System with two operating systems in two disks

[Matt Morgan]

On 06/22/2004 07:10 PM, Javier Perez wrote:

>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: fedora-list-bounces at redhat.com
>>[mailto:fedora-list-bounces at redhat.com]On Behalf Of Matt Morgan
>>Sent: Martes, 22 de Junio de 2004 03:55 p.m.
>>To: For users of Fedora Core releases
>>Subject: Re: System with two operating systems in two disks
>>
>>
>>On 06/22/2004 03:49 AM, Javier Perez wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>Hi
>>>
>>>I am running Fedora in one computer and now I want to make some
>>>tests. I have an 80G HD that I can add as a slave to the system.
>>>
>>>I want to install the second HD with its own OS that I can play with
>>>in such a way that my original OS is not disturbed.
>>>
>>>I know maybe this is a question for a GRUB List but I wonder if
>>>somebody else have done this and if there is a good how-to that could
>>>guide me in this.
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>What OS will you install on the second disk? Most linuxes that I know of
>>will be happy to do it for you automatically. Windows may break
>>everything, on the other hand. You can probably search for and find a
>>lot of help online about this--try including the term "chainloader" in
>>your search.
>>
>>I run basically the same setup at home, Mandrake 10 on the first disk,
>>Win XP on the second disk. But having Windows installed first was the
>>key; Mandrake found it and set up grub for me. I have a feeling if
>>Mandrake were there first, the Windows install would wreck the MBR.
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>I have FC2 currently on disk1
>
>I wanted to intall a new FC2 on disk2 and experiment with Slashcode. It
>requires
>some special setup on Apache and Mod Perl, that's why I do not want to
>experiment on
>my main system.
>
>Javier
>
>
>  
>
Honestly, if it were me, I would just run the install, tell it to 
install to that second disk, and let the installer update the MBR & grub 
for me. It'll see the other OS on the other drive and try to handle it 
for you, automatically. I know you're getting advice to do it other 
ways, but I bet just letting the installer handle it will work.

Once I had a problem and had to go fix grub myself. That was a while 
ago, with a RH9 + Windows 98 dual-boot system. It wasn't the hardest 
thing to do, even though I had never tried it before. If your current 
install on disk1 is doing something really important, I would recommend 
reading about grub config first, so you know what to expect, but there's 
a very good chance the installer will just get it right.