tripple boot?

[jgr220]

Hi I'd like to install win 3.1 onto some free space on my HD, but how would I enter this into LILO? I know this is not a linux question but xp is so restrictive & bloated but I have to keep it for someone else in my home. Would I have to use something like partitioon magiic to set the partition for 3.1. thanx Mike

[jgr220]

ps This may or may not be a problem W nvidia 4191 drivers. At boot before x starts and at shut down text on processes is blurry. I had 3123 drivers installed before. I used tars both times.Anyone else noticed this? Mike

[2damncommon]

Install is probably going to trash lilo. Make sure you have a Linux boot floppy. After install add something like (check 'man lilo.conf'):

other=/dev/hdxx
label=WIN31
(edit /etc/lilo.conf as root)

Run '/sbin/lilo' as root to restore lilo with your change.

[highspl]

my triple boot......

i had a '98 boot, 2000 boot, and a linux boot. i have since removed the '98 and 2000, but here's how i went about it (this was all trial and error, and eventually i got it to work). i realize you want 3.1, but i imagine it'll be similar to 95/98. for all i know, 3.1 is totally different. this is how i did it for '98.

first off, any windows installation (98, 2k, xp) will wipe out any boot loader you have. no prompt or questions asked. that's why you'll need the boot disk to return to linux (IF you install windows AFTER linux is installed, obviously).

second, i found out through straight trial and error that '98 HAS to be the first primary partition of the first drive. if it's not, then it won't boot. point lilo to it, rub your computer nicely and do a chant--it ain't gonna happen. sure it'll show up as an option in lilo, but it won't boot.

third, you get some more complication. you see, you only get two primary partitions, and windows '98 just ate up one of them. that leaves one primary partition left (the second one), and 2k and linux are going to need to share it. 2000/XP will be happy with just the one partition, but as you know linux is probably going to want a couple. so you need to do a little bit of figuring before you run nuts partitioning the bugger. oh yeah, all those partitions you are going to be making in the second primary partition will be extended partitions.

fourth, fdisk which comes with 2k, won't do the trick for you. you're going to need to set up that second primary partition with fdisk from within linux. no disk druid in the world can help you now.

the steps i took to do it were:
1. create a primary partition for '98, install '98
2. boot into the install for linux, set up the rest of the drive as a primary partition and then make all the extended partitions for linux and 2k out of that. i formatted nothing at this point.
3. after the partitioning of the second half of the drive is done, stop the linux install.
4. install windows 2k. it will automagically set up a dual boot between 2k and 98. make sure you choose the correct for 2k--one of the extended partitions.
5. install linux on the rest of the drive.
6. setup lilo to point to the windows 2k partition as your second OS (don't tell it about 98, won't work).

tada, all done. you can boot into linux directly, or into windows. if you boot into windows, you go to the windows boot loader, which will ask if you want 2k or 98 (from step 4 above).

now, if you can do all that and save any OS currently installed, you are a true grandmaster to be worshipped and followed. maybe there is another way, but be prepared for them not to work. i'm tellin' ya', i tried every combination under the moon and this was the one which worked.