On 2013-07-25 13:14 (GMT+0200) C composed:

Dylan wrote:

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I need to set up a machine to dual boot OS12.3 and Windows Vista. I figure the process will be as follows:

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1 - Install OS12.3 (During the process, create a partition for Vista) 2 - Install Vista into the prepared partition 3 - Boot from the OS12.3 install media to re-install GRUB with Windows added

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Are there any gotchas in the process I should be aware of?

I recommend being conservative on the amount of space you allocate to openSUSE / partition, and keep /home on a separate partition. Furthermore, if you make two / partitions, then you have the option to test each next release without committing to it before you or it are ready. Once you have a second Linux installed, you have the other readily available to use to repair the other should anything happen to disrupt its use. I recommend creating at least two small primary partitions, one FAT for Windows to use as its "/boot", the other for Linux /boot. A third small primary could be reserved for an alternate /boot for a second Linux, or for a master bootloader fully controlled by you. It might look somewhat like http://fm.no-ip.com/Tmp/Dfsee/vizioL05.txt only without so many EXT# partitions. The extras there are for testing pre-release versions, and comparing behaviors among releases.

Ouch.. Vista :-(

Anyway, you've got the steps backwards. If you need to install a dual boot system with Windows and any Linux distro, always install Windows first (if possible).

The problem is that only works once. So, better to forget that myth and allow for what happens when it's not first installed. Meanwhile, completely partition before doing anything else, so that you fully control what goes where and how much space anything gets. http://fm.no-ip.com/PC/install-doz-after.html

Windows does NOT play well with other OSes - it assumes that it's the only OS on the planet, and behaves that way during install.

Not exactly. When you pre-partition, it gives a list of partitions found, and you get to pick where it will live.

You install Windows first, and then Linux. openSUSE will nicely set up GRUB for you when you install, including an entry for booting Windows. This is the "least pain" route if you're setting up a system with clean installs of Windows and Linux.

Least pain is ensuring Linux's bootloader goes on a primary partition instead of MBR. That way, when Windows needs to be reinstalled, it's a simple matter taking only seconds to use any Windows, DOS or Linux tool, including FDISK from decades ago, to restore active status to the Grub primary, if indeed you wish Grub to be the master bootloader. Window's bootloader is perfectly capable of "chainloading" to Grub.

If you have to install any version of Windows after installing Linux, you will have to "repair" the MBR... it's definitely possible, but it's a pain.

Repair of MBR is not necessary when it is not broken in the first place by putting Grub there. It's only necessary to flip 2 bits in the partition table to move bootable status back from Windows native to Linux native, if that's what's desired. All the foregoing is applicable to MBR systems. If a newer EIF/GPT system, booting is simplified by shared use of a global boot partition. -- "The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive." Proverbs 16:21 (New Living Translation) Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks! Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse+owner@opensuse.org

Thanks to both of you for your comments... On 25/07/13 16:57, C wrote:

On Thu, Jul 25, 2013 at 5:45 PM, Felix Miata wrote:

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Anyway, you've got the steps backwards. If you need to install a dual boot system with Windows and any Linux distro, always install Windows first (if possible).

The problem is that only works once. So, better to forget that myth and allow for what happens when it's not first installed. Meanwhile, completely partition before doing anything else, so that you fully control what goes where and how much space anything gets.

That's why I said "If possible".

Windows is annoying in that it overwrites the MBR and fixing it for a new-to-Linux user can be a bit.. daunting.

I've been using Linux for over 10 years - There's no problem re-instating grub or the mbr from my point of view.

I've never tried the dual-boot thing with Vista. On my current system, I've got 2 separate physical drives, one with Linux, one with Windows. Even in that config (with the most control possible over what goes where), a Windows re-install will break GRUB, or at least send it off to a corner to ponder its role in the universe. Windows installs will write to the primary drive even when you tell it not to (Linux is on sda, and Windows on sdb)... at least I've never found a way to stop it unless I disconnect sda, install, reconnect sda

Or put Linux on sdb and Windows on sda? If there were two physical drives available that would be my default option. This is for my partner whose machine died in the heat - he seems happy to use just Linux until we can get a new machine sorted (he does 3d art so needs quite a bit of power for rendering.) I'm hoping that he'll find he can do everything he needs in Linux. Since the 3d art is done in blender that shouldn't be too much of a leap... Dylan -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse+owner@opensuse.org