Multiple Boot Question

[icemav]

I don't know if someone here can help or not. I'm currently taking some classes this quarter involving Win2K Pro & Server and Linux. We were given a 40 GB HDD to install DOS, Red Hat Linux 9.0, and the 2 WIN OS's above. Is there a certain order to partition and install these? We were told in class that the correct way was to do DOS first, WIN2K Pro second, followed by Server then last Linux. We tried that, but for our Pro class last night, most of us got an error that wouldn't let us boot up Pro, so we had to rewipe the disk to re-install DOS and Pro. Just for further info the sizes of the partitions are 500 MB for DOS, 2000 MB for each Pro & server, and 3000 MB for RHL 9.0 with a 250 MB swap partition. Help???:confused: :confused: :confused:

[Unregstereduser]

Not sure if you will be allowed to do this (the order is correct as far as I can tell though).
How about installing a thrid party bootloader until you have LILO or GRUB going? That ought to take care of the rest for you I think.

[andrewj]

Assuming you can get all the windows installed nice and happy, what I'd recommend doing is not letting RedHat install a bootloader on the MBR. When it asks to install the bootloader (GRUB or LILO), it'll offer you choices like /dev/hda, /dev/hda4, etc. Install it to /dev/hda4, and then the windows loaders will remain in control of the hard disk booting process.

Now you just have to download or make a grub bootdisk or bootcd or any "live CD" that uses grub. You'll use grub to boot redhat.

So, if you want to boot into windows, leave out the bootdisk, and it'll use the windows bootloader installed on the MBR.
If you want to boot into linux, put in the bootdisk, and tell grub to boot redhat, something like:

root (hd0,3)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda4
initrd /boot/initrd
boot

note that (hd0,3) is actually /dev/hda4. GRUB counts starting at zero - that would be the fourth partition on the master drive in the primary IDE channel.

If this doesn't seem to make any sense, possibly post more about the error messages so someone smarter than I would know exactly what went wrong.

[DMR]

1. What is the exact partition layout of the drive? That is, which parititions are Primary, and which are logical (you have 5 partitions, so at least 1 must be logical)? For each partition, which operating system is installed on it?

2. When you say that that most of you got an error booting Pro:
a) what was the exact error
b) had you installed all 4 OSes at that point? If not, which were installed?
c) which bootloader were you using at that point? Post the contents of that bootloader's config/ini file. That in conjunction with knowing your partition layout will help us narrow things down.

[icemav]

I will try these recommendations. As for which OS's were installed on my HDD at the time were all four. Not everyone was able to install Server (ran out of time). Using the instructions we were given, I believe DOS was set up as the primary partition. I did use Grub as the boot loader. And the error message mentioned the NTkernel (I don't remember the exact error message). If I come across it again, I'll take note of it and relay it here.

I will say this- this experience is helping all of us future networkers get the practice at re-installing the operating systems and portioning our drives.

Thanks for your input and keep any other suggestions coming.

Bernie

[icemav]

Could this problem have something to do with the fact that the instructions were using Linux 7.1 and we're trying to install Red Hat 9.0? That's my theory.

[icemav]

Just to update all who have tried to help. We finally were able to get all the operating systems installed and were able to boot each one. We booted DOS from the disk and then let Pro & Server create their own partitions. Then manually installed Linux from the disk. They all work. Thanks to all for your advice.