[WEB4LIB] RE: Advice on Linux

[Cantona, Eric]

>>Actually, any of the Linux boot loaders should
allow you to multi-boot

But why if he is adding a second disk?  If he's already using NT/2000 then
he already has a boot loader that can boot multiple Linux versions on the
second disk even beyond 1024th cylinder all without wiping his MBR on the
first disk thus making uninstalls a snap.

If Win9X is on the first disk, then I agree in letting Lilo/Grub take over
the first disk's MBR and manage your boot choices from Mandrake or whatever.
He then may need to edit lilo.conf manually when adding another Linux
install.  Modern Lilo/Grub versions can overcome the 1024 limit if your BIOS
allows.  Later however you'll need "Fdisk /mbr" if you decide to drop the
Linux install(s) as was already stated.

Otherwise, if WinNT/2K is on the 1st disk, I wouldn't let Lilo/Grub take
over the MBR of your first disk or you'll need your NT repair disks when you
remove it; rather install Linux(es) on the 1st cylinder of your Linux /boot
partition(s) which will be an option in your setup program(s).  Each Linux
OS will allow you to do this and you can compare different distributions
without any significant changes to your first disk.

If you have trouble removing Linux extended partitions with DOS/FDisk you
can use DelPart from the NT resource kit.

Hope this helps,
EC


-----Original Message-----
From: D. Keith Higgs [mailto:dkh2 at po.cwru.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 8:10 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] RE: Advice on Linux


Actually, any of the Linux boot loaders should allow you to multi-boot
not only multiple Linux installations but also any version of Windows.
The one thing to remember is that the boot code for all installations
must reside within the first 1024 cylinders of your physical drive.

You will want to choose one boot manager for all of your installations
and manage it from only one of those installations. Thus, if I install
Windows 2000 and both Red Hat and Suse, and I choose to use Grub as my
boot manager I would probably manage my boot menu from within the Red
Hat installation.

One tip on multi-booting Linux with Windows: If you can manage to
install your Windows system on a FAT32 partition you will be able to
make use of WINE to run most (if not all) of your WIN32 programs from
within Linux. Hard core users who are security freaks will scream about
the security holes in Windows on FAT32 but, they only exist through
Windows if you actually boot up Windows. (I'm going to have to brush my
teeth after using the 'W' word so many times.) ;-)

One other thing to keep around would be a Windows 95/98 bootable disk
with the MS version of fdisk.  Not that you ever would but, if you ever
decide to make that box a Windows only system you will need to boot to
that disk and run "fdisk /mbr" to reset the Master Boot Record and
remove the Linux boot loader code.

Keith
D. Keith Higgs <mailto:dkh2 at po.cwru.edu>
 Case Western Reserve University
  Webmaster - University Library
  Additional Information at http://www.cwru.edu/UL/

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Cantona, Eric
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 07:36 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] RE: Advice on Linux


Red Hat is the emerging standard but others are better for learning.

I can't decide if Mandrake or SuSE is the ultimate "For Dummies"  Linux.

Mandrake is similar to (derived from?) Red Hat so you would be learning
the emerging standard.

I strongly recommend bootpart for the dual boot installation.  With
bootpart you can install more than one Linux and keep Win32.

http://www.winimage.com/bootpart.htm

"Congratulations, you've taken your first step into a larger world."
-Obi Wan

EC

-----Original Message-----
From: Charlie Irwin [mailto:cirwin at world.std.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 12:52 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Advice on Linux


I'm thinking of trying Linux on my home machine. My thought is to add a
hard drive to my machine and run it "dual-boot". Does anyone have any
ideas/suggestions as to what favor Linux (ie Red-Hat, Mandrake, etc.) or
tips, hints, etc? Since this is probably not really a list discussion,
please contact me directly at cirwin at theworld.com.

Thanks in advance,

Charlie Irwin