Hi folks,

I have never installed Linux before. I want to get my hands dirty now, hope that you can guide me through.

Situation:
I want to install Linux on a Win98 - I found the phrase "Dual Boot" where you can select which OS to load. That is what I want to do.

I don't want to mess with my current HD so I am installing a second HD for my Linux install.

Please advise, small step by every small step if possible.

Greatly appreciate it!

the island man

    it is very simple:

    make the windows hd the slave hd; make the intended linux hd the primary (you should know how to do this if you are installing a HD and OS!).
    (the os won't know you changed it)
    to make it easier, leave the windows drive disconnected so you don't accidentally format it.
    install linux as normal on the primary drive.

    when complete, as root, edit /etc/lilo.conf

    add this lines to the bottom:

    other=hdb1
    label=dos
    table=hdb
    map-to=0x80
    to=0x81
    map-to=0x81
    to=0x80

    save this file, then type
    /sbin/lilo

    this will give you some info about added items

    install the win98 hd on slave

    reboot, then hit tab and you will see your options, one of which will be dos
    type dos and win98 should boot (you could name the label= to whatever you like i.e. win98 etc)

      Jellings,

      This reads like I CAN DO IT! I'll let you know when I earn the right to wear a Penguin shirt!

      :-)

        Jellings forgot the most obvious:

        Get a CD of a distro (like redhat, mandrake, ... [disclaimer: Debian4me]) that is set up to be relatively easy to install, and boot it up. If you don't unplug the slave disk, note that hda will be your new HD and hdb will be the win98 slave. Disk druid should should detect hdb to have a win partition and not touch it, but playing it safe as Jellings advises is not a bad idea.

        I would recommend KDE workstation and then post-install apache+php etc from rpm's (redhat packages)

        Read the instructions on the CD and the manual for more specific install stuff. For more on dual boot, see the dual-boot HOWTO at the linux documentation project http://www.linuxdoc.org/ Other sites that might contain useful info are
        linuxnewbie.org (internet.com's site)
        redhat.com

        As an alternative, find some local linux freak (or a LUG) who owes you a favour or could do with a case of beer, kilo of coffee or some pizza. Take them the HD and a list of everything you know about your hardware (video card, monitor, etc), and watch over their shoulder while they plug it into their box, do the install and hand it back.

        Good luck!

          a year later

          1. Buy the latest version of red hat linux from a computer outlet.

          2. istall the 2nd hd.

          3. Put the red hat cd in the cdrom and restart the computer. follow directions.

          4. When it asks you what you want to install select custom, and check everything that you want. I suggest getting the linux apps cd with Staroffice 5.2 (if it didn't come with red hat)

          5. select the root password (not sure which step this is, but you'll know it when you see it)

          6. If you want to make more users, do so, but if its just you, only use root.

          7. be sure that when you install linux you install LILO, which will let you choose between Windows and Linux, change the label dos, to Windows.

          8. install.

          9. when you reach the eth0 part of the install, uncheck run at startup, unless you are going to be using a network interface card to connect to the internet or something.

          Let it install, then once you have installed it click on the exit button, when the cd tray opens, take the cd out. when you boot up, you should get the LILO dualboot screen, use the arrow keys to select between windows and Linux.

          1. I HIGHLY RECCOMEND STAROFFICE, THEY HAVE IT FOR DOWNLOAD AT SUN.COM FOR WINDOWS OR LINUX, IF YOU GET IT FOR LINUX, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO IN OFFICE 2000 FROM MICROSOFT, AND SAVE IN MICROSOFT OFFICE FORMATS, LIKE PPT, DOC, ETC. IT HAS COMPATIBLE SOFTWARE WITH POWERPOINT, WORD, EXCEL, PAINT, IT HAS AN HTML EDITOR, ACCESS, AND AT LEAT 15-20 OTHER TYPES OF FILES.

          SO EVEN IF YOU GET IT FOR WINDOWS, YOU CAN HAVE A BETTER SOFTWARE SUITE HAT OFFICE 2000, THATS COMPATIBLE WITH OFFICE 2000, AND FOR FREE IN ONE PROGRAM. "SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SAVE, IT MAY SAY (SOME COMPONENTS MAY NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH WORD, POWERPOINT, OR WHATEVER SOFTWARE YOU SAVE AS, BUT BELIEVE ME, IT WILL BE. IVE BEEN USING IT FOR YEARS, AND STILL NO PROBLEMS.

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