dual boot xp and linux

[Eli Aran]

tried to install linux red hat 8 to dual boot with my windows xp pro.
in the process of installation i was asked if i wanted to put LILO in the
boot sector of the hd
or in the root directory in c:\.
i tried the boot sector several times and it didn't accept the selection i
made and so i chose the root dir C:.
at the end of the installation i get an announcement that says the
installation was successful and that i need to reboot the machine.
which i did and then my victorious smile turned into a face of shock. Linux
did not come up. neither did windows. i had lost both os's and all my files
in windows because i could no longer access windows either and had to format
and re-install windows.
note: i did create before hand a UNIX partition using partition magic and a
second partition for the UNIX virtual memory.
my question is how can i install the linux os again in the correct manner
without being afraid of loosing my windows again?
thank you

 

[OKlier]

youre gonna want two partitions, one for linux (which you will break up
during the install process) and one for windowsxp. install xp first, then
linux.

 

[Rich Barry]

Eli, there's much info on dual boots. http://tinyurl.com/ryab

 

[RJW]

my question is how can i install the linux os again in the correct manner
without being afraid of loosing my windows again?
thank you

FWIW...I had the same problem so decided to start from scratch.
I use BootIt as my boot manager. I created my partitions, installed Linux
(mandrake 9.1) 1st, then installed my Micro$oft OSes and all is well.
Servo