Loading Windows Xp

[Avi Greenbury]

On Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:40:43 -0600
Karl Larsen <k5di at zianet.com> wrote:

> Paul wrote:
> > On Sun, Mar 16, 2008 at 6:42 PM, Ari Torhamo <ari.torhamo at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> su, 2008-03-16 kello 15:40 -0600, Karl Larsen kirjoitti:
> >>> Thanks and I think the Windows format has just one speed. All or none
> >>>       
> >> :-)
> >>     
> >>> It may be too big a problem to load windows after you have Linux
> >>>       
> >> installed.
> >>
> >>
> >> You are not describing your situation clearly enough. Are you trying to
> >> set up a dual boot system, where you have both Windows XP and Ubuntu
> >> installed?
> >>     
> >
> >
> > No, he's trying to troll.  Karl is a troll.
> >
> >   
>     Your a dirt thrower to bother to send a message like this. But I 
> will try to get it right so you can all relax. It appears you can't load 
> windows after you have Linux loaded. Period. It just can't work so I 
> will stop trying.
> 
> Karl

At the risk of making two mistakes [1], you can load Windows after anything else to create a multiboot system, it's just not very straightforward and requires either an extra drive, or the rejigging of one.
The important bit is that Windows wants to be at the beginning of the primary IDE drive. I've no idea what Windows XP is like with SATA, never tried.

The simple(r) way:
1) Move current primary drive to somewhere less primary
2) Add new primary drive.
3) Install Windows on primary drive
4) Reinstall Grub (boot from LiveCD with grub-install on it, or from Grub CD)
5) Edit /boot/grub/menu.lst if neccesary

I would imagine it is entirely possible to just clear some space at the beginning of the primary drive if you want, but have never felt the need to try it.


1: Not checking whether Karl is a troll or not and not checking into gory details of question.
-- 
Avi Greenbury