installing Redhat 9.0

[alski]

Hi,
I am currently having a new PC built with removable Hard drives.
one drive will be Windows XP, and the other i will be installing Linux. I am having the 2nd Drive installed unformatted. My question is, during the install precedure, I will be asked were to place the Boot loader, I believe. I have been told not to install it in the MBR, but into the first sector of the partition on the HD that I am installing Linux. If this is correct, and after the install is complete, will I be using a boot floppy everytime I want to get in to Linux?

Thanks very much

[Icarus]

You would install to the MBR if you want to use GRUB to select between which OS to boot to. If you select to install it to the first sector, you will need a floppy to boot to Linux

[alski]

Apparently Red hat told me because of Windoes XP, it need to go on the first sector etc. Again, it is a removable drive that will contain Linux. I am a little confused now.

[Bills_a_bub]

alski,

To do what you'd like to do, use XOSL, which is the Extended Operating System Loader www.xosl.org

Follow the instructions on the README file once you've downloaded the program.

XOSL will install on your MBR and allow you to pick between your first drive with XP and your second drive (with GRUB installed in any sector).

The only time you may run into problems booting into Red Hat will be if you reinstall XP, which will write over your MBR. But it's a quick reinstall of XOSL, a configuration change to point it to the sector that GRUB is installed in, and you're back in business.

Another nice thing is you can also configure it to boot off of floppies and CDs, so no need to change your BIOS settings if you want to boot off either of those.

[alski]

Hi Thanks very much for the reply. i It seems this area varies with a lot of people. Others have stated not to install Grub at all, and just use a Floppy Disk for the Boot process in to Linux, I guess of potential problems that could occur with the Windows Boot Loader. Even thought both OS's are going to be on differenr drives. Thanks again everyone for the help. I am sure I will be back here again.

[alski]

Hello Bills,

Per your reply, why do I have to be concerened with all this I am a little confused. My Linux OS will be on a removeable drive, so why can't I just have Red Hat install GRUB. I do not have to worry about booting in to 2 different OS's, because XP and LINUX will have their own Boot Loader. Both HD's will not be in the cabinet at the same time.
Am I correct on this?

Thanks

[Cuthbert]

alski, just go right ahead and let RH9 install grub to the MBR. You should have nothing to worry about. Even if you were dual booting WinXP and RH9 on one hard drive installing grub to the MBR would be no big deal and should work just fine :) I've done that myself on a couple of machines.

[alski]

Cuthbert-Thanks for the reply. I just did not know were exactly to put Grub, the MBR or the first sector of the partition on that drive. Redhat's reccomended to install it in the first sector of the partition, however, I think the Rep thought I was going to have a Dual Boot environment and just wanted to make sure that somehow my XP boot loader would get clobbered.

Take care

[Petrolhead]

Go ahead and install GRUB in your MBR and you should be good. I've found grub to be very civilized (relative to the land grabber M$ XP). Grub will give you the option to load either.
If and i stress IF Grub ever decides to act funny you can boot from a windows boot floppy (make one now) and do a

fdisk /mbr

to restore your windows default boot loader

[alski]

Hi,
Why do have to be concerned about the Windows Boot loader?
Both OS's are going to be on 2 seperate removable drives, and you can only place one of them in the PC. You mean to tell me, even with this setup, the Windows Boot loader can possibly still get clobbered? Don't understand how?

[alski]

Hello Petrolhead,

I was speaking with a Rep at Red Hat, he said, with removeable drives, they are not sure if Grub will succesfully work correctly.
They suggested to place it in the First Boot Sector of the Hard Drive.