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These are for ofline viewing.
Hi Gurdeep,
I am sorry that I could not respond to u earlier because of some engagements. Please do find here the answer to your queries regarding partitioning the HDD for installing Win98, Win2K and Linux.
I understand that being in the EDP department you must be having fair idea of using FDISK as well as the consequences of using it wrongly.
At the bare minimum, you must have three partitions. You need to have one FAT32 file system partition for WIN 98, another partition for Win2k/WinXP; this partition can be either of type FAT32 or NTFS and a partition dedicated to Linux having the file system type ext2fs or ext3fs. Moreover, you need to have an extended prtition for Linux swap. Besides, you can have as many extended partitions as you desire.
Herewith I am giving you the detailed and systematic process to create the partitions to cater to your requirement. The steps will create one primary partition (to hold Win98), two extended partitions (to hold Win2k/WinXP and Linux Swap space) and another primary partition (to hold Linux) and tips for installing the OSes.
Here I am assuming that you want to install the OSes from the scratch, since you wanted to know about the creation of partitions.
You, first need to delete all the partitions from your hard disk drive; if there exist any.
Recreate the partitions in the following manner.
Boot the machine from a Win98 bootable floppy (you can create the same from within Win98. Goto Control Panel->Start Remove Programs->Startup Disk). This boot disk will have all the utilities that we will need, specifically 'FDISK'.
Run Fdisk from A:> prompt.
You will have the FDISK screen look like:..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your computer has a disk larger than 512 MB. This version of Windows
includes improved support for large disks, resulting in more efficient
use of disk space on large drives, and allowing disks over 2 GB to be
formatted as a single drive.
IMPORTANT: If you enable large disk support and create any new drives on this
disk, you will not be able to access the new drive(s) using other operating
systems, including some versions of Windows 95 and Windows NT, as well as
earlier versions of Windows and MS-DOS. In addition, disk utilities that
were not designed explicitly for the FAT32 file system will not be able
to work with this disk. If you need to access this disk with other operating
systems or older disk utilities, do not enable large drive support.
Do you wish to enable large disk support (Y/N)...........? [Y]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here select 'Y' so that the large disk drive support is enabled. What you see above is nothing but just an option that your partitions will be of type FAT32. You will get this screen now:...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Windows 98
Fixed Disk Setup Program
(C)Copyright Microsoft Corp. 1983 - 1998
FDISK Options
Current fixed disk drive: 1
Choose one of the following:
1. Create DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive
2. Set active partition
3. Delete partition or Logical DOS Drive
4. Display partition information
5. Change current fixed disk drive
Enter choice: [1]
Press Esc to exit FDISK
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you do not have a blank hard disk drive you will have to proceed with option 3 else proceed with option 1. When you select option 3 you will be land up with this screen:...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delete DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Choose one of the following:
1. Delete Primary DOS Partition
2. Delete Extended DOS Partition
3. Delete Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition
4. Delete Non-DOS Partition
Enter choice: [ ]
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Select option 1/2/3/4 etc depending on the partitions on your hard disk drive. If you have logical drives on your hard disk the in addition you need to delete the Extended partition as well. When the partions have been deleted return to FDISK Options by pressing ESC. First check to see whether there is any partition on your hard disk drive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Display Partition Information
Current fixed disk drive: 2
No partitions defined
Press Esc to continue
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now your hard disk drive has no partitions defined. Select option 1 to create a primary DOS partition. You will be prompted with another screen asking you to specify where you want to create any Primary Partition/Extended DOS Partition/Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition. You need to select option 1 here again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Choose one of the following:
1. Create Primary DOS Partition
2. Create Extended DOS Partition
3. Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition
Enter choice: [1]
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once the option is choosen, fdisk will start drive integrity verigication.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Primary DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Verifying drive integrity, 76% complete.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once this is complete you will be prompted with the following screen:...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Primary DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Do you wish to use the maximum available size for a Primary DOS Partition
(Y/N)...................................................? [Y]
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now select 'N' to enter the size of partition manually. Choosing 'Y' (yes) will create a single partition with all the hard disk space allocated to it. The drive integrity verification will start again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Primary DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Total disk space is 19454 Mbytes (1 Mbyte = 1048576 bytes)
Verifying drive integrity, 4% complete.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once this is over you will be prompted with the following screen to enter the size of the partition. You can enter the size either in MB or as the percent of the remaining space on the hard disk. You can now create a primary partition of the desired size. Size this partition around 2GB. (Enter either 2000 or 10%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Primary DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Total disk space is 19454 Mbytes (1 Mbyte = 1048576 bytes)
Maximum space available for partition is 19454 Mbytes (100% )
Enter partition size in Mbytes or percent of disk space (%) to
create a Primary DOS Partition.................................: [19454]
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You have now a primary partition to hold the Win98 Partition.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Primary DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Partition Status Type Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
C: 1 PRI DOS 1945 UNKNOWN 10%
Primary DOS Partition created, drive letters changed or added
Press Esc to continue
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press ESC to return to the FDISK Options. Now select option 1. From the subsequent menu select option 2 to create an EXTENDED PARTIOTION. The drive integrity verigication will start again. When its over you will be prompted with to enter all the leftover space to the extended partition. Enter whatever value is shown there -(minus) 3000MB. (In the example, I have entered 14508 MB).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Extended DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Partition Status Type Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
C: 1 PRI DOS 1945 UNKNOWN 10%
Total disk space is 19454 Mbytes (1 Mbyte = 1048576 bytes)
Maximum space available for partition is 17508 Mbytes ( 90% )
Enter partition size in Mbytes or percent of disk space (%) to
create an Extended DOS Partition..............................: [14508]
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There will be some unaccounted for space. Dont't worry now about it. It will be used when we installe Linux. I will explain how to do it when the DOS part is over.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Extended DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Partition Status Type Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
D: 1 PRI DOS 1945 UNKNOWN 10%
2 EXT DOS 14512 UNKNOWN 75%
Extended DOS Partition created
Press Esc to continue
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So where is the remaining 15% disk space?? Here there is some unallocated space, precisely 3000 MB. This 3000 MB will remain unallocated to any partition and we will use the same while installing Linux. Now press ESC and the drive verification will start again. When it is complete, you will be prompted to enter the size of first logical drive. Enter 3000(MB).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition
No logical drives defined
Total Extended DOS Partition size is 14512 Mbytes (1 MByte = 1048576 bytes)
Maximum space available for logical drive is 14512 Mbytes (100% )
Enter logical drive size in Mbytes or percent of disk space (%)...[ 3000]
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This will become drive D: and will hold Win2K/WinXP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition
Drv Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
D: 3004 UNKNOWN 21%
Verifying drive integrity, 2% complete.
Logical DOS Drive created, drive letters changed or added
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create more logical dos drive in the similar fashion. Make sure that the last logical drive size is twice the size of RAM in your machine. (Why? If any one of you out there know, do write in.) This last partition will be used as Linux Swap partition when we have installed Linux.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition
Drv Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
D: 3004 UNKNOWN 21%
E: 11005 UNKNOWN 76%
Total Extended DOS Partition size is 14512 Mbytes (1 MByte = 1048576 bytes)
Maximum space available for logical drive is 502 Mbytes ( 3% )
Enter logical drive size in Mbytes or percent of disk space (%)...[ 502]
Logical DOS Drive created, drive letters changed or added
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This will give us partitions like this...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition
Drv Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
D: 3004 UNKNOWN 21%
E: 11005 UNKNOWN 76%
F: 502 UNKNOWN 3%
All available space in the Extended DOS Partition
is assigned to logical drives.
Press Esc to continue
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And with this the DOS part is over. We can now move on to Linux part for creating the partitions, which will hold Linux.
Now you can first install Win98 on your C: drive. Once the installation is complete start installing Win2K/WinXP.
CAUTION:
When prompted do not go for UPGRADE, instead choose NEW INSTALLATION. Install Win2K/WinXP in Drive D:. Once this all is over you will have a dual booting machine having the potential to run Windows 98 or Windows2000/Windows XP off the same hard disk drive.
You can now carry on to install Linux.
You must have a bootable Linux CD. Start the Install/Setup program. During the installation process, you will be prompted to select the partition that will house Linux. For this, you need to select MANUAL option to create the partition. Select 'fdisk' to create partition (This 'fdisk' is linux version of FDISK). Find below the screen taken straight away from Linux command prompt. (You will get the same 'fdisk' screen when it is invoked during the Linux installation process). The following fdisk operations will create a primary partition to house Linux on the ext2fs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The number of cylinders for this disk is set to 2481.
There is nothing wrong with that, but this is larger than 1024,
and could in certain setups cause problems with:
1) software that runs at boot time (e.g., old versions of LILO)
2) booting and partitioning software from other OSs
(e.g., DOS FDISK, OS/2 FDISK)
Command (m for help): m
Command action
a toggle a bootable flag
b edit bsd disklabel
c toggle the dos compatibility flag
d delete a partition
l list known partition types
m print this menu
n add a new partition
o create a new empty DOS partition table
p print the partition table
q quit without saving changes
s create a new empty Sun disklabel
t change a partition's system id
u change display/entry units
v verify the partition table
w write table to disk and exit
x extra functionality (experts only)
Command (m for help): p
Disk /dev/hdc: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 2481 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdc1 1 248 1992028+ b Win95 FAT32
/dev/hdc2 249 2098 14860125 f Win95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hdc5 249 631 3076416 b Win95 FAT32
/dev/hdc6 632 2034 11269566 b Win95 FAT32
/dev/hdc7 2035 2098 514048+ 6 FAT16
Command (m for help): n
Command action
l logical (5 or over)
p primary partition (1-4)
p
Partition number (1-4): 3
First cylinder (2099-2481, default 2099): 2099
Last cylinder or +size or +sizeM or +sizeK (2099-2481, default 2481): 2481
Command (m for help): p
Disk /dev/hdc: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 2481 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdc1 1 248 1992028+ b Win95 FAT32
/dev/hdc2 249 2098 14860125 f Win95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hdc3 2099 2481 3076447+ 83 Linux
/dev/hdc5 249 631 3076416 b Win95 FAT32
/dev/hdc6 632 2034 11269566 b Win95 FAT32
/dev/hdc7 2035 2098 514048+ 6 FAT16
Command (m for help): w
Command (m for help): q
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The partition creation is complete. Proceed with the installation process. Do remember to create the BOOTABLE floppy when prompted to do so. ALSO WHEN ASKED ABOUT WHERE TO PUT THE LILO, SPECIFY /dev/hda3 AND NOT /dev/hda. When the installation is complete, you need to put an entry in the Win2K/WinXP boot menu an option to boot from Your Linux Partition. For this, you need to do the following.
First change the /etc/lilo.conf file to look like following:...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
boot=/dev/hda4
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout=50
message=/boot/message
lba32
default="Linux7.1"
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.2-2
label="Linux7.1"
read-only
root=/dev/hda4
other=/dev/hda2
optional
label="QNX/Win98L"
other=/dev/hda1
optional
label="WinNT/Win98L"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change the 'timeout=50' entry to look like 'timeout=0'. Moreover, you need to remove the entry comming under the headings 'other'. I have installed on the fourth primary partion of my fist hard disk drive. You need to change it to reflect the partition where you have installed Linux, namely /dev/hda3. You final lilo.conf file should look like this:...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
boot=/dev/hda3
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout=0
message=/boot/message
lba32
default="Linux7.1"
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.2-2
label="Linux7.1"
read-only
root=/dev/hda4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now you need to run lilo to update the boot record of Linux. Run the following command..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# lilo -U
# lilo -C /etc/lilo.conf
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second, create a boot image of linux that can be used to boot Linux from within Win2K/WinXP. You need to issue the following from the command prompt while logged in as root:...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# dd if=/dev/hda3 of=abc count=512 bs=1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once this command is executed, you will get a file in the root directory named 'abc'. Copy this file from /root directory to c:. You can do it in the following manner:...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# mount -t vfat /dev/hda1 /mnt
# cp abc /mnt
# umount /dev/hda1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When this is over you are done with your Linux installation.
Now you need to create an entry for Linux in the Boot.ini file of Win2K/WinXP. Boot the machine from the bootable floppy. From A:> prompt open the file c:\boot.ini and edit it as follows. First, remove the read only attribute on this file
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A:> attrib -s -h -r c:\boot.ini
A:> edit c:\boot.ini
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edit the file boot.ini to look like something given below..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[boot loader]
timeout=45
default=C:\abc
[operating systems]
C:\abc = "Linux Kernel 2.4.2-2"
C:\bootsect.dos = "Microsoft Windows 98"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows NT Server Version 4.00"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows NT Server Version 4.00 [VGA mode]" /basevideo /sos
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Again change the attributes of the file.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A:> attrib +s +h +r c:\boot.ini
A:> edit c:\boot.ini
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And VIOLA you a triple booting machine ready to run either Win98 or Win2k/WinXP or Linux.
Hope this suffice.
If you have any queries / questions / comments do write in to me at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cheere and good luck,
Abu.
Abu M. Muttalib
RZ-51, Ber Sarai,
New Delhi 110 016.
0-98113-15027
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
PS..
I have spent a good five hours preparing/writing this mail. I will definitely appreciate if I get a mail from you telling me it had been useful to you in your endavour of creating a multibooting machine.
On Thu, 02 Jan 2003 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote :
I have a Celeron 1.1 GHz computer with 128 MB RAM & 40 GB HDD.
I want to install on my computer win98 (SE), Windwos 2000 Prof (NT) and Linux 7.3.
Is there any body who can tell me that how I should partition my hard disk and install the operating systems mentioned above. I shall be very much grateful to them.
Regards,
Malkiat
Win98_Win2k-WinXp_Linux.zip
Description: Zip compressed data
Hi Gurdeep,
I am sorry that I could not respond to u earlier because of some engagements. Please
do find here the answer to your queries regarding partitioning the HDD for installing
Win98, Win2K and Linux.
I understand that being in the EDP department you must be having fair idea of using
FDISK as well as the consequences of using it wrongly.
At the bare minimum, you must have three partitions. You need to have one FAT32 file
system partition for WIN 98, another partition for Win2k/WinXP; this partition can be
either of type FAT32 or NTFS and a partition dedicated to Linux having the file system
type ext2fs or ext3fs. Moreover, you need to have an extended prtition for Linux swap.
Besides, you can have as many extended partitions as you desire.
Herewith I am giving you the detailed and systematic process to create the partitions
to cater to your requirement. The steps will create one primary partition (to hold
Win98), two extended partitions (to hold Win2k/WinXP and Linux Swap space) and another
primary partition (to hold Linux) and tips for installing the OSes.
Here I am assuming that you want to install the OSes from the scratch, since you
wanted to know about the creation of partitions.
You, first need to delete all the partitions from your hard disk drive; if there exist
any.
Recreate the partitions in the following manner.
Boot the machine from a Win98 bootable floppy (you can create the same from within
Win98. Goto Control Panel->Start Remove Programs->Startup Disk). This boot disk will
have all the utilities that we will need, specifically 'FDISK'.
Run Fdisk from A:> prompt.
You will have the FDISK screen look like:..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your computer has a disk larger than 512 MB. This version of Windows
includes improved support for large disks, resulting in more efficient
use of disk space on large drives, and allowing disks over 2 GB to be
formatted as a single drive.
IMPORTANT: If you enable large disk support and create any new drives on this
disk, you will not be able to access the new drive(s) using other operating
systems, including some versions of Windows 95 and Windows NT, as well as
earlier versions of Windows and MS-DOS. In addition, disk utilities that
were not designed explicitly for the FAT32 file system will not be able
to work with this disk. If you need to access this disk with other operating
systems or older disk utilities, do not enable large drive support.
Do you wish to enable large disk support (Y/N)...........? [Y]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here select 'Y' so that the large disk drive support is enabled. What you see above is
nothing but just an option that your partitions will be of type FAT32. You will get
this screen now:...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Windows 98
Fixed Disk Setup Program
(C)Copyright Microsoft Corp. 1983 - 1998
FDISK Options
Current fixed disk drive: 1
Choose one of the following:
1. Create DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive
2. Set active partition
3. Delete partition or Logical DOS Drive
4. Display partition information
5. Change current fixed disk drive
Enter choice: [1]
Press Esc to exit FDISK
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you do not have a blank hard disk drive you will have to proceed with option 3 else
proceed with option 1. When you select option 3 you will be land up with this
screen:...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delete DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Choose one of the following:
1. Delete Primary DOS Partition
2. Delete Extended DOS Partition
3. Delete Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition
4. Delete Non-DOS Partition
Enter choice: [ ]
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Select option 1/2/3/4 etc depending on the partitions on your hard disk drive. If you
have logical drives on your hard disk the in addition you need to delete the Extended
partition as well. When the partions have been deleted return to FDISK Options by
pressing ESC. First check to see whether there is any partition on your hard disk
drive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Display Partition Information
Current fixed disk drive: 2
No partitions defined
Press Esc to continue
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now your hard disk drive has no partitions defined. Select option 1 to create a
primary DOS partition. You will be prompted with another screen asking you to specify
where you want to create any Primary Partition/Extended DOS Partition/Logical DOS
Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition. You need to select option 1 here again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Choose one of the following:
1. Create Primary DOS Partition
2. Create Extended DOS Partition
3. Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition
Enter choice: [1]
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once the option is choosen, fdisk will start drive integrity verigication.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Primary DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Verifying drive integrity, 76% complete.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once this is complete you will be prompted with the following screen:...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Primary DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Do you wish to use the maximum available size for a Primary DOS Partition
(Y/N)...................................................? [Y]
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now select 'N' to enter the size of partition manually. Choosing 'Y' (yes) will create
a single partition with all the hard disk space allocated to it. The drive integrity
verification will start again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Primary DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Total disk space is 19454 Mbytes (1 Mbyte = 1048576 bytes)
Verifying drive integrity, 4% complete.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once this is over you will be prompted with the following screen to enter the size of
the partition. You can enter the size either in MB or as the percent of the remaining
space on the hard disk. You can now create a primary partition of the desired size.
Size this partition around 2GB. (Enter either 2000 or 10%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Primary DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Total disk space is 19454 Mbytes (1 Mbyte = 1048576 bytes)
Maximum space available for partition is 19454 Mbytes (100% )
Enter partition size in Mbytes or percent of disk space (%) to
create a Primary DOS Partition.................................: [19454]
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You have now a primary partition to hold the Win98 Partition.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Primary DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Partition Status Type Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
C: 1 PRI DOS 1945 UNKNOWN 10%
Primary DOS Partition created, drive letters changed or added
Press Esc to continue
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press ESC to return to the FDISK Options. Now select option 1. From the subsequent
menu select option 2 to create an EXTENDED PARTIOTION. The drive integrity
verigication will start again. When its over you will be prompted with to enter all
the leftover space to the extended partition. Enter whatever value is shown there
-(minus) 3000MB. (In the example, I have entered 14508 MB).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Extended DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Partition Status Type Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
C: 1 PRI DOS 1945 UNKNOWN 10%
Total disk space is 19454 Mbytes (1 Mbyte = 1048576 bytes)
Maximum space available for partition is 17508 Mbytes ( 90% )
Enter partition size in Mbytes or percent of disk space (%) to
create an Extended DOS Partition..............................: [14508]
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There will be some unaccounted for space. Dont't worry now about it. It will be used
when we installe Linux. I will explain how to do it when the DOS part is over.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Extended DOS Partition
Current fixed disk drive: 2
Partition Status Type Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
D: 1 PRI DOS 1945 UNKNOWN 10%
2 EXT DOS 14512 UNKNOWN 75%
Extended DOS Partition created
Press Esc to continue
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So where is the remaining 15% disk space?? Here there is some unallocated space,
precisely 3000 MB. This 3000 MB will remain unallocated to any partition and we will
use the same while installing Linux. Now press ESC and the drive verification will
start again. When it is complete, you will be prompted to enter the size of first
logical drive. Enter 3000(MB).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition
No logical drives defined
Total Extended DOS Partition size is 14512 Mbytes (1 MByte = 1048576 bytes)
Maximum space available for logical drive is 14512 Mbytes (100% )
Enter logical drive size in Mbytes or percent of disk space (%)...[ 3000]
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This will become drive D: and will hold Win2K/WinXP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition
Drv Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
D: 3004 UNKNOWN 21%
Verifying drive integrity, 2% complete.
Logical DOS Drive created, drive letters changed or added
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create more logical dos drive in the similar fashion. Make sure that the last logical
drive size is twice the size of RAM in your machine. (Why? If any one of you out there
know, do write in.) This last partition will be used as Linux Swap partition when we
have installed Linux.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition
Drv Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
D: 3004 UNKNOWN 21%
E: 11005 UNKNOWN 76%
Total Extended DOS Partition size is 14512 Mbytes (1 MByte = 1048576 bytes)
Maximum space available for logical drive is 502 Mbytes ( 3% )
Enter logical drive size in Mbytes or percent of disk space (%)...[ 502]
Logical DOS Drive created, drive letters changed or added
Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This will give us partitions like this...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition
Drv Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
D: 3004 UNKNOWN 21%
E: 11005 UNKNOWN 76%
F: 502 UNKNOWN 3%
All available space in the Extended DOS Partition
is assigned to logical drives.
Press Esc to continue
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And with this the DOS part is over. We can now move on to Linux part for creating the
partitions, which will hold Linux.
Now you can first install Win98 on your C: drive. Once the installation is complete
start installing Win2K/WinXP.
CAUTION:
When prompted do not go for UPGRADE, instead choose NEW INSTALLATION. Install
Win2K/WinXP in Drive D:. Once this all is over you will have a dual booting machine
having the potential to run Windows 98 or Windows2000/Windows XP off the same hard
disk drive.
You can now carry on to install Linux.
You must have a bootable Linux CD. Start the Install/Setup program. During the
installation process, you will be prompted to select the partition that will house
Linux. For this, you need to select MANUAL option to create the partition. Select
'fdisk' to create partition (This 'fdisk' is linux version of FDISK). Find below the
screen taken straight away from Linux command prompt. (You will get the same 'fdisk'
screen when it is invoked during the Linux installation process). The following fdisk
operations will create a primary partition to house Linux on the ext2fs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The number of cylinders for this disk is set to 2481.
There is nothing wrong with that, but this is larger than 1024,
and could in certain setups cause problems with:
1) software that runs at boot time (e.g., old versions of LILO)
2) booting and partitioning software from other OSs
(e.g., DOS FDISK, OS/2 FDISK)
Command (m for help): m
Command action
a toggle a bootable flag
b edit bsd disklabel
c toggle the dos compatibility flag
d delete a partition
l list known partition types
m print this menu
n add a new partition
o create a new empty DOS partition table
p print the partition table
q quit without saving changes
s create a new empty Sun disklabel
t change a partition's system id
u change display/entry units
v verify the partition table
w write table to disk and exit
x extra functionality (experts only)
Command (m for help): p
Disk /dev/hdc: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 2481 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdc1 1 248 1992028+ b Win95 FAT32
/dev/hdc2 249 2098 14860125 f Win95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hdc5 249 631 3076416 b Win95 FAT32
/dev/hdc6 632 2034 11269566 b Win95 FAT32
/dev/hdc7 2035 2098 514048+ 6 FAT16
Command (m for help): n
Command action
l logical (5 or over)
p primary partition (1-4)
p
Partition number (1-4): 3
First cylinder (2099-2481, default 2099): 2099
Last cylinder or +size or +sizeM or +sizeK (2099-2481, default 2481): 2481
Command (m for help): p
Disk /dev/hdc: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 2481 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdc1 1 248 1992028+ b Win95 FAT32
/dev/hdc2 249 2098 14860125 f Win95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hdc3 2099 2481 3076447+ 83 Linux
/dev/hdc5 249 631 3076416 b Win95 FAT32
/dev/hdc6 632 2034 11269566 b Win95 FAT32
/dev/hdc7 2035 2098 514048+ 6 FAT16
Command (m for help): w
Command (m for help): q
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The partition creation is complete. Proceed with the installation process. Do remember
to create the BOOTABLE floppy when prompted to do so. ALSO WHEN ASKED ABOUT WHERE TO
PUT THE LILO, SPECIFY /dev/hda3 AND NOT /dev/hda. When the installation is complete,
you need to put an entry in the Win2K/WinXP boot menu an option to boot from Your
Linux Partition. For this, you need to do the following.
First change the /etc/lilo.conf file to look like following:...
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boot=/dev/hda4
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout=50
message=/boot/message
lba32
default="Linux7.1"
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.2-2
label="Linux7.1"
read-only
root=/dev/hda4
other=/dev/hda2
optional
label="QNX/Win98L"
other=/dev/hda1
optional
label="WinNT/Win98L"
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Change the 'timeout=50' entry to look like 'timeout=0'. Moreover, you need to remove
the entry comming under the headings 'other'. I have installed on the fourth primary
partion of my fist hard disk drive. You need to change it to reflect the partition
where you have installed Linux, namely /dev/hda3. You final lilo.conf file should look
like this:...
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boot=/dev/hda3
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout=0
message=/boot/message
lba32
default="Linux7.1"
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.2-2
label="Linux7.1"
read-only
root=/dev/hda4
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Now you need to run lilo to update the boot record of Linux. Run the following
command..
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# lilo -U
# lilo -C /etc/lilo.conf
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Second, create a boot image of linux that can be used to boot Linux from within
Win2K/WinXP. You need to issue the following from the command prompt while logged in
as root:...
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# dd if=/dev/hda3 of=abc count=512 bs=1
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Once this command is executed, you will get a file in the root directory named 'abc'.
Copy this file from /root directory to c:. You can do it in the following manner:...
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# mount -t vfat /dev/hda1 /mnt
# cp abc /mnt
# umount /dev/hda1
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When this is over you are done with your Linux installation.
Now you need to create an entry for Linux in the Boot.ini file of Win2K/WinXP. Boot
the machine from the bootable floppy. From A:> prompt open the file c:\boot.ini and
edit it as follows. First, remove the read only attribute on this file
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A:> attrib -s -h -r c:\boot.ini
A:> edit c:\boot.ini
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Edit the file boot.ini to look like something given below..
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[boot loader]
timeout=45
default=C:\abc
[operating systems]
C:\abc = "Linux Kernel 2.4.2-2"
C:\bootsect.dos = "Microsoft Windows 98"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows NT Server Version 4.00"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows NT Server Version 4.00 [VGA mode]"
/basevideo /sos
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Again change the attributes of the file.
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A:> attrib +s +h +r c:\boot.ini
A:> edit c:\boot.ini
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And VIOLA you a triple booting machine ready to run either Win98 or Win2k/WinXP or
Linux.
Hope this suffice.
If you have any queries / questions / comments do write in to me at
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cheere and good luck,
Abu.
Abu M. Muttalib
RZ-51, Ber Sarai,
New Delhi 110 016.
0-98113-15027
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
PS..
I have spent a good five hours preparing/writing this mail. I will definitely
appreciate if I get a mail from you telling me it had been useful to you in your
endavour of creating a multibooting machine.
