Linux On a 2nd hard drive?

[FerrariF50]

No I don't mean trying to fit Windows Xp and Linux on 1 Drive..But I have 2 and is it possible to have Linux on one and Windows Xp Pro on the other.. And still be able to slect what Os I want to boot up? And also how do I get this digtal looking clock in Linux? I might go with Linux Mandrake.. I can't mess up...Useing my last 3 Cd-r's...

here is a image..

 

[Jeff Bolton]

its very possible to set up the other partition with mandrake. as long as the bootloader is installed on the master boot record of the first hard drive (i think ). as far as the digital clock goes, there is an option for about 5 different clocks you can choose from, the digital clock is one of them. that's the cool thing about linux....the customization is endless.

http://www.radford.edu/~jbolton/images/dragonballdesktop.jpg

jeff

 

[FerrariF50]

so wait your saying that it has to be installed on the Drive that has Windows Xp on it? why can't it be installed on the second drive?

 

[Jeff Bolton]

no i didn't mean that, lol. the bootloader is the program that lets you choose which OS you want to run at bootup. that should be automatically installed in the MBR (master boot record). some other people may be able to explain the process better...

jeff

 

[Visidex]

Yes, you can have each on seperate HDs.

About the bootloader, in your mobo Bios you can select which device you want to boot off of. Then it looks at a certin spot (MBR) on that device for the boot loader that will load the OS. You can install a bootloader on which ever drive you want, but you have to set the Bios to boot that drive. The bootloader can then take over and boot which ever OS you want.

 

[FerrariF50]

oh ok good stuff then I will see if I can do that in my Bios..

 

[David]

oh ok good stuff then I will see if I can do that in my Bios..

BIOS tweaking shouldn't be necessary. Just make sure it boots from the windows drive. Linux will install a little (v. little) proggie on the boot record that will bring up a boot menu - you can choose which OS to boot each time. This will not harm windows.
A quick note - if you reinstall windows later it will remove the little proggie. Install Windows FIRST and then Install Linux.

 

[Jeff Bolton]

A quick note - if you reinstall windows later it will remove the little proggie. Install Windows FIRST and then Install Linux.

very good tip to point out, penguin. i found that out the hard way.

jeff

 

[David]

very good tip to point out, penguin. i found that out the hard way.

jeff

You can get round this, but you need a boot disk/CD with which you can mount your linux disk:

mkdir /mnt/linux
mount /dev/<linux disk> /mnt/linux
lilo -r /mnt/linux


Just in case anyone has had that problem (I had to reinstall windows when linux was still intact).