URGENT: How to install windows to dual boot without reinstalling Fedora 7

[moljac024]

I have Fedora 7 installed, up to date and setup the way i want it. I would like to install windows xp now, but i still want to use my fedora 7 without the hassle of reinstalling it. Is it possible ?

I've noticed a "repair existing fedora installation" option on the install disc, could i reinstall grub with that and how ?

Please respond, i am in a bit of a hurry Thanks!

[stoat]

Originally Posted by moljac024

I have Fedora 7 installed, up to date and setup the way i want it. I would like to install windows xp now, but i still want to use my fedora 7 without the hassle of reinstalling it. Is it possible ?

Hello moljac024,

It's possible. The most popular, easiest to explain and safest way to do that is to install XP on a separate drive that is set to first in the BIOS drive order. After XP is installed and working normally, return the Fedora drive to first in the BIOS drive order. XP will then not boot, but editing the Fedora grub.conf file will get XP booting again from the GRUB menu.

This idea has sort of become a classic method and is popularly known as Jim Lawrence's dual boot method. Normally, XP is installed first, but that doesn't really matter. And Jim Lawrence's wiki describes the drives as IDE drives on separate channels, but that doesn't matter either. I have done this with IDE drives on the same channel (cable). And other people have done this with two SATA drives.

If you have a second drive for XP and are interested, help will come as needed for the grub.conf thing after XP has been installed.

[gadgetwiz]

You can also just keep the XP drive as the first boot drive and use bootpart to grab the Linux boot sector and dual boot from XP.

[moljac024]

As luck would have it i DO have 2 SATA hard drives I was thinking of doing it that way too but i would prefer all my OSes on the same drive....no matter, i'll do this temporarily.

Thanks!

P.S. I am interested in adding Windows to grub, so i will post back in a few hours...

[stoat]

Originally Posted by moljac024

I was thinking of doing it that way too but i would prefer all my OSes on the same

moljac024,

You can still try reinstalling XP in the same place it was before, if that is your preference. The problem that sometimes comes up is that the XP CD will not boot. It is caused by the presence of the Linux system on the same hard drive (sometimes). Try it. If the XP CD boots okay, just reinstall XP in its same partition. And yes, you will have to reinstall GRUB in the master boot record if that is what you had before. It's easy. It's a very common procedure. Help will come from every direction when you get to that point.

If you discover that your XP CD halts immediately after displaying "Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration...", then other things will need to be done. But deal with that thing then.

For now, just try to reinstall XP back in its original partition.