Compiling During Linux Setup?

[Kienja Kenobi]

I want to dual boot Linux and Windows XP. This should be a simple process; however, GRUB is not working for me, so I found this website: How to dual-boot Linux from Windows NT/2000/XP. I understand the entire procedure presented on that website except for the part that starts at “If your boot partition is NTFS, things are a bit trickier…” and ends at the beginning of the next section. He lists some code that he says to compile and run with the given input and output arguments. When do I do that? Can I do it during the Linux installation? Do I simply go to a free console during the setup and type in all of that code and then put in the compile and run arguments?

This really does not make sense to me, but I see no other way to interpret what he is saying. I could not compile the code and run it once I am inside the Linux system because this deals with installing the bootloader, and there would be no way to boot Linux!

[unchiujar]

If you look at the date of the page it says 2005-02-1 ages in computers time.

If you want to dual boot Win and Linux, you should first install windows, leave space for linux and for most distributions you will have an option to install Grub. Usually among the Grub options you'll see that it can display a menu at boot time that has Windows in it (it should detect the windows partition up to Vista automatically). Usually there's no complicated coding involved.

I think lilo is falling out of use.

[oz]

Are you installing GRUB to the MBR?

[unchiujar]

Whoops, missed the phrase that said Grub doesn't work for him/her.

[oz]

Yeah, I've been using GRUB for years and have never had a GRUB installation failure. I'm wondering what's up that's causing it not to work in this case?

Like you say, LILO seems to be used less all the time these days.

[Kienja Kenobi]

Yes indeed, LILO is quickly becoming outdated, but I care very little for that fact if the method presented on that website would simply work! I would still prefer someone to answer my original question of what exactly the author on that web page is trying to say. If his method of dual-booting could be done two years ago, it should be possible to do it today. I have come to this forum to find out what that website means, but if you must know why GRUB is not working for me, I am inquiring about that on the official Arch Linux forums (I am installing Arch Linux), and you can look at the thread here: Arch Linux Forums / Must I use GRUB or LILO?

[oz]

Sorry... I took a look at the dual-boot with LILO page you refer to above and don't really understand it myself. I have always heard that it's quite a bit of work to get the Windows bootloader working with Linux, so I guess that's what you are going through now. I hope you are able to accomplish your goal without too much more work.

Ah, the Arch Linux thread... yes, I remember responding in that one earlier on. GRUB works quite well for most folks, but if you really want the Windows bootloader you should stay with it until you get what you want.

Maybe someone else will reply that knows a great deal about Windows bootloaders.

In the interim, good luck with your efforts.

[Kienja Kenobi]

Thanks ozar. No problem at all. I do not much mind what method I end up using (I am trying GRUB too), just as long as one of them eventually works. I have used nothing but Windows my entire life and I am getting very annoyed with it. Linux would be really nice, but I must also have Windows on here because the three other people who use this computer want nothing to do with Linux.

[user_r]

Hi Kienja,

I hope I can give you a few answers to you original question....

I want to dual boot Linux and Windows XP. This should be a simple process; however, GRUB is not working for me,

I'm having a similar problem with dual boot. I'm having some problems with GRUB (I'm sure I'll post them here soon!) but I think it's the best method to use.

so I found this website: How to dual-boot Linux from Windows NT/2000/XP. I understand the entire procedure presented on that website except for the part that starts at “If your boot partition is NTFS, things are a bit trickier…” and ends at the beginning of the next section. He lists some code that he says to compile and run with the given input and output arguments. When do I do that? Can I do it during the Linux installation? Do I simply go to a free console during the setup and type in all of that code and then put in the compile and run arguments?

I'm no expert but the code on that webite looks like c. I've used c in windows before - you have to compile it in c compiler. I've only just started with linux but I'd imagine the process will be the same.

So, in answer to your questions....

You do this after you've installed linux. You'll have to then install a c compiler. Use the compiler to compile his code, which will create the small app to write to the bootloader. When you run the app you supply the arguements (2 file names)

No, you can't do this during the install. (Like I say I'm new to linux but I'm 99% sure you can't)

No, this code won't compile in a free console... you need the c compiler.

This really does not make sense to me, but I see no other way to interpret what he is saying. I could not compile the code and run it once I am inside the Linux system because this deals with installing the bootloader, and there would be no way to boot Linux!

He does mention that you will have to boot to linux from the install disk until the whole process he describes is completed...

You'll probably need to keep booting off your install media to accomplish the subsequent reboot, until we finish this procedure. If you get the opportunity to make a set of rescue disks during the install, do so. Or if your media already comes with a Rescue setup, just use that.

I can follow what he's saying, and as a windows users and linux newbie, my advice would be to try getting GRUB to work.... Like I say, I'm having some problems with it but I wouldn't attempt the method he describes. I'd rather sort out the GRUB problems I'm having.

Although I can follow his logic I'm wary of it's complexity. If something went wrong I wouldn't have a clue where I was! Maybe that's just my inexperience but as, unchiujar points out, the site is old, so getting help from the guy may be impossible. Whereas there's a lot of support for GRUB.

However, as I mentioned, I'm having problems with it - initially I couldn't load windows, now I can't load anything!

So.... before you do anything make sure you have a way to boot windows (rescue disk) and linux, without having to rely on GRUB (or any other kind of loader, including the windows loader, which may get lost...)

Sorry it's long but I hope this helps...

[oz]

Welcome to the forums, user_r!

He finally got his GRUB issues figured out and is using it now for his bootloader:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...nly-error.html

When you get ready, post a new thread with your own boot issues and we will all try to help.