Windows is a control freak!!!

[QuickSilver]

I can install all types of multi booters, such as Lilo, Grub, XOSL, or whatever, and use them no problem. Then I install Windows, and it takes over the MBR! Once I install Windows, the boot manager will no longer load, and I can't get into any other OS. Is there any way that I can keep Windows from booting out my boot managers? I have tried Win98 and WinXP, and they both do the same thing. I would like to use XOSL if possible, as it seems to be the most flexible. Some of you may remember an article that was circulating about a young guy who got 37 OSes to successfully run on one system using XOSL. Anyway, please help if you can!

Note: I am doing this on an SATA drive, if that makes any difference.

[ogrerocks]

Never install Windows on the same pertition as your MBR if you already have Linux installed. There is no way to configure a windows bootloader while you're installing.

There might be a way to do it in your boot.ini file once you have windows installed. Try googling it.

[Dswissmiss]

The advice I've always gotten is to install windows before anything else. If you do need to do it the other way around, I think you can boot into linux with a live cd like knoppix, and edid your grub or lilo conf form there, although I've never tried it.

[QuickSilver]

That's the confusing part. I tried having Windows on there first, but it didn't make any difference. With it on there first, I would go through the Linux install with no problems, restart, and the computer would bood directly to XP.

What I last did was install Linux and Grub first, and then I was able to run it with no problems. I then made a new primary partition on the same HDD, using un-partitioned space (unused drive space), and installed Win98 to that. The same thing happened again. Grub stopped coming up during boot, and the system went directly to 98. I have to be doing something wrong, but I'm not sure what it could be.

[Dswissmiss]

Thats very strange, grub must have not installed correctly or something, or maybe it has something to do with primary and secondary partitions (just guessing though). Did you reformat again or are you in 98 with linux untouched? If you still have linux, and can get to it through a live cd or otherwise let me know, I might be able to help you fix grub.

[QuickSilver]

I don't have anything on the system right now. It's a blank HDD at this point.

[mikeL]

Create two partitions
install windows first
install linux on the extended partition
when it come to installing LILO or Grub, make sure you install it to /dev/hda
linux may give you a warning about overwriting your current MBR (which will be windows own MBR)

Mike

[QuickSilver]

Put Linux on an extended huh? Ok, I'll give it a try. Thanks.