[rhn-users] Install Windows 2003 server on top of Linux ES for dual boot.

[Corné Beerse]

On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 10:55:16 +0800, cheekin <cheekin at chronos.com.my> wrote:
>  
> Hi there, 
>   
> Is there anyone can tell me the best way to install a windows 2003 server on
> an existing Linux Enterprise ES? My 
> system consists of only one hard-disk with 45 GB free space. 
>   
> I understand that for dual-boot windows and linux, the easy way out is to
> install windows first and linux next. But if i need to install windows on a
> pre-install linux, what will be my alternative? The windows 2003
> installation CD keep refuse to install because it complain cannot found a
> windows partition although i try to install it on  my free space. My linux
> is made up of a few partition for /tmp, /home, /usr, /var etc. Do i need to
> delete these partition to make way for windows, but i don't want to lost my
> existing linux either. 

afaik, M$Windows can only be installed as second OS if the already
available os is also M$Windows (which can be an other version or an
other variant). That's because it only knows FAT and NTFS filesystems
and it just hooks itself into the boot-sequence of the other OS (but
not in the boot-sector!).

You can use the next ways to install M$Windwos:
- Start from scratch: first install M$Windows, then install Linux.
- Add an other disk on which you install M$Windows.
- edit the partition-table such that the first partition is free and
available for M$Windows. Be sure also to update the boot-settings
(grub or lilo). THen, expect M$Windows install will overwrite the
bootsector, hence be prepared for a hard way to boot into linux the
first time after M$Windwos install.

My advice: to be save and easy: backup your data from linux, then
install M$Windows, then re-install linux.

An alternative is to use stuff like VMWare: just create a new, virtual
machine and install the other OS in there. THen you can run it side by
side.


CBee