Installing Linux and DOS, Windows, or WindowsNT on One Hard Disk

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SuSE Linux: All versions

Intention:

Prerequisite:

Procedure:

• First, install the other system. If you need to repartition the drive, make sure to allow space so the Linux boot partition can reside below the 1024 cylinder boundary. Normally, the Linux root partition is placed into that primary partition. However, if there is not much space below 1024 cylinders, a few megabytes are sufficient for this partition. It will then contain /boot.

• Install Linux. Create the Linux boot partition. According to the size of the partition, use it either for / (root partition) or only for /boot when specifying the mount points.

• If your Linux boot partition is mounted as /boot, copy the kernels to boot (usually vmlinuz in a new system) into /boot at the end of the installation.

• Prepare the installation of LILO into the MBR: Create the following /etc/lilo.conf. Adapt it to the names of your partitions and kernels. The comments include useful information.

  To use more than one kernel or further systems, add more sections for further boot partitions at the end of the file. By default, the system at the top is booted if nothing else is specified at the LILO boot prompt. If necessary, rearrange the different sections.

  # LILO configuration file:   LILO in the MBR
  # Start LILO global Section
  boot=/dev/hda      # Where LILO will be installed: MBR
                     # Adapt this: must be sda instead of hda with SCSI!
  
  # Not necessary, but recommended :
  # Make a backup of the old MBR :
  backup=/boot/MBR.hda.yymmdd  # backup file for the old MBR 
                               # from date dd.mm.yy
                               # Adapt this.
  
  # Remove the comment signs if you want to have a message
  # from LILO every time you boot the system.
  # This message must first be stored in 
  # /boot/message:
  # message=/boot/message        #  LILO's greeting
  
  prompt
  
  # Remove the comment signs if you want to provide security for
  # the boot procedure.
  # password = my_password  # Adapt this.
  
  timeout=100     # Wait for 10 s at the prompt before the default system
                  # is booted.
  vga = normal    # normal text mode (80x25 characters)
  # End LILO global section
  
  # configure Linux boot partitions
  image = /vmlinuz             #  Adapt this: the kernel
      root = /dev/hda3         #  Adapt this: the Linux root partition 
      label = Linux
  # configuring the Linux boot partition : end
  
  # configuring DOS/Win/WinNT boot partition
  other = /dev/hda1            #  Adapt this:  start partition
      label = DOS              #  whatever you like
      table = /dev/hda         #  Adapt this: must be sda with SCSI instead of hda
  # configuring DOS/Win/WinNT boot partition: end
  

• Install LILO into the MBR:

  # /sbin/lilo
  

• Create a boot disk ("Creating a System Boot Disk" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/kgw_bootdisketten.html)). Because Microsoft's products can be quite dominant, it might happen that the MBR is overwritten during a DOS/Windows NT installation. It would then be impossible to access Linux. If this happens, you must boot Linux from the boot disk and reinstall LILO.

Linux and Windows NT

Linux on 1024 cylinder

Creating a System Boot Disk