4 primary (not extended) partitions with:

hda1 - your Windows vfat

hda2 - for Linux swap

hda2 - ext2 for the root filesystem /

hda4 for your home directory /home

If the last three partitions are primary non-dos partitions, Windows won't see them and will be happy.

That way, you can install either system first, but make a boot disk for Linux because the Windows installation will overwrite the mbr.

By having /home on a separate partition, you can re-install Linux and not re-format the /home partition. That way you can keep all the stuff you downloaded and not lose it.

You can put lilo (if you use that) back in the mbr by booting with the floppy and running lilo.

There are other loaders that can reside in Windows (is it loadlin?).