Question About Dual-booting

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dick Sutton
  • Start date Start date
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Dick Sutton

I am considering trying out Linux on an unused 2nd hard drive on my system.
If I load Linux on that drive, it appears that Grub ( a dual boot program)
is loaded on the C: drive containing Win XP so that I can then choose which
os to boot.

The question is: if I then decide that I am tired of playing with Linux, how
do I get the boot area back to normal (i.e. just a single Windows XP boot)?

Dick
 
Dick said:
I am considering trying out Linux on an unused 2nd hard drive on my
system. If I load Linux on that drive, it appears that Grub ( a dual boot
program) is loaded on the C: drive containing Win XP so that I can then
choose which os to boot.

The question is: if I then decide that I am tired of playing with Linux,
how do I get the boot area back to normal (i.e. just a single Windows XP
boot)?
Click to expand...

Grub is a boot loader. You don't need to install Grub in the mbr; install it
somewhere else or boot from floppy. If you decide to install in the mbr and
then want to remove Linux, you'll boot with your XP install cd and go to
the Recovery Console. Then do fixmbr.

You should spend some time reading about basic information like booting,
partitions, and Linux before just plunging in. Here are some links to help
you:

http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/index.php

Malke
 
Dick said:
I am considering trying out Linux on an unused 2nd hard drive on my
system. If I load Linux on that drive, it appears that Grub ( a dual
boot program) is loaded on the C: drive containing Win XP so that I
can then choose which os to boot.

The question is: if I then decide that I am tired of playing with
Linux, how do I get the boot area back to normal (i.e. just a single
Windows XP boot)?
Dick
Click to expand...

When installing Linux, select the option to boot Linux from a floppy. This
way the XP bootloader will not be affected and if you are new to Linux, when
you screw up (and most likely you will 8-)) and need to start over it will
not affect the XP installation.
If you already installed with grub, this link will be usefull.

How to Remove the Linux LILO Boot Manager

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315224&Product=winxp


--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
Thanks Malke & Michael,

Thanks for the info & links. Your points are well taken. I have carefully
read several distros installation instructions and that's what caused me to
think about 'resetting' the mbr if I chose that route. I think that I will
install the Suse version and play with it.

The interesting thing is, over the years, I have had occasion to install
many dual-boot situations. However, I have never un-installed one! Just
goes to show that there is always something new to learn.

Thanks again for the info and very interesting links.

Dick
 
Dick said:
Thanks Malke & Michael,

Thanks for the info & links. Your points are well taken. I have
carefully read several distros installation instructions and that's what
caused me to
think about 'resetting' the mbr if I chose that route. I think that I
will install the Suse version and play with it.

The interesting thing is, over the years, I have had occasion to install
many dual-boot situations. However, I have never un-installed one! Just
goes to show that there is always something new to learn.

Thanks again for the info and very interesting links.
Click to expand...

You're very welcome Dick. If you have questions about SUSE, post in
alt.os.linux.suse and in the opensuse groups hosted by Novell.

Malke
 
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