multi boot

[wzd2000]

I have suse linux 8.2 that I want to install on a Vista/XP machine. Is it possible to boot linux using vista's BCD? Linux will be on a separate disk, dedicated partition approx 30gb. If possible, what would be the lines in BDC to boot linux?

If I could get linux to boot, I would have a triple-boot machine, which I think would be cool.

Thanks for any help.
Bryan

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome Bryan !

SUSE 8.2 is too old and you should try latest version, 11.
Is there any reason using Vista Boot Loader? Linux boot loader works pretty well. Installer will detect all installed OSes and setup multiboot itself.

[wzd2000]

I already have 8.2 running on another machine multibooted with XP. Since 8.2 is old, I am concerned its boot loader won't recognize how to load Vista.

I intend to move the internal hd on which linux resides from the old machine to a new machine with vista & XP already multibooted.

I thought it might be easier simply to modify the BCD to boot linux rather than trying to reinstall linux. Maybe I could chain to the boot sector of the linux disk? (Of course, that presumes that I'll be able to change linux assignments from "hda" to "hdb". All else will remain the same. Quite a project, yes?

Thanks.

[gogalthorp]

The problem is that the old 8.2 may not recognize the new hardware.

[devils casper]

SuSe's boot loader will recognize Windows OSes without any problem but as gogalthorp metioned already, Suse 8.2 might not detect and configure all hardware properly.

I thought it might be easier simply to modify the BCD to boot linux rather than trying to reinstall linux. Maybe I could chain to the boot sector of the linux disk? (Of course, that presumes that I'll be able to change linux assignments from "hda" to "hdb". All else will remain the same. Quite a project, yes?

Plug Linux HD as Primary Master. Make sure that SuSe boot up by default in new machine. Add this code in /boot/grub/menu.lst file of SuSe.

title Windows OSes
root (hd1,0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

Save file and reboot machine. Select Windows OSes title in GRUB Menu. Windows Boot Menu will appear and you will have choice to boot up Vista/XP as earlier.

[devils casper]

SuSe's boot loader will recognize Windows OSes without any problem but as gogalthorp metioned already, Suse 8.2 might not detect and configure all hardware properly.

I thought it might be easier simply to modify the BCD to boot linux rather than trying to reinstall linux. Maybe I could chain to the boot sector of the linux disk? (Of course, that presumes that I'll be able to change linux assignments from "hda" to "hdb". All else will remain the same. Quite a project, yes?

Plug Linux HD as Primary Master. Make sure that SuSe boot up by default in new machine. Add this code in /boot/grub/menu.lst file of SuSe.

title Windows OSes
root (hd1,0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

Save file and reboot machine. Select Windows OSes title in GRUB Menu. Windows Boot Menu will appear and you will have choice to boot up Vista/XP as earlier.

[wzd2000]

Thanks for the info.