How to dual-boot with Vista?

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paullecorde
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How to dual-boot with Vista?

#1 Post by paullecorde »

Has anyone has success with setting up dual-booting with Vista? I just bought a new laptop with Vista preinstalled. I have created an NTFS partition and done a frugal install of Puppy 4.0 on it. I have been searching the forums for threads related to setting up the boot manager. I found threads about XP but not Vista. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks for you help and suggestions.

Paul

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rcrsn51
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#2 Post by rcrsn51 »

Read here.

However, to make this work, you need to format your Puppy partition as ext3 and reinstall Puppy. Then do a GRUB bootloader install, but put GRUB in the partition boot sector, NOT on the MBR of the hard drive.

Finally, run EasyBCD and let it create a link to your Puppy partition.

When doing all this, you need to exercise some caution that you are not accidentally touching your Vista partition.
Last edited by rcrsn51 on Thu 24 Jul 2008, 10:50, edited 1 time in total.

YASKY
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#3 Post by YASKY »

A .use gparted to format the vista partition to ext2
B .start over using just gnu/linux
C enjoy your newfound freedom--it may be painful at first
BUT in the end it may be even better than you thougjht

raffy
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alternative boot devices

#4 Post by raffy »

A .use gparted to format the vista partition to ext2
LOL - that will fry your Vista and waste your fee for the OS bundled with your PC.

To run your new frugal install using a CD/DVD or USB drive as boot device, just add the parameter:

- using USB drive, add "pmedia=idehd" in syslinux.cfg *

- using CD or DVD drive, add "pmedia=idehd" in isolinux.cfg * (you can do this by opening the ISO file with the ISOmaster (or any ISO editor) then extracting, modifying, and reinserting isolinux.cfg.
-----------------------------
* Use "pmedia=satahd" if using SATA hard disk.
Puppy user since Oct 2004. Want FreeOffice? [url=http://puppylinux.info/topic/freeoffice-2012-sfs]Get the sfs (English only)[/url].

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Lobster
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#5 Post by Lobster »

I just bought a new laptop with Vista preinstalled
Vista does not work - so your computer is sold 'unfit for purpose'
If you wanted XP you would be charged twice (once for the OS you don't want and then again for XP)

Please take more care over your purchases :)
(am I too harsh on the Redmond Extortionists?)

Personally I would run Puppy from CD or USB drive
and apply for a refund for the OS (which is a hassle but you are entitled to NOT have the OS)

http://www.linux.com/articles/59381

If you want both do be careful as Vista might disguise its viral nature
by accusing other partitions as possible infections - they have no shame.
Puppy Raspup 8.2Final 8)
Puppy Links Page http://www.smokey01.com/bruceb/puppy.html :D

ICPUG
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#6 Post by ICPUG »

Paullecorde,

It IS possible to dual boot Puppy and Vista and, unlike the method suggested by rcrsn51, it is possible to do it without creating new ext2, ext3 partitions.

So far I have avoided Vista so my Lin'N'WinNewB project instructions have not been updated for Vista. However, Jonyo has used them in conjunction with EasyBCD (and neogrub?) to dual boot Puppy and Vista.

If Jonyo does not pass by here, maybe it would be good to send him a pm.

Before Jonyo there was another successful attempt by BlackAdder on this thread:
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=23234

Hope that helps.

ICPUG

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bvjones59
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In my experience...

#7 Post by bvjones59 »

In my experience, as long as you install Linux and Grub LAST, it finds the windows bootloader and adds it to your boot list automatically. No EBCD needed. At least, it has done so successfully with Ubuntu installs, which use Grub. I confess I haven't tried it with Puppy on my triple-boot (Vista, XP, Ubuntu) -- I only use Puppy on my older laptop or from live CD. The key is to install oldest Windows first, then newer, then finally Linux.

Isn't Grub the same across the various linux platforms? Or does it get some tweaks along the way?
B

slvrldy17
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#8 Post by slvrldy17 »

Hi Paul,

I'm also working with a machine that has Vista on it - in this case it is based on the new Intel "Little Falls" mini ITX board and I didn't want to complicate things by trying to make a dual boot with Puppy - What I have done is to set up a separate partition using the tools in the Vistas "Disk Management" to shrink an existing partition and then format it to FAT32 and have the save file and any other needed Puppy files there - when I want to run Puppy I boot from the CD - its simple and unlikely to cause any problems with the Vista install. It may not be as slick as playing with GRUB or other boot loaders but if you need Vista to work it is the safe alternative. Another way to safely run Puppy would be to install it to a USB key and boot from that if your laptop will allow it - check your boot options in BIOS - my brother does that with a laptop which is set up with Windows XP since we need to retain compatibility with software used at work.
Always give without remembering - always receive without forgetting.
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cthisbear
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#9 Post by cthisbear »

" format it to FAT32 and have the save file and any other needed
Puppy files there - when I want to run Puppy I boot from the CD -
its simple and unlikely to cause any problems with the Vista install.

It may not be as slick as playing with GRUB or other boot loaders but if you need Vista to work it is the safe alternative. "

Yes! I read enough on Whirlpool forums about the delightful Vista.

:::::::::::::::::::::::;
You should make a backup whilst it still works.

Clean it out as well.
It should be similar to my XP tuneup.

Puppy answer:

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 413#131413

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Whirlpool answer for trojans etc.

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-re ... m?t=998716

Chris.
Last edited by cthisbear on Wed 08 Sep 2010, 00:41, edited 1 time in total.

nooby
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#10 Post by nooby »

Paul you have already done it?
I have created an NTFS partition and done a frugal install of Puppy 4.0 on it.
To me that is dual boot. Why would one want a full install on it?
What to gain from it?
I use Google Search on Puppy Forum
not an ideal solution though

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bvjones59
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frugal is not the same as dual boot

#11 Post by bvjones59 »

A frugal install doesn't include a boot loader, so the computer doesn't "see" Puppy on boot-up. Hence, it is not YET a dual-boot. He could probably install Grub to the Puppy partition... supposedly that would get a menu showing up at boot time?

nooby
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#12 Post by nooby »

Yes sorry I missed the implication of these words.
to setting up the boot manager.

He needs to add the small text in boot-ini if Vista have boot.ini

[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect
c:\grldr="Start Linux"

bolded part needs to be added in windows xp don't know how it looks
above that one in vista.

You also need a grldr a program that comes with grub for dos.
Should be possible to download from net.

He needs to add menu.lst but that should be available on net too ?
How to set the menu.lst is described many threads here.

Here is mine current. Chosing among three puppy just to test them.

color black/cyan yellow/cyan
timeout=5
default=0

title Puppy 301 PcPuppyOS
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
kernel /puppy301/vmlinuz PMEDIA=satahd PDEV1=sda1 psubdir=puppy301
vga=normal keyb=se
initrd /puppy301/initrd.gz
boot

title Puppy Linux 4 orig
kernel (hd0,0)/puppy4orig/vmlinuz PMEDIA=satahd PDEV1=sda1 psubdir=puppy4orig
keyb=se
initrd (hd0,0)/puppy4orig/initrd.gz
boot

title Puppy Linux 4.00
kernel (hd0,0)/puppy400/vmlinuz PMEDIA=satahd PDEV1=sda1 psubdir=puppy400 keyb=se
initrd (hd0,0)/puppy400/initrd.gz
boot

title Windows XP SP2 Boot on HD 0
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1
boot

the last one if I regret wanting linux and have to do something in windows first.

So all this should easily work unless vista is very different?
Maybe it is. Why else would not Lin'nWin not include a description?

I was fortunate that WUBI install of Ubuntu had given me a
boot.ini with right text only needed to add the linux thing.
And Menu.lst was easy too.

Although I needed much help it was really super easy for those who
are good at reading instructions.
I use Google Search on Puppy Forum
not an ideal solution though

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paullecorde
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#13 Post by paullecorde »

WOW! This post got a lot of responses. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I followed the advise from rcrsn51 after the first response. I downloaded EasyBCD and installed then reformatted the partition that I had installed Puppy on. I installed frugal puppy and grub on the partition and used EasyBCD to add grub to Vista's boot list. I initially tried formatting the partition as ext2 but I kept getting a corrupted drive error at boot up. I reformatted the partition as ext3 and installed puppy and grub again. After that I was able to choose between Vista and Linux - Linux takes me to the normal grub list from which I can choose puppy.

So thank you especially to rcrsn51. EasyBCD was a success for me. My next issue is the notebook pc has an Atheros AR5007 wifi card, which from what I have read on the forum doesn't play well with puppy. I will start a new thread for that question.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Bruce B

#14 Post by Bruce B »

YASKY wrote:A .use gparted to format the vista partition to ext2
B .start over using just gnu/linux
C enjoy your newfound freedom--it may be painful at first
BUT in the end it may be even better than you thougjht
I do find it interesting the amount of effort people go through to preserve the anti-competitive OS and make the non-competitive OS compatible with the anti-competitive OS.

Life is rather simple when Linux is your OS.

ICPUG
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#15 Post by ICPUG »

Nooby,

Vista does NOT have boot.ini - so that kinda negates your post a bit. This is where EasyBCD comes in.

QUOTE
Why else would not Lin'nWin not include a description?
UNQUOTE

Well, the lack of boot.ini is one reason.

The other is that I don't have Vista, which means I cannot test.

If someone writes some nice newbie friendly TESTED instructions (like Lin'N'Win) for dual booting Puppy and Vista without repartitioning or altering the MBR I will happily add them to the project.

ICPUG

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bvjones59
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dual-boot with no repartition or MBR?

#16 Post by bvjones59 »

I think that's called...
Boot Puppy from CD or USB, and keep the pup_save.sfs file on your windows drive. :lol:

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erikson
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#17 Post by erikson »

[size=84][i]If it ain't broke, don't fix it.[/i] --- erikson
hp/compaq nx9030 (1.6GHz/480MB/37.2GB), ADSL, Linksys wireless router
[url]http://www.desonville.net/[/url]
Puppy page: [url]http://www.desonville.net/en/joere.puppy.htm[/url][/size]

Wognath
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#18 Post by Wognath »

Hello,
I followed rcrsn51's suggestion above to use EasyBCD to dual-boot Vista/Puppy. It worked well. However, since Vista takes so long to start, I usually hibernate it. In this case, the computer skips the menu and starts Vista.

I found another method:
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/95537-m ... 4dos-menu/

In brief, you place in c:/ grldr (from grub4dos) and menu.lst (sample menu.lst given in the link above). Then rename bootmgr to bootmgrv and grldr to bootmgr.

The computer sees grub before bcd and starts with the grub menu, even if Windows is hibernated. The changes are all reversible.

Hope this is useful to someone. Even though this thread is 4 years old, I found it and used it!!

ICPUG
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#19 Post by ICPUG »

Thanks Wognath for finding that little gem.

I wondered whether that trick would work with Vista/Windows 7. I could see no reason why it shouldn't but was too scared of messing things up to try!

Since my original posts in this thread I have now got Windows 7 and very recently started dual booting Puppy (FatSlacko). Rather than use Easy BCD to do all the work for me I do things manually - so I know its me if I mess things up! Very educational as well. Noryb0009 and Superchook helped to provide Lin'N'Win type simplicity to the instructions for dual booting with Windows 7.

I have since updated Lin'N'Win to include dual booting with Windows 7 from first principles.

Although the file renaming trick is easier to do it has a slight chance of messing things up if you get the typing wrong! Aesthetically, I really like it cos it puts ME, (via grub4dos), in charge of the boot process rather than Microsoft. I only use Windows boot if I say so! User choice rather than imposition.

Wognath
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#20 Post by Wognath »

I'm glad you liked that, ICPUG. Certainly part of the appeal is tricking Windows. All of the warnings about killing Vista by changing the mbr kept me from installing grub from puppy. The stakes were high as it is my daughter's computer!

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