Re: Dual Boot With Win XP - Debian First?

On 25/06/07, russ421@aol.com <russ421@aol.com> wrote:
> I want to dual boot windows XP and Debian. I've seen the guides, but they
> all recommend that users have Windows XP installed first, and then install
> Debian. This allows you to set it up with the default Debian installation
> to use GRUB / etc. and dual boot.

This will be some interesting fun and games, this part as already said will be most interesting as windows will overwrite your MBR, non the less it is not impossible.

> However, I won't have a copy of Win XP for my new machine for a month or
> two probably. I'd like to go ahead and install Debian, otherwise the new
> computer will be a paperweight.

My suggestion is that you back up everything as you go on the current installation of Debian then later nuke everything then start over with XP first.

> Is it possible to install Debian first and then Windows XP later on? Can
> you change the Debian configurations? Is it not too difficult? Impossible?

Very possible indeed, but a nice mind boggle.

> I'm installing on two separate hard drives, so partitions shouldn't be a
> big problem I don't imagine. Debian on one, XP on the other.

Even so if you want to dual boot these two or windows and any non Microsoft OS you have to start with the Linux one so it will be the one to overwrite the MBR as it does it intelligently and leaves you with your windows installation still accessible.

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All in all, good luck whatever you decide... actually maybe you might not mind updating us later as to what you end up doing and if you are brave and do try to recover your boot loader you can let us know how you did that exactly... just a thought :)

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