Adding a new Linux HDD to a Win HDD system

[Tireseas]

Hi all:
In an effort to wean my partner off of Windows without losing some of the programs upon which she has become reliant (and not really all that keen on getting into Wine, & Co) I am considering loading a second HDD along with her Win HDD. This is my plan thus far:

1. She has currently got a 6 or 7 GB Seagate and I'd be installing an 8 GB Seagate
2. I was going to put the 8 GB as the primary master (/dev/hda) so that I can run an easy distro like Mandrake and use LILO to boot into either Linux or Windows which would be the secondary master (/dev/hdc)
3. She has a CD-R which I was thinking of putting as /dev/hdb

Some questions/input requests:
(i) Would it be best to put the Win HDD as /dev/hdb or /dev/hdc (i.e. primary slave or secondary master)?
(ii) I am presuming that when it comes time to configure LILO to present a choice between OS's that despite the physical hardware set-up, as far as LILO is concerned the arrangement would be just like any other dual-boot arrangement - is this correct? If not, are there any tips or tricks I should pay heed to?

I will configure the jumpers as needed and the idea is to gradually transfer her Net/email accounts over to something like KDE, etc. after I have set up the firewall and the basic system security. I am also interested in hearing from others who have tried things similar to this plan and what their experiences were.
Cheers
- Andy

[ShieldWolf]

You didn't specify which version of windows, but I'm going to guess that it's Win98 due to the small harddrives.

Leave The Windows HDD as the primary master, and add the Linux HDD to any open IDE slot. If Windows is not the primary master it can give you many problems, including refusing to boot. There are ways around it, but since Linux is happy anywhere, why bother?

When you install Linux on the new HDD, make sure that the bootloader, either lilo or grub, gets placed on the MBR of the primary(Windows) HDD. It would also be a good idea to make a boot floppy during install, just in case you run into any problems.

You'll probably want to set it so that Windows is loaded by default, and also increase the time before it autostarts.

[Tireseas]

ShieldWolf:
Thanks for your input on this. I wasn't aware that Windows (& yes, it is 98SE) was that fussy to the point of complaining about whether it is a primary master or not - jeez: talk about anti-social, or what!!! :)
So you are suggesting adding a boot loader onto the Win drive? Again, had never thought of that - just on the first sector of the Linux drive and booting from that into either Win or Linux.
Thanks for this insight. Appreciate it.
Best wishes
- Andy

[mdwatts]

You should put the faster ide devices on the same channel (HDD's on primary master/slave) and the cdrom(s) on secondary master/slave.

If you put a HD and cdrom on the same channel, the slower drive (being the cdrom) will actually slowdown the HD and may not allow you to enable the higher UDMA modes for the HD.

[Tireseas]

Thanx mdwatts ... as a rule of thumb then, does one assume that a CD-R will be slower than HDDs? Does it make much difference then if a CD-R and a CD-RW are on different channels? e.g. a CD-RW as the primary slave and a CD-R as secondary master? If so, how does one determine this - in other words, what is the logic behind the conclusion?
Cheers
- Andy

[mdwatts]

Between HD's and cdrom's, the HD's are the faster device of which you should keep them on the same channel.

For one of my pc's.

P/M - HD
P/S - HD
S/M - DVD
S/S - CDRW

and another

P/M - HD
S/M - DVD
S/S - CDRW

I never put a cdrom and HD on the same channel for the reasons I posted in my previous reply.

[Tireseas]

OK - thanks for that. Learn something everyday. I'd never come across that in any of the books I've looked at, so that was useful mdwatts.

- Andy

[mdwatts]

Glad to help.

Also having a IDE Zip/LS120 drive on the same channel as the HD will have the same effect as a HD and cdrom.