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Howto Multiboot Windows and Linux with a Minimum of Disruptions
to your system.
David Gleba
V 1.01 indev...
Purpose:
This multiboot method results in a minimum of disruptions to the MBR and
partition table on the hard drive.
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1.
Partition the drive as per the following:
Use Windows XP setup to create empty unformatted
partitions these sizes. You can use SuSE live eval
CD after c: d: and e: drive have been created. You can let the
OS setup program format each partition during the
install for a particular partition. For example, let
SuSE format hda11 as reiserFS during the SuSE installation.
The following diagram shows all 'FAT' formats since
this is what windows initially formated the partitions as.
These formats will be overwritten during the installation
of a linux OS.
c: hda1 FAT16 1.9G Compatible format, use for booting and
things that insist on being on c: drive.
d: hda5 FAT32 7.7G Windows XP Main installation
e: hda6 FAT32 7.4G Windows XP testing installation
f: hda7 FAT32 9.9G Data
hda8 FAT32 450Meg Linux Swap
hda9 FAT32 200Meg Linux (EG: Gentoo Boot)
hda10 FAT32 7.1G Linux (EG: Gentoo)
hda11 FAT32 6.3G Linux (EG: SuSE)
hda12 FAT32 6.8G Linux (EG: Debian-Libranet)
etc...

I keep a small spreadsheet up to date with this information

as I change installations. This allows me to effectively plan
and repair the system. Having this info quickly available
pays off to a large degree.
Use different partition sizes to help uniquely identify
each partition.
Once this partitioning is done, the likelyhood of needing
to change this is very low.
I do change format of a partition at times. Eg: from reiser
to ext3.

2.
Install WindowsNT/2k/XP on d: and use the NT boot loader for
all initial booting.
3.
Install a linux distro on one of the linux designated partitions.
Have the installation put the boot loader, Grub for example,
on that partition, not the MBR. I now use Grub since it can be
edited without rewriting it like LILO requires. The OS install can
format that partition using the appropriate format.
Create a custom boot floppy if possible for easier initial startup.
It is possible to start existing installs like SuSE and others
from the SuSE boot CD by selecting : Manual installation >
Start installation / system > Boot installed system.

4.
Boot the new linux system, or any existing linux system on the HD
or Knoppix on CD. Knoppix will automatically create icons to
access all the partitions on the disk, including c: drive.
Run this command to make a bootsector file and place it in c:\
eg:
dd if=/dev/hda11 of=/windows/c/su81da11.sec bs=512 count=1
In this example the output file requires /hda1 mounted
at /windows/c. (this is what SuSE live eval uses)
Alternately, you can use any output file path and then
place the resulting file in c:\ yourself later.

6.
Edit the windows NT bootloader boot.ini file to include that
bootsector file.
eg:
[boot loader]
timeout=17
default=c:\su82da10.sec
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional f
:" /fastdetect
c:\su81da11.sec="SuSE Linux 8.1 (hda11)"
c:\su82da10.sec="SuSE Linux 8.2 (hda10)"

7.
Boot from the HD and you should see the new linux entry.

8.
With the NT bootloader, custom boot floppies, SuSE boot/install
CD, SuSE live eval CD, and/or Knoppix for repairs, you should be
able to boot/repair your system and never be unable to startup
your machine.
This is only a few of the tools avaiable, but a set that is
working well for me.
9.
Add other operating systems to the partitions as necessary.
This can be done at any time later since this method
has low risk in damaging the MBR or patition table.

10.
Boot and enjoy your dualboot , no - scratch that - multiboot
computer.

11.
I often use:
2-3 windows installs including Win98 and Win2k/XP. Having a testing
install of XP allows you to see if a clean install will resolve
a problem you have in your Main install.
4 Linux installs. When I get to the point of needing a fifth install
I generally just wipe out one I am not using much. I have found that
more than 4 linux installs is not very necessary or productive.

Keywords:
dual boot, dualboot, multi boot, multiboot, Microsoft Windows,
Linux, boot sector file,
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Revision history.
V 0.1 Revised 30 May 2003
V 0.2 Revised 2 June 2003
V 0.21 Revised 5 Dec 2003, changed partition sizes
V 0.22 Revised 9 Dec 2003, grammar change, small edits.
v 1.01 indev 6fe15, updating...
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