Dual, Triple, and Quad Booting OS's

[speed45]

Hi I would like to do dual, triple, and quad booting of different Os's. I want to have different scenarios as I am going to set up different systems this way and I would like to find out about all possible ways as I want different envirnoments for different setup. Here is what I would like to do. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

1. I would like to install windows xp pro and debian (linux) dual boot.

 

-Option 1. I would like to start off with a blank hard drive nothing on them ready to format and install both onto 1 hard drive.

 

-Option 2. I would like to start off with 2 blank hard drives nothing on them ready to format and install windows xp pro on 1st hard drive and debian (linux) on second hard drive dual boot.

 

-Option 3. I would like to start off with 2 hard drives 1 already has windows xp pro installed and then I would like to add debian (linux) onto 2nd new hard drive dual boot.

 

-Option 4. Same as option 3 but want both xp pro (already installed) and debian(linux) all on same hard drive with xp pro already installed with data on it.

 

 

2. I would like to install windows xp pro, Debian (Linux), and Mac OSx86 triple boot.

 

-Option 1. I would like to start off with a blank hard drive nothing on them ready to format and install all 3 onto 1 hard drive.

 

-Option 2. I would like to start off with 2 blank hard drives nothing on them ready to format and install windows xp pro on 1st hard drive and debian (linux), and Mac OSx86 on second hard drive triple boot.

 

-Option 3. I would like to start off with 2 hard drives 1 already has windows xp pro installed and then I would like to add debian (linux), and Mac OSx86, onto 2nd new hard drive triple boot.

 

-Option 4. Same as option 3 but want xp pro (already installed), debian(linux), and Mac OSx86 all on same hard drive with xp pro already installed with data on it.

 

 

3. I would like to install Windows xp pro, Debian (Linux), Max OSx86, and Windows Vista(Longhorn) quad boot.

 

-Option 1. I would like to start off with a blank hard drive nothing on them ready to format and install all 4 onto 1 hard drive.

 

-Option 2. I would like to start off with 2 blank hard drives nothing on them ready to format and install windows xp pro on 1st hard drive and debian (linux), Mac OSx86, and Windows Vista(Longhorn) on second hard drive quad boot.

 

-Option 3. I would like to start off with 2 hard drives 1 already has windows xp pro installed and then I would like to add debian (linux), Mac OSx86, and Windows Vista(Longhorn) onto 2nd new hard drive quad boot.

 

-Option 4. Same as option 3 but want xp pro (already installed), debian(linux), Mac OSx86, and Windows Vista (Longhorn) all on same hard drive with xp pro already installed with data on it.

[DrJägermeister]

Dual, Triple, and Quad Booting OS's

It's very simpel, here's an example how-to make a tri-boot, I will make a quad-boot later with FreeBSD 6 when it's released.

If you want a quad boot with Vista, install it directly after XP just add a partition before for it.

If you want to use different disks it's no problem, just configure your bootloader.

http://forum.osx86project.org/index.php?showtopic=3853

 

Good luck

[speed45]

It's very simpel, here's an example how-to make a tri-boot, I will make a quad-boot later with FreeBSD 6 when it's released.

If you want a quad boot with Vista, install it directly after XP just add a partition before for it.

If you want to use different disks it's no problem, just configure your bootloader.

http://forum.osx86project.org/index.php?showtopic=3853

 

Good luck

 

Hi thanks for the reply on my post. But here's the simple thing I just want to do personally for myself. I have 2 hard drives first drive is all totally for windows xp pro using ntfs. I have 2nd blank hard drive in computer and I want to install debian (linux), Mac OSx86, and windows vista all together on the 2nd hard drive. Could you step me how to do it for everthing. Also with vista being installed I would like to maybe reinstall vista each month if it does nto have an upgrade option for new versions. Like a format of partition and reinstall of vista so please let me know what I got to do to get it all working. But I want to keep the copy of windows xp pro on my 1st hard drive untouchable and I want to use it as main. Thanks

[DrJägermeister]

Hi thanks for the reply on my post. But here's the simple thing I just want to do personally for myself. I have 2 hard drives first drive is all totally for windows xp pro using ntfs. I have 2nd blank hard drive in computer and I want to install debian (linux), Mac OSx86, and windows vista all together on the 2nd hard drive. Could you step me how to do it for everthing. Also with vista being installed I would like to maybe reinstall vista each month if it does nto have an upgrade option for new versions. Like a format of partition and reinstall of vista so please let me know what I got to do to get it all working. But I want to keep the copy of windows xp pro on my 1st hard drive untouchable and I want to use it as main. Thanks

So just keep your first HD (XP) like it is and install on the 2nd OSX86, Vista & Linux. Just change XP with Vista in the how-to and it should work. Once all the 3 OS installed plugin booth HDs and configure your bootloader in mbr of /dev/hda to boot XP from the first and the others from the second HD. Or OSX86, Vista and Linux is master then configure the bootloder there.

[speed45]

So just keep your first HD (XP) like it is and install on the 2nd OSX86, Vista & Linux. Just change XP with Vista in the how-to and it should work. Once all the 3 OS installed plugin booth HDs and configure your bootloader in mbr of /dev/hda to boot XP from the first and the others from the second HD. Or OSX86, Vista and Linux is master then configure the bootloder there.

 

Just for the question before I start working on any of this. With the OSX86, Vista & Debian (Linux) what partiton format do I set the 2nd drive and what boot loader do I use and which do I select to use grub or lilo for the linux and do I install it with the os or on it's own partiton I am so new to this so don't know what exactly to choose and I also am hearing about this darwin bootloader with the osx86. Don't know much what do I choose for installing the other 3 os's thanks for all the help.

[DrJägermeister]

Just for the question before I start working on any of this. With the OSX86, Vista & Debian (Linux) what partiton format do I set the 2nd drive and what boot loader do I use and which do I select to use grub or lilo for the linux and do I install it with the os or on it's own partiton I am so new to this so don't know what exactly to choose and I also am hearing about this darwin bootloader with the osx86. Don't know much what do I choose for installing the other 3 os's thanks for all the help.

You don't set a partition format to a HD but to a partition. In your case HFS+ for OSX, NTFS for Vista and EXT3 or ReiserFS for Linux, also a swap partition (cfdisk code af, 07, 83 and 82).

Use simply the bootloader delivered with the Linux distro you install (I prefer Grub), it's the more simple way. Once you are able to boot everything you can try the Darwin bootloader. To boot M$ it works, to boot Linux you need to give a try (problems with ReiserFS)

[speed45]

You don't set a partition format to a HD but to a partition. In your case HFS+ for OSX, NTFS for Vista and EXT3 or ReiserFS for Linux, also a swap partition (cfdisk code af, 07, 83 and 82).

Use simply the bootloader delivered with the Linux distro you install (I prefer Grub), it's the more simple way. Once you are able to boot everything you can try the Darwin bootloader. To boot M$ it works, to boot Linux you need to give a try (problems with ReiserFS)

 

I am thinking of going with EXT3 for Debian (Linux) First things in what order do I install the Os's in and then when do I make the swap partiton and what do you mean (cfdisk code af, 07, 83 and 82). What do I set the swap at what is the instructions I set it at for it do that (cfdisk code af, 07, 83 and 82) and what do I exactly type in to get it (cfdisk code af, 07, 83 and 82) to be set. Thanks in advance. Now once I get everything up how do I go about getting the Darwin Bootloader to be installed and set and what are the commands I enter in to get the grub working with all the os's on the boot menu. Please help me I don't want to mess anything up.

[DrJägermeister]

I am thinking of going with EXT3 for Debian (Linux) First things in what order do I install the Os's in and then when do I make the swap partiton and what do you mean (cfdisk code af, 07, 83 and 82). What do I set the swap at what is the instructions I set it at for it do that (cfdisk code af, 07, 83 and 82) and what do I exactly type in to get it (cfdisk code af, 07, 83 and 82) to be set. Thanks in advance. Now once I get everything up how do I go about getting the Darwin Bootloader to be installed and set and what are the commands I enter in to get the grub working with all the os's on the boot menu. Please help me I don't want to mess anything up.

Your swap should be the double of your RAM. You create your partition with cfdisk , there you put the partition code. Take a look at the how-to, it's very simple to do. cfdisk is like fdisk in Windows but more powerfull, take a look you will need 5 minutes to understand how it works.

The order is also in how-to: OSX86 first, then M$ and at last Linux with the bootloader.

If you are not 100% sure what you are doing here, unplug your working HD with XP during the installation (it's safer) and work only with the test-HD until it's done.

The commands for the bootloader are also in the how-to. Here's the Grub documentation, if you need to configure it another way:

http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html

You will see the Darwin bootloader as soon you boot OSX86.

[speed45]

Your swap should be the double of your RAM. You create your partition with cfdisk , there you put the partition code. Take a look at the how-to, it's very simple to do. cfdisk is like fdisk in Windows but more powerfull, take a look you will need 5 minutes to understand how it works.

The order is also in how-to: OSX86 first, then M$ and at last Linux with the bootloader.

If you are not 100% sure what you are doing here, unplug your working HD with XP during the installation (it's safer) and work only with the test-HD until it's done.

The commands for the bootloader are also in the how-to. Here's the Grub documentation, if you need to configure it another way:

http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html

You will see the Darwin bootloader as soon you boot OSX86.

 

Hi thanks for your help I got OSX86 installed on the 2nd hard drive. I have the first hard drive disconnected. No I go to install Windows Vista (Longhorn) Build 5231 Latest Build Release and I get a Windows Setup Error right after clicking on The NTFS Partition I have made. The error I get is "an error occurred while preparing windows setup to boot into the next stage of setup." and the setup can not continue. I am doing exactly as you stanted to so to install the OS's in the order you told me to do it in which was "The order is also in how-to: OSX86 first, then M$ and at last Linux with the bootloader." So I can not continue with the Vista Setup can you please help me. Thanks in advance.

[DrJägermeister]

Hi thanks for your help I got OSX86 installed on the 2nd hard drive. I have the first hard drive disconnected. No I go to install Windows Vista (Longhorn) Build 5231 Latest Build Release and I get a Windows Setup Error right after clicking on The NTFS Partition I have made. The error I get is "an error occurred while preparing windows setup to boot into the next stage of setup." and the setup can not continue. I am doing exactly as you stanted to so to install the OS's in the order you told me to do it in which was "The order is also in how-to: OSX86 first, then M$ and at last Linux with the bootloader." So I can not continue with the Vista Setup can you please help me. Thanks in advance.

What's your partitions right now?

#fdisk -l

Post it here.

Do you have only a problems to install Vista in this ntfs partiton or every M$ with NTFS (w2k, XP)?

 

Btw, I still have the tri-boot install on my notebook, I will make quickly an image of XP for replacing it with a Vista installation to see if the VISTA setup cause trouble.

[speed45]

What's your partitions right now?

#fdisk -l

Post it here.

Do you have only a problems to install Vista in this ntfs partiton or every M$ with NTFS (w2k, XP)?

 

Btw, I still have the tri-boot install on my notebook, I will make quickly an image of XP for replacing it with a Vista installation to see if the VISTA setup cause trouble.

 

Well right now have this for my partitions:

 

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System

/dev/hdb1 * 1 1306 10485760 af Unknown

/dev/hdb2 1307 4494 25600000 7 HPFS/NTFS

 

I have made the hdb2 for the vista install but now when I restart the computer with just the 2nd hard drive connected which is this one I am working on right now I get a HFS+ Partition Error and the only way to get OSX86 to load now is to have the dvd install disc in the dvd drive and it will just startup now without entering any commands just having the dvd install disc inserted into the dvd drive. Is there a way to fix this. I have tried setting OSX86 as the startup disc for the hard drive with the install disc but no help still get same error. I have just tried installing vista and no other microsoft os as I only want vista with osx86 for now. Thanks for the help in advance.

[DrJägermeister]

Well right now have this for my partitions:

 

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System

/dev/hdb1 * 1 1306 10485760 af Unknown

/dev/hdb2 1307 4494 25600000 7 HPFS/NTFS

 

I have made the hdb2 for the vista install but now when I restart the computer with just the 2nd hard drive connected which is this one I am working on right now I get a HFS+ Partition Error and the only way to get OSX86 to load now is to have the dvd install disc in the dvd drive and it will just startup now without entering any commands just having the dvd install disc inserted into the dvd drive. Is there a way to fix this. I have tried setting OSX86 as the startup disc for the hard drive with the install disc but no help still get same error. I have just tried installing vista and no other microsoft os as I only want vista with osx86 for now. Thanks for the help in advance.

You have only one HD at you IDE controller but it's still a slave. Jumper it as master. When everything is done you will just have to add XP HD as slave and configure Grub.

When your install disk is master it should be /dev/hda until /dev/hdb . Else you will install the bootloader to the mbr of the wrong disk.

[speed45]

You have only one HD at you IDE controller but it's still a slave. Jumper it as master. When everything is done you will just have to add XP HD as slave and configure Grub.

When your install disk is master it should be /dev/hda until /dev/hdb . Else you will install the bootloader to the mbr of the wrong disk.

 

 

Well I already got OSX86 Installed on the 2nd hard drive as sleave and I installed lots of applications on it already. I would not like to erase that maybe if I can back it up with some program like ghost or something if I needed to. What program will work in Mac if I needed to backup the image of a drive. Also I would like the 2nd hard drive the only drive connected at the time of me having osx86, vista, and linux being installed and setup I would like to keep my XP Pro on my first drive as Master without having to erase that drive. What do I do. Also what do I do to fix the HFS+ Partition Error. Thanks in advance.

[DrJägermeister]

Well I already got OSX86 Installed on the 2nd hard drive as sleave and I installed lots of applications on it already. I would not like to erase that maybe if I can back it up with some program like ghost or something if I needed to. What program will work in Mac if I needed to backup the image of a drive. Also I would like the 2nd hard drive the only drive connected at the time of me having osx86, vista, and linux being installed and setup I would like to keep my XP Pro on my first drive as Master without having to erase that drive. What do I do. Also what do I do to fix the HFS+ Partition Error. Thanks in advance.

It'll be more simple for you to add XP as slave later (makes no difference M or S).

For fixing the HFS+, reinstall?

[speed45]

It'll be more simple for you to add XP as slave later (makes no difference M or S).

For fixing the HFS+, reinstall?

 

No, I would like to install vista after osx86 on same drive setup how I have it right now. But can't get vista installed after osx86 and the only way I can get rid of the HFS+ Partition Error is booting with the disc and running the setup and then selecting the osx86 install drive as startup then when it restarts it will start the osx86 Operating System. But I would like to keep it that way and install Vista now but can't I have heard of something about Copying usr/standalone/i386/chain0 to my ntfs vista partition from the osx86 install dvd and addding CODE C:\path\to\chain0="Mac OS X" to C:\boot.ini But I can't do that yet because I don't have vista installed yet. I would let to keep everything how it is on the slave. Also I would like to know where is the darwin bootloader installed is it on the master boot record(mbr) or is it located right on the partiton on the osx86 drive and if so where is it located. Thanks.

[speed45]

No, I would like to install vista after osx86 on same drive setup how I have it right now. But can't get vista installed after osx86 and the only way I can get rid of the HFS+ Partition Error is booting with the disc and running the setup and then selecting the osx86 install drive as startup then when it restarts it will start the osx86 Operating System. But I would like to keep it that way and install Vista now but can't I have heard of something about Copying usr/standalone/i386/chain0 to my ntfs vista partition from the osx86 install dvd and addding CODE C:\path\to\chain0="Mac OS X" to C:\boot.ini But I can't do that yet because I don't have vista installed yet. I would let to keep everything how it is on the slave. Also I would like to know where is the darwin bootloader installed is it on the master boot record(mbr) or is it located right on the partiton on the osx86 drive and if so where is it located. Thanks.

 

Well I have made some progress. I have downloaded and created a bootable cd-r of Acronis Disk Director Suite 9. This program is like Partition Magic. But In there I selected the unknown partition of the OSX86 Install and Hide the partition and then I set the vista partition as Active Partition but both of them are set as Primary. Then I went to install vista and it installed. Now I am going to hide this partition also of vista and continue my installations with debian (linux). After I install linux I will hide all 3 os's osx86, vista, and linux and then connect my 1st hard drive and run xp pro. Then can you step me how to get all os's to be on a boot menu (xp pro, osx86, vista, and debian (linux) and how to go about getting it working. Thanks

[DrJägermeister]

Well I have made some progress. I have downloaded and created a bootable cd-r of Acronis Disk Director Suite 9. This program is like Partition Magic. But In there I selected the unknown partition of the OSX86 Install and Hide the partition and then I set the vista partition as Active Partition but both of them are set as Primary. Then I went to install vista and it installed. Now I am going to hide this partition also of vista and continue my installations with debian (linux). After I install linux I will hide all 3 os's osx86, vista, and linux and then connect my 1st hard drive and run xp pro. Then can you step me how to get all os's to be on a boot menu (xp pro, osx86, vista, and debian (linux) and how to go about getting it working. Thanks

Do you have installed Grub or Lilo with Debian?

[speed45]

Do you have installed Grub or Lilo with Debian?

 

I ran into problems with debian so I installed Ubuntu instead and installed grub to the mbr but I can not edit device.map in the grub folder as it says I got to be the onwer which is root and I am logged with my username and can't login with root.

[ralleria]

I ran into problems with debian so I installed Ubuntu instead and installed grub to the mbr but I can not edit device.map in the grub folder as it says I got to be the onwer which is root and I am logged with my username and can't login with root.

 

For Ubuntu 5.10

Open the shell then

1: sudo passwd root

2: Type in your new password for root

3: Click on System -> Administration -> Login Screen Setup -> Security tab

4: Put a check by Allow root to login with GDM

5: Logout and type root for username and in the password field whatever your password is.

 

I copied from the Ubuntu FAQ, I hope it helps

[DrJägermeister]

I ran into problems with debian so I installed Ubuntu instead and installed grub to the mbr but I can not edit device.map in the grub folder as it says I got to be the onwer which is root and I am logged with my username and can't login with root.

That's specific to Ubuntu (no root).

Try sudo. Example:

#sudo chmod 666 device.map (to change the rights)

or here how to add root in Ubuntu:

http://ubuntuguide.org/#setchangeenablerootpassword

[speed45]

That's specific to Ubuntu (no root).

Try sudo. Example:

#sudo chmod 666 device.map (to change the rights)

or here how to add root in Ubuntu:

http://ubuntuguide.org/#setchangeenablerootpassword

 

OK thanks for the help both of you. I was able to get into root and change the stuff for grub. It all works now. Only with the 2nd drive connected that has osx86, vista, and ubuntu (linux) on it. I hooked up back the first drive and I was not able to get to grub bootloader. So I switch in the bios of my system to boot first the 2nd drive and now it starts up to the grub bootloader. I can get access into everything on the 2nd hard drive but I can not get xp pro to load from the 1st hard drive. What can I do here is what I have set in grub. Please try to help me thanks.

 

But noting that I have xp pro set on 1st hd xp pro I tried root (hd0,0) but does not work and tried all other os's on 2nd drive as root (hd1,0) etc... so can anyone help me they are all set as primary if have to I will change whatever is needed for the xp pro to boot also but will not format the drive as I would like to keep the stuff on the 1st drive that is only xp pro on it. Thanks

 

title Windows XP Pro

root (hd1,0)

chainloader +1

savedefault

boot

 

title osx86

root (hd0,0)

chainloader +1

savedefault

boot

 

title vista

root (hd0,1)

chainloader +1

savedefault

boot

 

title Ubuntu

kernel /boor/vmlinuz-2.6.10-5-386 root=/dev/hdb3 ro quiet splash

initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.10-5-386

savedefault

boot

[DrJägermeister]

Change your XP section with this and it should work:

title Windows

rootnoverify (hd1,0)

map (hd0) (hd1)

map (hd1) (hd0)

makeactive

chainloader +1

 

You need to map the 2nd drive, and you need to have booth drives in you device.map.

[speed45]

Change your XP section with this and it should work:

title Windows

rootnoverify (hd1,0)

map (hd0) (hd1)

map (hd1) (hd0)

makeactive

chainloader +1

 

You need to map the 2nd drive, and you need to have booth drives in you device.map.

 

Thanks for all your help I got everything working now. Each time I was loading up linux I was always seeing this IDE_Core Disabling IRQ# 18 Error so many times slowing the startup. But after looking in google I fixed it by going into the bios and changing in In "IDE Configuration" - "Onboard IDE operate Mode" it was necessary to choose [ Compatible Mode ] instead of [ Enhanced Mode ] which is reserved only if one installs Windows XP or 2000. And it Worked. Thanks for all your help.

[smegs]

I have a triple-boot setup going rather well.

 

I have 5 hard drives.

 

Disk I(Primary Master):

30MB Linux Bootloader partition

~60GB NTFS/Windows XP partition

~10GB Mac OS X Tiger x86

 

Disk II(Primary Slave):

20GB Mandriva Linux 2006

subsequent partitions and drives won't be listed out, due to desire for simplicity.

 

I had Linux and Windows already installed, and just shrank down my Windows partition, leaving space at the end to be used(knowing OS X likes being on Primary Master).

 

I then followed the guide at http://profit42.com/?p=2

 

I skipped their bootloader, and just configured my Linux(LILO) bootloader by adding a line for OSX.

 

Easy as pie.

[speed45]

Hello, I am in need of DrJägermeister's help or anyone's help on this issue. I just restarted this project over again as I have decided to do this again. After a while I changed stuff and erased drives. I am not going to installing linux on the computer. I have installed windows xp pro w/ sp2 on 1 drive and on the 2nd drive I have Mac OSX86 10.4.5 latest release on hda1 and Windows Vista Feb Release 5308 on hdb1 or something don't remember. Anyways I need to know how to make xp pro, osx86, and vista all boot on a boot menu triple boot. Can anyone help me out on this I would really appreiate it if not I will just install Linux then to fix my problems. Ok Thanks