[CentOS] Solved: Dual-booting CentOS and WinXP

[Les Mikesell]

Sorin Srbu wrote:
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: centos-bounces at centos.org [mailto:centos-bounces at centos.org] On
> Behalf
>> Of Sorin Srbu
>> Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 8:48 AM
>> To: 'CentOS mailing list'
>> Subject: Re: [CentOS] Dual-booting CentOS and WinXP
>>
>> Thanks for the confirmation all. I'll try switching the master/slave
>> settings.
>>
>> Luckily I'm still at the testing phase, to see how things'll go smoothest,
>> before I go live so to speak.
> 
> First test machine finished after some serious tinkering, will probably need
> to do another test install according to the documentation I made during the
> testing. The machine now boots both CentOS and WinXP and all seems fine.
> 
> Below are the steps I took:
> 
> * Disconnect linux hd.
> 
> * Install a new hd and jumper it as primary master. Linux hd should
> consequently be set as primary slave. Install WinXP. I've ghosted the
> Workgroup install with g4u, so next deployment should be fairly quick. Also
> wrote zeroes to all empty areas on the Windows hd to save space at ghosting.
> 
> * Connect linux hd.
> 
> * Boot from cd1 with appropriate CentOS release and run "linux rescue".
> 
> * At prompt, run "grub-install --recheck /dev/hda".
> 
> * At prompt run "grub".
> 
> * Enter root (hd1,0). This'll install grub to second hd on MBR, the one with
> CentOS on it, if my information is correct.
> 
> * Enter "setup (hd1).
> 
> * Enter "quit" and reboot.
> 
> * Boot CentOS and check /etc/grub.conf.
> 
> * Boot Windows and check whatever needs to be checked.
> 
> * Done.
> 
> 
> The nice thing here is that I can use the same IP for both installs. Being
> continually low on available IP's for this department, this is super!
> 
> Thanks all for hints and help!

Note that it is also possible to set up VMware and perhaps virtualbox to 
be able to boot the alternate OS as a virtual machine so you can run 
both at once if you like.   If you don't have the enterprise-licensed 
version of windows you might need to run it as the host, though. 
Otherwise it will want to be re-licensed every time you switch between 
virtual and physical boots and it sees different hardware.  With Vmware 
you have to install the (free) server version to do the setup, although 
you can later remove it and use the player version at runtime if you prefer.

-- 
   Les Mikesell
     lesmikesell at gmail.com