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General discussion

Multiple Operating System Nightmare!

by Late Adopter May 29, 2006 2:35AM PDT

So, I decided about a month ago that I really wanted to get more framiliar with different operating systems, and to also get some first hand experiance with installing multiple operating systems.

The operating systems I chose(and their partition sizes) were...
PCDOS7 (1GB) This was so I could install a program called System Commander to boot the operating systems. I only have version 3.05 and was told it can only run in a FAT16 partiton

Ignalum Linux (2GB OS,6GB DATA,3GB swap) Ive never used Linux before and wanted to get a feel for it.

Win98SE (20GB) Dont know if its just my computer or a compatiblilty thing, but I cant make any older games run on WinXP (some Win95 subsystem error)

WinXP SP2

Now that you kind of have a feel for what I was trying to accomplish, here is where I got hung up.

After Installing PCDOS7, then System Commander, Then WinXP, I tried installing Ignalum Linux. I was able to run through the entire installation process, and when it finished, I made a boot disk(just to be safe!) and restarted. To my dismay, It was as if my computer didn't even know that I had just installed a new operating system.

I naturally tried to boot from the floppy, but all I got was a 'Boot Failed' message. I have tried reinstalling Linux 3 times, and every time I had the same problem. Now here is where it gets wierd. I figured that maybe System Commander just wasnt able to detect the new system(which if your framiliar with SC, you would know, should NOT be the case) but I figured maybe, so I completely reformated and tried to start over, this time installing PCDOS7, then SC, then Linux, and this time it woked until I tried Installing WinXP, were again Linux just droped off the face of the earth.

I was under the impression that what I was trying to do, can be done. Is it possible that WinXP is responsibe? or is it just that all these operating systems arent 'compatible' or something? Any help would be appreciated.

Discussion is locked

3 Posts
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It is possible.
by AndyInTN May 29, 2006 8:14AM PDT

I have had Windows XP, Server 2003 and Fedora Core on my system all at once. I haven't ever dealt with System Commander, Ignalum or PC DOS, but I can tell you how I get everything to work.

I start the Windows installer, doesn't matter which one. I typically usually start with the XP installation first, thats the one I need to get onto the fastest. When I'm setting up the partitions I always delete everything off of the drive with the Windows partitioner. Then, I create more partitions, slicing the drive for each additional OS and an additional partition for data. I install XP, after that is done I install 2003 onto the next partition down. After that, I install Fedora Core onto the next partition down and set the boot loader to install onto the MBR, when the system reboots I see the Linux graphical boot manager.

Thats how I do it...maybe that will help you somewhat.

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Worked!
by Late Adopter May 31, 2006 8:20AM PDT

Yes! Thank you, I never thought I should let it alter the MBR because I didnt think it would be compatible, but linux does take over.

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linux does not take over.
by Ixthusdan May 31, 2006 2:35PM PDT

It's a bootloader. Linux is not "taking over". Any good bootloader can do this. (No, windows xp does not have a good bootloader.)

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