I have a real first here (I bet) Installing WinXP on a secondarydrive...

[none]

While Linux occupies the primary drive.

I am trying to re-install WinXP on a secondary HD, which also used to
have Linux, some files are still on the drive. Linux occupies the
primary drive. I am using the GRUB boot loader.

Upon attempted install of Win98 (My XP disc is an upgrade version, not
standalone) the setup routine tells me that os/2 files are on my drive
and must be deleted.

Obviously I want my primary drive (HD0) to be untouched, while
installing win98 and XP to my secondary drive (HD1).

Is this possible without messing up the files on my primary drive?

Thanks

 

[Kerry Brown]

While Linux occupies the primary drive.

I am trying to re-install WinXP on a secondary HD, which also used to
have Linux, some files are still on the drive. Linux occupies the
primary drive. I am using the GRUB boot loader.

Upon attempted install of Win98 (My XP disc is an upgrade version, not
standalone) the setup routine tells me that os/2 files are on my drive
and must be deleted.

Obviously I want my primary drive (HD0) to be untouched, while
installing win98 and XP to my secondary drive (HD1).

Is this possible without messing up the files on my primary drive?

Thanks

Not even close to being a first.

You do not need to install 98 first. During the install of the XP upgrade it
will ask for an eligable Windows media to upgrade from. Put the 98 CD in and
it will read it then ask for the XP CD again and proceed with the install.
You will lose the GRUB boot loader though. It will have to be reinstalled
before you will be able to access Linux again. Make sure you have a Linux
boot CD or floppy so you can repair the GRUB boot loader after Xp is
installed.

Kerry

 

[none]

Thank you Kerry! Merry Christmas to you.

Robert

Not even close to being a first.

You do not need to install 98 first. During the install of the XP upgrade it
will ask for an eligable Windows media to upgrade from. Put the 98 CD in and
it will read it then ask for the XP CD again and proceed with the install.
You will lose the GRUB boot loader though. It will have to be reinstalled
before you will be able to access Linux again. Make sure you have a Linux
boot CD or floppy so you can repair the GRUB boot loader after Xp is
installed.

Kerry

 

[Kerry Brown]

Thank you Kerry! Merry Christmas to you.

Robert

Your welcome. Let us know how you make out. I forgot to mention you should
backup any important data on the Linux drive before starting. The XP install
will alter the MBR on hd0 so you should have anything important backed up
just in case. Booting from a Linux CD or floppy should allow you to fix GRUB
but you never know.

Kerry

 

[none]

Dear Kerry and Microsoft team:

I attempted the procedure suggested (below) but ran into a snag. Maybe
you know of a way around it. I could be reading more into this, but it
seems that my Linux partition would be erased.

The meesage has the following 'gist'

....'Windows must write some files to the the hard drive disk 0 Id on BUS
0 on Atapi [MBR] This Disk does not contain a Windows compatible partition.'

I then have the option of creating a partition on the first (root) Linux
partition (which would probably mean deleting it, then creating a FAT 32
or NTFS partition. My second option is to abort installation.

Do you have a suggestion?

Thanks for your help in the first message.

Robert

 

[Kerry Brown]

Dear Kerry and Microsoft team:

I attempted the procedure suggested (below) but ran into a snag. Maybe you
know of a way around it. I could be reading more into this, but it seems
that my Linux partition would be erased.

The meesage has the following 'gist'

...'Windows must write some files to the the hard drive disk 0 Id on BUS 0
on Atapi [MBR] This Disk does not contain a Windows compatible partition.'

I then have the option of creating a partition on the first (root) Linux
partition (which would probably mean deleting it, then creating a FAT 32
or NTFS partition. My second option is to abort installation.

Do you have a suggestion?

I've had the same configuration as you on a previous computer. I can't
remember how I set it up but I had Linux on the master drive and Win2k on
the slave drive. I was using LILO at the time. It may be that I had to
install Win2k before Linux. Does your BIOS support changing the boot order
so that it boots from the slave drive. That may be a workaround. It would be
a pain because you'd have to go into the BIOS to change the order to boot to
the other OS. Another option may be to temporarily remove the Linux drive,
Install XP, then reinstall the Linux drive and manually setup the GRUB
loader to dual boot to either OS.

Kerry

 

[none]

Dear Kerry,

I am pleased to know was able to track with you on this one possible
solution. I am going to pursue this option. After I switch the drives,
install XP, How do I edit the Grub bootloader?

Robert

 

[Kerry Brown]

Here's link to section on booting to DOS/Windows from the GRUB manual.

http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html#DOS_002fWindows

As it states Windows really wants it's boot loader on the first hard drive.
Depending on your motherboard drive controllers this may or may not work.
I'd advise familiarizing yourself with the whole manual.

Kerry