Installing Linux & Win98 & Win2k

[Joti]

I want to install Linux, win98, win2k, and a particion for archives in my hardisk...
How can I make in the best way ?

[Deep Blue]

All these *should* really have their own partition to operate in. They will be happiest there. I once was running this exact configuration without a hitch (or 3rd party booter)

1. You'll either need a small boot partition (i.e 20MB) FAT for all the boot loaders to run in. Alternatively you can run a small (less than 2GB) win98 partition FAT16 on the front of your HDD.

2. Partition another area for 2K and leave some space unpartitioned for Linux

3. That done install Win98 first and get it up and running.

4. Within 98 Install 2K from the CD and it
add itself and 98 to the boot menu.

5. Boot off the Linux cd (I will assume Redhat) and start the install process. Create a swap and a native partition in the unpartitioned space and add the mount point.

6. Install the packages. When Lilo config comes up you want to install it in the MASTER BOOT RECORD (i.e. where 2K and 98 boot sectors live)

7. It will give you the options of adding a label for the other OSs. Change the DOS label it will create for NT (just call it nt easy to type at lilo prompt) This will point to the windows 2K boot loader which will give you access to the other OSs.

Some notes.

Lilo.conf will default to a 5ms delay before booting to linux. Edit the file and change to -1 (infinite delay) then type /sbin/lilo.conf to save changes

Make boot disks for every OS so you can recover them if a mistake is made.

Do this on a hard disk with nothing important on it (a new one). Also if you have a HDD of data take it physically out of the system. One wrong move in linux fdisk and it is all over.

For you data partition I would recommend a separate hdd in fat32 file system. This can be viewed by all OSs. (yes including linux mount the drive with the mount command)
The second drive will make life less confusing.

Win98 is the least forgiving. Virus software make "update" the boot sector for you . Don't do it. It will kill the other boot records. Exercise caution in operation and do regular backups of important stuff

Good Luck !

[itallushrt]

This is way easier then you think. The best way is to create 3(normal, for this guy 4) partitions of decent to ok size. Use Fdisk and make all of these Fat32. Be sure that the first 3 are below the 1024 cyclinder on your hard drive.

First install win 98 on the first partition.

Second install win2k on next Fat32 part. Go ahead and convert the partition to NTFS.

Last install Linux. Erase the 3rd Fat32 partition and use this space. BTW: If there is a small 8 mb NTFS partition at very end of drive DO NOT ERASE THIS. Leave it alone.
Using the new space you created make a /boot partition @ 7mb, then a / @ at least 1000(if you have it), a swap @ 129 mb, and a last a /home @ everything that is left.

MAKE SURE DURING LINUX INSTALL, AND YES IT WILL ASK, TO INSTALL LILO (OR GRUB FOR MANDRAKE7.1) TO THE MASTER BOOT RECORD. IN MOST CASES YOU WILL HAVE TO SHOW LILO THE WIN PARTS TO BOOT. For 98 this should be /hda1 and same for win2k. When booting to Win98 it may use the Win2k boot loader after you use lilo.

It's not that hard. www.linuxpeople.cc (http://www.linuxpeople.cc)

[Mr_Q]

Also,u may check: http://www.tweak3d.net/articles/multibootlinux/

I used to read a lot of hoeto guides and this seems preety well done.Good luck