DualBooting WinXPro with Mandrake8.2

[CreationXP]

What would be the preferred (most reliable) bootloader available on the Mandrake install for my situation. Is it possible to dual boot these while keeping my bootsector virus detector on my motherboard enabled? I have an ASUS A7V266-E. THX for any help.:confused:

[roshern]

I suggest you try GRUB instead of LILO. I've heard of way too many problems with LILO and dual booting a machine.

I have no idea bout your other question.

[jglen490]

The BIOS "virus" detector can only check for changes in the content of the MBR and the boot sectors -- compared to what the BIOS thinks should be the content. The BIOS, by nature, is not a particularly complex or "smart" program -- effective, just not smart.

Therefore, if you put Lilo or Grub on the MBR or any bootsector, the BIOS will probably detect that those are somehow different and will let you know. It won't know the difference between a valid difference and an invalid difference, only that it's different.

If you dual-boot with a Windoze OS, then it's better that you have an anti-virus program to monitor the MBR and the boot sectors. At least an anti-virus program can be taught about the difference.

So in answer to your questions, turn off the BIOS virus checker, install either Grub or Lilo (go Grub!!) on the MBR, and use an anti-virus program with your Windoze space.

[CreationXP]

we'll see if this works

[Sastraxi]

I had no problems with lilo/dualbooting. Just make sure to edit lilo.conf when you're in Linux. It was looking for Win2k on my F:\ drive, and not on my C:\! (hdb1 vs. hda1)