Is dual boot Linux-Vista possible?

[tom]

I recently built a computer and installed Debian on
SATA1, later I added second HDD on SATA2 and
installed Vista. So I have debian on /dev/sda1 and
Vista on /dev/sdb1.

Installing Vista wiped out grub so I could no longer
get to Debian. So I used a Knoppix disk to reinstall
Grub.

So now I have Debian working, but if I try to boot
into Vista I get "bootmgr is missing". I did a Google
on that one and it looks new to Vista as it is not there
for XP.

[Kushkov]

Post by tom
I recently built a computer and installed Debian on
SATA1, later I added second HDD on SATA2 and
installed Vista. So I have debian on /dev/sda1 and
Vista on /dev/sdb1.
Installing Vista wiped out grub so I could no longer
get to Debian. So I used a Knoppix disk to reinstall
Grub.
So now I have Debian working, but if I try to boot
into Vista I get "bootmgr is missing". I did a Google
on that one and it looks new to Vista as it is not there
for XP.

I dual boot Linux and Vista perfectly, but on the same hard drive.

When you restored GRUB you most likely corrupted the Vista boot loader
which was also on the Master
Boot Record. You can try to bring it back again (boot off the Vista CD
and select 'repair existing installation'
then restore GRUB again. If that fails, you'll probably have to redo
your install completely. This time installing
Vista first.

[Rob S]

Post by tom
I recently built a computer and installed Debian on
SATA1, later I added second HDD on SATA2 and
installed Vista. So I have debian on /dev/sda1 and
Vista on /dev/sdb1.
Installing Vista wiped out grub so I could no longer
get to Debian. So I used a Knoppix disk to reinstall
Grub.
So now I have Debian working, but if I try to boot
into Vista I get "bootmgr is missing". I did a Google
on that one and it looks new to Vista as it is not there
for XP.

Probably the same as with XP. Install Vista first, then Linux.
--
Rob
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the universe." - Carl Sagan
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[johnny bobby bee]

Post by Rob S
Probably the same as with XP. Install Vista first, then Linux.

Not so fast. Vista don't always work nice with Linux. I F'd up a trial
dualboot Vista/Linux install, because Gparted didn't handle the
partitioning well. Or rather, Vista didn't like what Gparted did.

Folks are getting better results using the Vista 'shrink' partition to,
um, ah, shrink the Vista partition. Then install linux using Gparted if
you wish to further partition the disk. But DO NOT touch the Vista
partition.

[Rob S]

Post by johnny bobby bee

Post by Rob S
Probably the same as with XP. Install Vista first, then Linux.

Not so fast. Vista don't always work nice with Linux. I F'd up a trial
dualboot Vista/Linux install, because Gparted didn't handle the
partitioning well. Or rather, Vista didn't like what Gparted did.
Folks are getting better results using the Vista 'shrink' partition to,
um, ah, shrink the Vista partition. Then install linux using Gparted if
you wish to further partition the disk. But DO NOT touch the Vista
partition.

I didn't make myself clear. I meant set up partitions first, install
Vista on the first partition, the Linux on the rest.

I had Vista RC2, Ubuntu, Dreamlinux and Freebsd installed on one box
with a single 160Gb HD and had no problems.

Definitely do not take an installation of Vista that takes a complete hd
then try and re-partition for Linux. Down that road lies madness. :-)

[BlackHole]

Post by Rob S

Post by johnny bobby bee

Post by Rob S
Probably the same as with XP. Install Vista first, then Linux.

Not so fast. Vista don't always work nice with Linux. I F'd up a trial
dualboot Vista/Linux install, because Gparted didn't handle the
partitioning well. Or rather, Vista didn't like what Gparted did.
Folks are getting better results using the Vista 'shrink' partition to,
um, ah, shrink the Vista partition. Then install linux using Gparted if
you wish to further partition the disk. But DO NOT touch the Vista
partition.

I didn't make myself clear. I meant set up partitions first, install
Vista on the first partition, the Linux on the rest.
I had Vista RC2, Ubuntu, Dreamlinux and Freebsd installed on one box
with a single 160Gb HD and had no problems.
Definitely do not take an installation of Vista that takes a complete hd
then try and re-partition for Linux. Down that road lies madness. :-)

I learned the hard way recently when setting up a computer for my boss
(he couldn't stand vista and wanted to dual boot XP) that vista has some
funky new way of handling the boot process. If memory serves, the only
way you can boot vista is useing the vista bootloader so you'd have to
add your linux to that rather than trying to use lilo or grub.

I didn't plan for that and once I overwrote the MBR with the XP install
cd I found myself downloading a vista cd from a torrent just to fix the
damn vista bootloader! Ah fun times...

Just figured I'd save you some trouble...