Re: Dual Boot With Win XP - Debian First?

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:34:29 -0700

Chris Lale wrote: 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  
I want to dual boot windows XP and Debian.? I've seen the guides, but they all recommend that users have Windows XP installed first, and then install Debian.? This allows you to set it up with the default Debian installation to use GRUB / etc. and dual boot.? 

However, I won't have a copy of Win XP for my new machine for a month or two probably.? I'd like to go ahead and install Debian, otherwise the new computer will be a paperweight.

Is it possible to install Debian first and then Windows XP later on?? Can you change the Debian configurations?? Is it not too difficult?? Impossible?

I'm installing on two separate hard drives, so partitions shouldn't be a big problem I don't imagine.? Debian on one, XP on the other.
I would suggest (but I have not tested) this approach.

1. Create hda1 as primary fat for later use by windows (ie the first partition
on the first disc), then install Debian in the remaining space eg hda2. If you
use hda2 as primary, I believe that windows ignores it and will not try to
remove it, but things may have changed. It looks as though you will be using
hdb1 for Debian, so that should be straightforward.
If you have hda1 as fat partition it will be the only one seen by windows. Choose it during install and windows will not touch the rest of hda. At least this is how it is done with XP Professional.
2. Once Debian is installed, create and test a Grub boot disc [2]. This will
enable you to boot back into Debian after windows has overwritten your MBR on
hda. Back up the MBR [2].
You can skip part 2 if you have a live linux CD, such as Knoppix or Ubuntu Live, or ...
3. Install windows and test it.

4. Boot into Debian from the Grub boot disc. Modify the /boot/grub/menu.lst file
to include windows in the grub boot menu. Google for the details, but add
something like this:

	# This entry for a non-linux OS on /dev/hda1
	title           Windows NT/2000/XP (loader)
	root            (hd0,0)
	savedefault
	makeactive
	chainloader     +1

You may find the update-grub manpage useful.
  
5. Restore the MBR so that the boot loader runs Grub again.
This is how I recover my Debian after I gave to reinstall Windows:
http://debian.kitaj.net/2007/05/rescuing-linux-after-window-reinstall/


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