Install WinXP on extended hdd partition?

[Guest rabbit]

Hello, I need some advice on HDD partitions: active, primary and extended. I am trying to install Win XP into an empty extended partition after successfully setting up Mdv2007. I want to avoid killing the Mdv2007 already on there.

 

I did not realise that Mdv sets up the disk as all extended partitions, except the first primary: /boot hda1. I have reserved the third physical space hda6 for NTFS (second space hda5 is swap) but it has already been allocated as extended. If I now "force"install XP onto hda6 will Mdv recovery program be able to find the linux partitions and re-install the bootloader correctly.

 

I suppose people usually install Win before Linux. I intended to use Linux from the start but I found 1 applic which requires Win.

 

Thanks for your help. I could not find this information after searching.

[ianw1974]

Usually better to install Windows before Linux, but you can recover the boot loader.

 

Just boot the Mandriva CD1 and then choose rescue. From here you can recover the boot loader.

 

Windows might or might not appear on the bootloader, but this is easily fixable afterwards, and then you'll be dual booting.

[scarecrow]

Windoze must be installed in a primary partition, so you have to repartition (this will not harm Linux "much", as the only partition that will be deleted is swap).

After installing XP you must do what Ian suggested above, PLUS rewriting your fstab (because partition naming will be changed) and reactivating the swap drive.

[Guest rabbit]

Thanks scarecrow and ianw1974, I think you mean "repartition to primary" is executed during Win installation, right? So I will end up with hda1=/boot, hda2=swap, hda3=ntfs, hda4=extended; right? Previously hda5=swap, hda6=ntfs. Then reboot with MDv rescue, it will reinstall lilo bootloader after finding the new hda numbers, right? Is "rewriting fstab" part of the automated rescue or an extra manual step?

 

I know people start installation with Windows first, but I thought I could live without it! Thanks again.

 

UPDATE...>

I have tried to install WinXP. XP will not install onto an extended partition. Even delete/create partition on hda5 and hda6 during Win Installer will not allow XP to install there. It appears I need to wipe out the whole disk and start installation with Win first.

 

Anyone know of a Linux method to convert extended to primary partitions?

[ianw1974]

Your problem is you have two many partitions. A disk can have a maximum of four primary partitions. But you cannot create any extended after this if you use four.

 

Therefore, the maximum primary is 3, with the remaining being extended partitions. You have this already, so you're problem is you're going to have to jiggle your Linux partitions moving data about, etc, etc.

 

If you've only just done the install of Linux, I suggest you just start all over again to make it easier on yourself. Completely format the disk, install Windows in a partition ensuring you leave space for the rest of the partitions you want to create later. Then, just install Linux after this.

 

Trying to move your data is possible, but you'll find it far better to just do it cleanly from install because you'll not be able to resize any of the partitions you've got without the potential for losing data.

[Guest rabbit]

My conclusion: Mdv2007 only allows 1 primary partition hda1, instead of 3.

 

I don't seem able to have a second or third primary. I have tried a clean disk and firstly putting WinXP on the second partition. Upon installation of Mdv2007 after Win-install, Mdv made the Win partition become hda5, extended. Note: hda1 was /boot, not knowing only 1 primary is allowed.

 

I seem to recall previously Mdk2005LE or earlier allowed the 3 primary partitions if Win was installed first. I previously put /boot into hda1 and it worked with ntfs in hda2/3.

 

So my conclusion is I have a working dual boot system but somehow I don't get 3 primary partitions anymore.

 

Thanks very much for your help.

[ianw1974]

Mandriva partitions this way by default, it's not that it doesn't allow it, it's just the way it partitions. It has done with 10.0, 10.1, LE2005 and 2006.

 

This is why I said, you are better off putting Windows on the machine first. You can try doing partitions, but then you'll have to fix stuff in your Linux install to get it working again because of ordering of partitions, etc, etc, etc. Then, you will get what you see. You said this yourself, that LE2005 allowed it if you put Windows first. So put Windows first, then Linux.

 

You cannot convert a partition easily. So if you have data in your extended NTFS partition, then you will have to move it somewhere, and then delete it or whatever partition you are trying to put Windows in. Then you need to create a primary partition with fdisk in Linux to continue after this.

 

If you read up about dual boot, everyone always says put Windows on the machine first. So, the choice is yours, what do you want to do? Easiest method, or the hardest?

 

Easiest = Start again, put Windows first, reinstall Linux

Hardest = Manipulate your partitions, move data, reconfigure Linux, etc, etc, etc.

[Guest rabbit]

Ian, as I mentioned earlier; I (eventually) did start with a fresh disk and put winXP onto the "second" physical partition. However when mdv is installed later, it makes the ntfs partition into hda5 extended and non-bootable.

 

Previous mdk versions allowed ntfs to be second or third primary partition. You also mention there could be 3 primary partitions. This does not seem to be the case with mdv2007. I did not see any options to make the second or third partition become a primary (when ntfs is already sitting there); during the std mdv2007 install procedure. Old mdk versions "automatically" made them primary partitions in my recollection.

 

Thanks for your comments.

Edited October 25, 2006 by rabbit

[ianw1974]

Using the gui installer, it's always difficult to get the partitions exactly how you want it. This is why when I get to the partitioning section, the screen before I choose custom/use free space, etc, I press CTRL-ALT-F2 and do it all with fdisk from the command line. That way I get what I want, the way I want, and don't end up with the gui installer screwing the way I want my partitions set up.

 

For example, in Red Hat, you want to put swap as the first partition, but you can't because the gui installer always shifts it to the end of the disk as the last partition. This is bad, because it's faster to access from the beginning of the disk. This is another example of where I use the command line again for it.

 

I'm thinking you'd probably be best doing the same thing here, and familiarising yourself with the Linux version of fdisk. It's really good, and let's you achieve the exact partitioning you require with the minimal amount of effort.

[Guest rabbit]

OK, I didn't know that, use CTL-ALT-F2 (and fdisk) during installation. Perhaps I could have used fdisk in recovery console to convert an hda5 (second) ntfs partition to primary too. I will read up on fdisk. I am still (overly) reliant on the GUI.

 

Thanks very much.