Solve : MULTI OS BOOT?

1.	Solve : MULTI OS BOOT?
Answer» I just finished assembling a new quad core box and I want to set it up for multiple OSs: Vista (64), Ubuntu(64), Snow Leopard. I did this once about 15 years ago, but everything has changed since then. I need to make CONTACT with someone with a solid background in Grub, VM, or some other methodology who can guide me through this process. I tried a couple of other geek sites, but my request was met with contempt. I'm hoping to locate someone GENEROUS enough to help me out on this one. I've already done a tour of the web for sites that have detailed instructions on any of the available approaches, but either their info is sketchy, designed for someone who already knows the process, or offers to sell you help on a blind reference basis (which in my experience usually turns out to be worthless.) I am not a novice: I have worked with mainframe computers for over 40 years and PCs since the days of the first MAC and Windows 1.0; I have built over a dozen PCs so far, and the only reason I am looking for help is because we are talking here about processes that can be very tricky since they involve modifying boot records and building structures that are LITTLE used by most PC users. Thanks in advance for anyone who can help. DanIt's a lot easier than it was 15 years ago, you can run Ububtu from inside Windows (no manual partitioning) and Ubuntu will set up the boot loader for you. It works just fine. You can also do a full blown install, I suggest you get the Ubuntu flavour you want in CD form and read the install instructions, it won't be like the old days. I filled out an online form and received a OS CD in the mail 2 weeks later (Ubuntu 8.1 Desktop Edition) for free.Quote I filled out an online form and received a OS CD in the mail 2 weeks later (Ubuntu 8.1 Desktop Edition) for free. ..But it is nice when somebody gives a all donation... to help spread the word. Of course you did that, -Right? Back to Topic. Mufti Booting can be done easily by having more that one hard drive.The BIOS likely has a boot option that lets you chose the other HDD at boot time.Yes...I guess any idiot should know that. -DanI already have 64 bit versions of all the OSs on CDs including Ubuntu Server. I don't wish to do anything messy like using three hard drives and have to CONTROL which one loads via the bios. I also don't want to run one within another and have the overhead of an entire OS for a shell. Grub of some VM option seems possible but I don't know the pros and cons of either. -DanIt is not really my idea. This is what experts say: Quote Dual Boot Vista and Linux Requirements: - 2 Hard Drives - Linux Install CD - Vista Install DVD - Computer powerful enough to run Vista Why this is nessissary Vista comes with a more difficult to work with bootloader. If you install Vista, then Grub, it wipes out the Vista Bootloader. It used to be that you could just tell Grub what to do to boot into Windows, but Windows no longer boots on it’s own: It needs its special bootloader! This may seem convoluted, but in order to counteract this, I keep the Windows Bootloader on the Windows drive. However, I then make that drive the 2nd drive and install the Grub bootloader on the 1st drive. This makes the computer boot Grub first, which can either go right into Linux or it can boot into the 2nd drive, remapping the drives so that the Windows Bootloader can take over Source: http://www.pctipsbox.com/dual-boot-vista-and-linux/ If windows does not recognize another drive ans one of its kind, it will not give it a drive letter. So windows is still on C: drive.OK given the 2 drive approach you describe, there are several versions of Grub around. Which one should I use, and where can I download it. Also, aside from the additional problems of installing OS X on a PC, how does Snow Leopard fit into the scenario you just described of loading Vista and Ubunto with Grub? What you outlined sounds like it's going in the right direction. Thanks. -DanThe main advantage of installing to 2 seperate drives is if the bootloader has issues you cannot boot to either OS... I suspect getting leopard to run will be the most difficult task at hand here...Also, what you described introduces another problem. I have only large hard drives 500GB or better. The box I just setup has 1 500 and two 1.5TB drives on it now. What I wanted to do was set up all the OSs on separate partitions on the same (smaller drive) and then have all the remaining space on the three drives available to allocate whatever way I wanted to. Is there anyway I can adapt the process to accomplish this, or, if not, what is the next best-case scenario. Part of the initial idea was not to set up one PC per OS but have to have everything in one box capable of sharing all the resources (4 core, highgrade GPS, multiTB space, 802.11n on an overclocked router, etc.) There has to be a way! I had considered VM, but I don't know how to get my hands on a VM OS since the only one I know of is priced for and available to commercial users only. -DanQuote from: patio on September 25, 2009, 05:59:26 PM The main advantage of installing to 2 seperate drives is if the bootloader has issues you cannot boot to either OS... I suspect getting leopard to run will be the most difficult task at hand here... Right. Any OS that modifies the MBR in a funny way will make trouble. Have two drives helps. Let the cranky OS modify its onw MBR on its drive. He are is a thread on Snow Leopard. http://techreport.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=67995 They recommend Boot Vamp. Er.. uh, meant to say Boot Camp.

Answer»

I just finished assembling a new quad core box and I want to set it up for multiple OSs: Vista (64), Ubuntu(64), Snow Leopard. I did this once about 15 years ago, but everything has changed since then. I need to make CONTACT with someone with a solid background in Grub, VM, or some other methodology who can guide me through this process. I tried a couple of other geek sites, but my request was met with contempt. I'm hoping to locate someone GENEROUS enough to help me out on this one. I've already done a tour of the web for sites that have detailed instructions on any of the available approaches, but either their info is sketchy, designed for someone who already knows the process, or offers to sell you help on a blind reference basis (which in my experience usually turns out to be worthless.) I am not a novice: I have worked with mainframe computers for over 40 years and PCs since the days of the first MAC and Windows 1.0; I have built over a dozen PCs so far, and the only reason I am looking for help is because we are talking here about processes that can be very tricky since they involve modifying boot records and building structures that are LITTLE used by most PC users. Thanks in advance for anyone who can help.

DanIt's a lot easier than it was 15 years ago, you can run Ububtu from inside Windows (no manual partitioning) and Ubuntu will set up the boot loader for you. It works just fine.
You can also do a full blown install, I suggest you get the Ubuntu flavour you want in CD form and read the install instructions, it won't be like the old days.
I filled out an online form and received a OS CD in the mail 2 weeks later
(Ubuntu 8.1 Desktop Edition) for free.Quote

I filled out an online form and received a OS CD in the mail 2 weeks later
(Ubuntu 8.1 Desktop Edition) for free.

..But it is nice when somebody gives a all donation...
to help spread the word.
Of course you did that, -Right?

Back to Topic. Mufti Booting can be done easily by having more that one hard drive.The BIOS likely has a boot option that lets you chose the other HDD at boot time.Yes...I guess any idiot should know that.

-DanI already have 64 bit versions of all the OSs on CDs including Ubuntu Server. I don't wish to do anything messy like using three hard drives and have to CONTROL which one loads via the bios. I also don't want to run one within another and have the overhead of an entire OS for a shell. Grub of some VM option seems possible but I don't know the pros and cons of either.

-DanIt is not really my idea. This is what experts say:
Quote

Dual Boot Vista and Linux
Requirements:
- 2 Hard Drives
- Linux Install CD
- Vista Install DVD
- Computer powerful enough to run Vista
Why this is nessissary
Vista comes with a more difficult to work with bootloader. If you install Vista, then Grub, it wipes out the Vista Bootloader. It used to be that you could just tell Grub what to do to boot into Windows, but Windows no longer boots on it’s own: It needs its *special* bootloader!

This may seem convoluted, but in order to counteract this, I keep the Windows Bootloader on the Windows drive. However, I then make that drive the 2nd drive and install the Grub bootloader on the 1st drive. This makes the computer boot Grub first, which can either go right into Linux or it can boot into the 2nd drive, remapping the drives so that the Windows Bootloader can take over

Source:
http://www.pctipsbox.com/dual-boot-vista-and-linux/
If windows does not recognize another drive ans one of its kind, it will not give it a drive letter. So windows is still on C: drive.OK given the 2 drive approach you describe, there are several versions of Grub around. Which one should I use, and where can I download it. Also, aside from the additional problems of installing OS X on a PC, how does Snow Leopard fit into the scenario you just described of loading Vista and Ubunto with Grub? What you outlined sounds like it's going in the right direction. Thanks.

-DanThe main advantage of installing to 2 seperate drives is if the bootloader has issues you cannot boot to either OS...
I suspect getting leopard to run will be the most difficult task at hand here...Also, what you described introduces another problem. I have only large hard drives 500GB or better. The box I just setup has 1 500 and two 1.5TB drives on it now. What I wanted to do was set up all the OSs on separate partitions on the same (smaller drive) and then have all the remaining space on the three drives available to allocate whatever way I wanted to. Is there anyway I can adapt the process to accomplish this, or, if not, what is the next best-case scenario. Part of the initial idea was not to set up one PC per OS but have to have everything in one box capable of sharing all the resources (4 core, highgrade GPS, multiTB space, 802.11n on an overclocked router, etc.) There has to be a way! I had considered VM, but I don't know how to get my hands on a VM OS since the only one I know of is priced for and available to commercial users only.
-DanQuote from: patio on September 25, 2009, 05:59:26 PM

The main advantage of installing to 2 seperate drives is if the bootloader has issues you cannot boot to either OS...
I suspect getting leopard to run will be the most difficult task at hand here...

Right. Any OS that modifies the MBR in a funny way will make trouble. Have two drives helps. Let the cranky OS modify its onw MBR on its drive.
He are is a thread on Snow Leopard.
http://techreport.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=67995
They recommend Boot Vamp.
Er.. uh, meant to say Boot Camp.

Solve : MULTI OS BOOT?

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