Boot loader question

[Guest]

I currently have 2 disks, one with XP, another with a blank partition and
Linux in another. Grub is being used and can boot XP.

I want to install Vista onto the blank partition, but, I need to know if I
will need to reinstall the XP bootloader first.

Past experiences with fixboot and fixmbr caused the disk unbootable (NON
SYSTEM DISK). Would I be better off reinstalling Windows? Im reinstalling
linux at some point anyway.

 

[Guest]

If you install Vista in the same drive as Linux You will loose GRUB. you may
be able to restore Grub with the Distro CD, but in my experiences it has not
worked. Linux should always be the last OS to install. also, is your XP drive
able to Boot itself? if it is you should diconnect it before you install
Vista, otherwise you will loose the NTLDR from XP.

 

[Guest]

Sorry i missed the part the part that you are re-installing Linux. if XP is
still bootable then (By itself) then disconnect it and install vista on the
other drive. once all done reconnect the XP drive and install Linux, Grub
will make the boot entries for both automagically. (Most of the time). in the
end you will have two bootable drives and you will be able to use grub to
boot ALL the OS's.
Just remmember to have only one drive plugged in while installing Microsoft.
this way you will keep the bootloader on each drive.

 

[Guest]

But Vista and Linux will be on the same drive (IDE limitations)

 

[Guest]

But Vista and Linux will be on the same drive (IDE limitations)

yes thats right. on that drive install Vista (remmember to disconnect the XP
drive -- but only if you can boot the XP drive all by it self, so what i
mean is if XP is the only drive installed you can turn the compuetr on and XP
starts with no problems) then once Vista is all happy and at home in the
drive turnoff the computer and re-plug the XP drive; and now, install your
Linux distro.

the reason for this is because Micosoft likes to be the ONLY OS so it will
remove the MBR from the XP drive even though it is a DIFFERENT physical
drive. if you do that then you will rely on the Vista bootloader (or Grub) to
boot both drives. kinda silly i think, because it limits your recovery
options. you will always be able to boot XP even if the Vista/Linux drive
craps out by keeping the XP drive out of the way of the Vista install. and
since you are not going to use Vista to boot XP it doesnt matter that it does
not have a boot entry.

 

[Guest]

Actually, I need to boot XP too...

I can probably live without Linux for a while, the main question is, if I
was to install vista with grub as the mbr, will it detect XP?

 

[Guest]

Actually, I need to boot XP too...

I can probably live without Linux for a while, the main question is, if I
was to install vista with grub as the mbr, will it detect XP?

Ok, this is my opinion and if that were my own computer this is what i would
do.

i would remove the drive that has Linux and leave the XP drive all by it
self inside the tower, insert the XP install cd and repair the MBR to make
that drive bootable again. once i have accomplished this i would turn off
computer and remove the XP drive. now i would re-install the Vista drive and
load Vista onto it. if you are using a P-ATA HDD then set the drive with the
OS you want to boot into everytime you turn on the computer to be the Master
and the other as the slave. if you have two SATA drives then it a alot
easier; as all you need to do is adjust the boot order from CMOS.
now if you want an option as to which OS to boot (what i do) then get
EasyBCD from www.neosmart.net and put an entry in the Vista boot loader
(BOOT.ini) for the XP drive.

......or you can just load Vista right now with the XP drive connected,
choose CUSTOM install and tell vista where to install. it will see the other
drive with XP on it and will make a boot entry. if it does not then get
easyBCD and manually insert the entry for XP. ---- like i said this is not
the best way when you have two drives because you are depending on one OS to
boot both discs, so if that OS fails or if the drive fails you have two
un-usable OS's instead of one.

forget trying to install GRUB w/o a Linux distro; unless you really know
what you are doing.

 

[Guest]

Ok, thanks.

I will probably reinstall XP to fix the bootloader, as it is seriously
messed up, and Ill leave Linux too. Many thanks!