install xp after linux

[Miguel De Anda]

I'm thinking of installing windows xp on the same hard drive that I have
linux running but I'm afraid that it will change the mbr so that lilo
doesn't start. Is there a way to install xp so that it doesn't change this?

Also, can I have xp installed on two harddrives? (2 instances) It will only
be used on 1 computer but I want to be able to have a fresh install ready on
a second drive for when xp decides to go bad again.

 

[Steve Nielsen]

In my experience the best way to dual boot Windows and Linux is to
install Windows first, then install Linux to an unallocated partition,
or better yet, a second disk drive. If you use GRUB instead of LILO then
it will be able to boot to either OS. Using LILO to dual boot doesn't
work without doing a MBR dance; writing the LILO mbr to a file (using
boot.com - you can get off the net), FDISK /MBR (or writing the
"windows" mbr to file and then writing it back after installing Linux,
etc.) and editing boot.ini on the Windows partition, blah blah blah.
Gets pretty hairy pretty fast.

I suggest a little research on the net because there is a LOT of
detailed info about such things out there that will be good for you to
know anyway. Use the Keywords "dual booting Linux and NT".

Steve