Triple boot possible?

[Mojo2000]

I have a Heinz '57 computer with Duron 800 (@ 902), Asus A7A266 mobo, WD "20GB" hard drive etc. etc. Win98SE and Win2K exist in dual-boot, each taking up a 3GB partition; the third chunk of 12GB is for common apps and data. Within the third there is approximately 5GB remaining, but I would rather leave some spare room... Everything is in FAT32 for cross-compatibility between these two systems.

As part of an IT program I would like to start out (from the VERY BEGINNING) in Linux with Mandrake 8.1. What sort of procedures should I take in order to retain all three OS's?
- Will a third distinct partition be the best way?
- Can I run a "virtual drive" in an existing Windows/FAT32 partition?
- Should I instead put in an old 6GB hard drive I had lying around?

Many thanks in advance for your help and patience. BTW, I LOVE Ultimate BBS! :-)

- very green in Canada

P.S. Has anybody locked up when adding one of those instant graemlins?

[Timbo]

To answer your questions. I'm no expert on Debian (I run RH), but I don't believe you can install it on a FAT 32 partition. There are distros out there that you can, but Debian is not one of them. I believe your easiest, and probably best solution is to add that second HD to your computer, which could be completely dedicated to Linux. This is what I did and I've had no problems with it. Any other questions, just ask.
Timbo

[bluesky]

I have quadruple boot; 3 win98s and 1 redhat 7.1. the 3 win98s are booted by Boot Magic. redhat is booted by diskette. LILO does not work in this case.

[Dru Lee Parsec]

I triple boot Windows 98 (for games) Windows 2000 for work from home, and Mandrake 8.0 for more work and fun. The Windows 98/2k dual boot is easy and simply uses the Windows boot loader (which is probably what you already do) Go to this link: http://www.littlewhitedog.com/reviews_other_00011.asp for an excelent description of how to add a Linux OS to that Windows boot loader. This way you boot up and simple see a 3rd menu choice like this:

1) Mandrake Linux
2) Win 2k
3) Win 98

Hope it helps.

[Boricuamed]

I have a triple boot on my machine. You're better off adding the secon HD, and formatting it as FAT32 (if yooou want win to see it).
The order in whic I installed was this:
First Win ME, then Win2k Pro, then Mandrake 8.0. LILO will boot, but remember that Linux is your last install, because Windows will overwrite the boot sector and then you won't be able to boot into Linux, except from a diskette.

I have had no problems with my configuration (although I do not have FAT32 on my Linux drive). Hope this helps... :cool:

[Dru Lee Parsec]

but remember that Linux is your last install, because Windows will overwrite the boot sector and then you won't be able to boot into Linux, except from a diskette

I took care of that by not putting LILO in the Master Boot Sector. Since Linux starts on my hdc5 drive I just set LILO to go into hdc5 (Be sure to make a boot disk).

Boot into Linux using the boot disk and follow the directions in the link above. You'll basically make a small file that describes to Windows how to find the Linux drive. After, once again, following the directions you'll have a menu at the beginning of your boot up that says Win 98, Win 2k and Linux. When you choose Linux you will see LILO. but you can always set the LILO time to just a few seconds if that's too slow for you.

So rather than putting Linux on last just remember not to put LILO in the MBR. That way you can install whatever OS you have in whatever order.

Plus, I kind of like the idea of using teh Windows bootloader against itself to load Linux.