Hi!
I have one disk (/dev/sda - 500gb samsung), which has winXp on. I wish to install Gentoo without disturbing the WinXp install, at all if possible - with the exception of the bootloader, which I wish to be Grub.
I seem to remember from a few years ago that RedHat or Ubuntu (I forget which) was able to automatically install Grub +linuxiso without touching my windows install - how do I achieve this with Gentoo?
TIA.
EDIT: Forgot to add there is loads of empty space, it is merely the the case the C: is from the first sector, which is what I am unsure about for placing grub.
Installing Gentoo without disturbing Windows
Message
- Acron_0248
- n00b
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 2:05 pm
Hi there....
Maybe it's just me, but the question need more details.
As far I understand, do you only have one partition of 500gb?
In that case, and you want to install gentoo without touching windows, you'll need other partition where will be gentoo installed, to do that, you'll have to use gparted or partition magick to change the partition table.
Where to put the grub is something that you can decide regarding your needs, for instance, you could just use the MBR of the disk, that won't damage windows in anyway, in any case, you'll be changing the NT bootloader for grub, nothing more.
I don't know if this is helpful, if not, give me more details about what exactly you want to know
Regards
Maybe it's just me, but the question need more details.
As far I understand, do you only have one partition of 500gb?
In that case, and you want to install gentoo without touching windows, you'll need other partition where will be gentoo installed, to do that, you'll have to use gparted or partition magick to change the partition table.
Where to put the grub is something that you can decide regarding your needs, for instance, you could just use the MBR of the disk, that won't damage windows in anyway, in any case, you'll be changing the NT bootloader for grub, nothing more.
I don't know if this is helpful, if not, give me more details about what exactly you want to know
Regards
Linux User Registered #399288
If you wish to install gentoo along side windows but still keep the windows bootloader intact, you can install gentoo like normal as shown on the Official Guide, but instead of setting up your bootloader "grub/lilo" you can install a bootloader inside a usb stick using extlinux which is part of the sysutils package.
You will first need to create a custom initramfs image that will mount your linux partition then switch to it from the usb device. more info on this can be found in the forums or online.. good luck.
You will first need to create a custom initramfs image that will mount your linux partition then switch to it from the usb device. more info on this can be found in the forums or online.. good luck.
now just create 2 partitions for linux,..
/dev/sda3 = 50gb reiserfs ( / root partition )
/dev/sda4 = 4gb linux/swap ( swap partition, make it 2gb if you only have 1GB of RAM )
then skip the grub/lilo part and setup extlinux so that you can keep your nt bootloader intact.
but since grub/lilo can boot a windows partition I don't see why you just can't use it.
/dev/sda3 = 50gb reiserfs ( / root partition )
/dev/sda4 = 4gb linux/swap ( swap partition, make it 2gb if you only have 1GB of RAM )
then skip the grub/lilo part and setup extlinux so that you can keep your nt bootloader intact.
but since grub/lilo can boot a windows partition I don't see why you just can't use it.
1) there is another method to the bootloader... using Windows NTLDR (I use this at work due to IT restrictions). Write GRUB to the /boot partition instead of the MBR then rip off the first 512 bytes with dd to a file, copy the file to c:\ and reference that file via boot.ini
Then NTLDR will chainload grub (as opose to GRUB chainloading NTLDR).
2) just because windows is first (in fact it has to be, be it physically first of GRUB voodoo to trick it).
Use gparted to shrink the partition (after a defrag) to free up the needed room
3) only 4 PRIMARY partitions can be created (legacy). However, you can make an extended partition out of one of them. This extended partition can the have as many (logical?) partitions within it as it wants
Then NTLDR will chainload grub (as opose to GRUB chainloading NTLDR).
2) just because windows is first (in fact it has to be, be it physically first of GRUB voodoo to trick it).
Use gparted to shrink the partition (after a defrag) to free up the needed room
3) only 4 PRIMARY partitions can be created (legacy). However, you can make an extended partition out of one of them. This extended partition can the have as many (logical?) partitions within it as it wants
#define HelloWorld int
#define Int main()
#define Return printf
#define Print return
#include <stdio>
HelloWorld Int {
Return("Hello, world!\n");
Print 0;
#define Int main()
#define Return printf
#define Print return
#include <stdio>
HelloWorld Int {
Return("Hello, world!\n");
Print 0;
- dmartinsca
- Guru
- Posts: 303
- Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2005 2:01 pm
- Location: Ontario, Canada
You seem to be concerned that /boot needs to be first? This is a limitation of older computer's BIOS. Basically, the BIOS couldn't access anything past the first 1024 cylinders of the hard drive so while /boot didn't need to be first, it had to be close to the start of the drive.
As long as you're not using an ancient PC you shouldn't run into this problem. That your BIOS can deal with a 500GB drive is a good indication the PC isn't too old.
As long as you're not using an ancient PC you shouldn't run into this problem. That your BIOS can deal with a 500GB drive is a good indication the PC isn't too old.
MBR: Grub
/dev/sda1: ntfs (C: )
/dev/sda2: ntfs (D: ) # these two cannot be touched.
/dev/sda3: /boot
/dev/sda4: EXTENDED PARTITION DECLARATION
/dev/sda5:swap
/dev/sda6: /
/dev/sda7: ...
...
/dev/sda99: ...
there is only a limit on the number of primary partitions. Extended partition's were created to get around it. Its a kind of software controlled partition table and thus there really isn't a limit on the number of logical partitions that can be placed within an Extended partition
THAT or create an LVM for /dev/sda3 and within that create /boot SWAP and /<root>
/dev/sda1: ntfs (C: )
/dev/sda2: ntfs (D: ) # these two cannot be touched.
/dev/sda3: /boot
/dev/sda4: EXTENDED PARTITION DECLARATION
/dev/sda5:swap
/dev/sda6: /
/dev/sda7: ...
...
/dev/sda99: ...
there is only a limit on the number of primary partitions. Extended partition's were created to get around it. Its a kind of software controlled partition table and thus there really isn't a limit on the number of logical partitions that can be placed within an Extended partition
THAT or create an LVM for /dev/sda3 and within that create /boot SWAP and /<root>
#define HelloWorld int
#define Int main()
#define Return printf
#define Print return
#include <stdio>
HelloWorld Int {
Return("Hello, world!\n");
Print 0;
#define Int main()
#define Return printf
#define Print return
#include <stdio>
HelloWorld Int {
Return("Hello, world!\n");
Print 0;
- Acron_0248
- n00b
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 2:05 pm
If you don't want to, don't create the /boot partition.....just create root and swap partition, the grub will be replacing the nt loader without disturbing your windows installation and that's all
Regards
Regards
Linux User Registered #399288