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Dual Boot help

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:12 am
by Matt
I'm trying to be able to boot Windows XP and Slax (http://www.slax.org) on the same computer... (without partitioning)

I followed these directions:
http://www.slax.org/forum/viewtopic.php ... sc&start=0

And here is what happen:
http://www.slax.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=74686#74686

I was wondering maybe if someone might know here or be able to help me out.

Re: Dual Boot help

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:40 am
by rsts
Matt wrote:I'm trying to be able to boot Windows XP and Slax (http://www.slax.org) on the same computer... (without partitioning)
When you say without partitioning - you don't mean windows and slax in the same partition? or do you?

cheers

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:38 am
by blueznl
Dunno' if this is of any help, though it's NOT Linux related!

http://www.xs4all.nl/~bluez/datatalk/multiboo.htm#top

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:27 pm
by Matt
Yes, I do mean windows and slax on the same partition.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:19 pm
by Num3
Matt wrote:Yes, I do mean windows and slax on the same partition.
Ouch :lol:

That is a big problem, because most bootloaders point out to a partition table, not a bootfile on partition...

Both XP and Linux write their Volume Boot Record address on the MRB... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_boot_record)

So, with both on the same partition, only one can load.

I think you can only bypass this by forcing the linux kernel to boot using a floppy, that points the loader to the kernel file on the partition.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:36 pm
by Psychophanta
Never tried, but Num3, not all what you say is true, because in linux you can write lilo or grub at any partition without touch MBR.

The quest is interesting:
windows and slax on the same partition.
:roll:
The boot question can be done installing lilo or grub in the mbr, not in the partition, just so simple. lilo and grub offer you a multiple boot, and also the boot method for windowses is different than the linuxes ones, so it is easy to do.

I find only one problem: how to install (but not how to boot).
After you install linux, then you can COPY all files from a Win9x previous installation, and then you can do all it.
But i don't know how to install winNT4, 5, 5.1, ...

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:42 pm
by Psychophanta

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:00 pm
by Num3
Thanks for the tips ;)

Info is always good :D

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:04 pm
by Matt
I actually decided to change my mind and make a partition for Fedora Core 6 (still along with WinXP Home), which is really nice, I love it 8)

Now I am having a bit of trouble setting up my wireless card for Fedora.
Windows is telling me that my card is:
Boardcom 802.11b/g WLAN Version 3.70.17.0

I'm a little knew to this so I need a little help.

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:10 pm
by Psychophanta
For broadcom wireless drivers for linux go here:
http://bcm43xx.berlios.de/
and there are several "how-to" in the ubuntu forums.
Basically you have to download the microcode for that hardware and then put it in the kernel folder as modules drivers.
My laptop has a broadcom and i was playing with kubuntu, so if you have problems getting it , then i can send you the microcode.

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:30 pm
by Matt
Thanks, but the site you gave me does not load.

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:38 pm
by Psychophanta
Matt wrote:Thanks, but the site you gave me does not load.
It just must be temporary offline. When i posted my previous post it worked. And it is the only site where it is explained that there are no native drivers from Broadcom fot linux, but it is reverse ingeneered, etc.
So try later.

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:30 pm
by rsts
Loads fine here at 2:30 PM EST = gmt-5

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:30 pm
by Matt
Ok, the site works now, but I'm at lost at what I am downloading here, I do not see my card in the list?

Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:50 am
by Psychophanta
Matt wrote:Ok, the site works now, but I'm at lost at what I am downloading here, I do not see my card in the list?
hehe, welcome to the never ending problems of linux. :D
If you have newest fedora you must not have any problem to use your broadcom.
Else you must download the microcode firmware:
http://svit.epfl.ch/stuff/wl_apsta.o
or use the fimware which is included in your windows driver in the .sys file. To extract the firmware form there you must use this:
http://prdownload.berlios.de/bcm43xx/bc ... 06.tar.bz2
...
... well, read here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiD ... m43xx/Edgy

If you use http://svit.epfl.ch/stuff/wl_apsta.o and install it in your linux, your Broadcom will work much better than the best driver you get for Broadcom BCM43xx for windows.