Dual booting Windows and Linux: Single and multiple drives
Internet is full of technical articles, many of them are too complex for the average user who just wants to solve a simple problem. If you know the Internet is also a place where "gurus" a lot of time yelling for help in the discussion boards and forums. So do not feel bad, nobody has the answers to all questions.
Want to dual boot Windows and Linux on one computerit very simple. I only enough space here to say that the most common way to do this in one or more hard disk drives. Clearly, there are many ways to do the job, but there are some basic things you should know. Let's begin with some important information.
Windows and Linux: the same drive
In the operating system Windows, if the master boot record (MBR). Linux, on the other hand do not. In this case, you must first install Windows! After Windows is installed correctly, you can install Linux. This is important! In the Linux boot loader "is called GRUB. LinuxMAKE When installing do not install the boot loader for Linux is in the MBR.
Set boot Windows: in two phases
You can also GRUB to dual boot Windows and Linux on the same block, but it is more complexthe boot into Windows, it will be. The following commands will create a copy of Linux boot sector and then save it in a file on the highest level in a directory of Windows (C:).
Step 1: Linux
From the shell in your Linux installation (boot from the installation CD):
Run the following command, replacing / dev/hda3 with the location of your boot Linux.
Shell # DD if = / dev/hda3 of = / bootsect.lnx BS = 512 count = 1
Copy the new filebootsect.lnxto floppy disk and restart Windows.
Step 2: Windows
Bootsect.lnx copy of C: in Windows. Then run the following command in DOS.
C:> Attrib-H-R-S Boot.ini
Edit Boot.ini to the fact that the first two lines:
[boot loader]
Timeout = 30
After last line add:
C: bootsect.lnx = "Start Linux"
This means that you have done! Restart your computer and you will see a menu that allows you to select either Windows or Linux. Congratulations.
Windows and Linux: Two Disc
It is also very simple. In this case, the device will boot Linux. We will install Windows on a Linux boot loader (eg, GRUB). GRUB is my favorite downloader.
Edit the file / boot / GRUB / grub.conf file. One of the first lines:
Timeout = 30
After last line add:
Title Windows Start
Map (hd1) (hd0)
Map (hd0) (hd1)
rootnoverify (hd1, 0)
makeactive
chainloader +1
Restart the computer with the Linux drive and you will see that the menu you can choose between Linux or Windows. Good job!
This article is, of course, very short and has no explanation of how these work. There are differences, what I have here, depending on the hardware, but I think this is the most common and should work well. I would like to obtain additional resources if it does not work for you.