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How to boot Linux using floppy in dual boot scenario?

I would like to dual boot Redhat Linux 9 and XP but have Linux boot only from floppy so as not to have to modify the MBR. What is the best procedure for this using Redhat 9 and XP? I have XP installed now...

Thanks for any insight!

paulqna

I would suggest using grub:

http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Linux+Win9x+Grub-HOWTO/index.html

SOLUTION

sr75

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davis

ASKER

Two quick questions:

1- If I were to follow the procedure above, would the Floppy be necessary to boot? (that is what I am looking for)

2- If I wanted to remove Linux, all that is needed is to remove the partitions and all is gone? Anything else necessary?

thanks!

sr75

1. Only when doing the disk dump (dd) of the /. after that Windows should be able to load the file you create and copy to windows. This will allow you to multi-boot windows and linux and not change the windows MBR.

2. Yes. and remove the Boot.ini entry. Then that is it.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

pjedmond

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arn0ld

To avoid removing the diskettte, you can use lilo (or grub- i do not use it) -
create lilofd.conf containing (e.g.):
boot=/dev/fd0 ## MUST

other=/dev/hda1
table=/dev/hda
label=Windows

image=/vmlinuz #or /boot/vmlinuz
label=Linux
root=/dev/hda2

Then
lilo -v -v -C lilofd.conf

==Even Better==
If you :
fdformat /dev/fd0h1440
mke2fs /dev/fd0
mount /dev/fd0 /mnt/fd0
cp /vmlinuz to /mnt/fd0
, you can add to the conf:

image=/mnt/fd0/vmlinuz
label=LnxFlop
root=/dev/hda2

and have a semi-quasi rescue diskette.

BTW, I ALWAYS boot from floppy - great grief avoider

And, of course, get toms: http://www.toms.net/~toehser/rb/

davis

ASKER

Thanks very much for the feedback!

boyzen

Her's is my QUESTION!

I installed redhat 9.0 a few months ago, but now I've lost the boot diskette.The default OS on my system is win XP which means I can't boot from linux during startup. How do I edit boot.ini to see the 2 options to get access to linux again?