Tri boot

As you can see, every boot-entry starts with "title *whatever*" followed by some difficult lines.

First of all you need to define the root partition. This is done by writing "root (hdx,y)" where x stands for the drive and y for the partition. Attention: hda2 in Linux is hd0,1 in grub and hdb5 is hd1,4.
Then you have to define the Linux-kernel. To do that, you write "kernel *path to kernel* *boot-options*". And eventually the kernel needs an initrd: "initrd *path to initrd*".

You will be able to read the settings for the * in the menu.lst of your other distro, if you install grub to floppy or its root partition but NOT IN MBR.

Hope I could help!

PS: If there are any mistakes in language, please note that. I'm learning English as a foreign language because I'm from Germany.

the easy way is to install the new distro's boot loader to the root partion and use the chainloader like with windows.

title Windows_XP <-here you change the name to the distro(mine is Test)
rootnoverify (hd0,0) <- here is were you change the partion it's on
chainloader +1 <-Do Not Change

so

title Test <- use a name you don't have to worry about changing
rootnoverify (hd?,?) <- just remember the count starts from (0)zero
chainloader +1

For your example

title Test
rootnoverify (hd0,7) <- hda(first disk) partion #8
chainloader +1

Since you install all new distro's on that same partion you will not need to change grub again, it will boot what ever bootloader you have installed on that partion. keep in mind not all distro's like extended partion's some will not install on those. you would be better off going with the standard 4 partions(swap,XP,mepis,Test) you really don't need a seperate partion for /home. also what i do is use a usb flash to save my hidden .mozilla,.gaim,and .opera to copy to one install to the next so i don't have to set those up for every install. so here's what i have on my usb 512 flash->

media:/sda1/kerrys/.gaim
media:/sda1/kerrys/.mozilla
media:/sda1/kerrys/.opera
media:/sda1/kerrys/Documents
media:/sda1/kerrys/icons
media:/sda1/kerrys/swiftfox
media:/sda1/kerrys/WALLPAPER
media:/sda1/kerrys/WINDOWTHEME

i use these on every test install and update it if i change something.

Thanks Kerry and flew,
Thats some very good information.

I was thinking of trying Ubuntu as a test, will it work on an extended partition? Or how about some of the main ones, Slackware, PCLinux, Suse, Fedora?

Travis

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Maybe one day I'll be able to help if I ask enough questions.

http://jenkins.hopto.org

# Linux howto's for newbies from a newbie

My first experience with GNU/Linux was Knoppix 3.2. I thought it would be a great idea to get away from M$. But there were many things at first I can't do with Linux. Next I tried SuSE 9.0 in a "light version". Then I got it in version 9.1 and until now I used 9.2 professional. I often compared SuSE with other distros and my opinion is that is very different from the others. But mainly this wasn't good. Worst thing is that the user loggin in first in kdm gets owner of half /dev. So if I logged in in console or as second user I wasn't able to do anything in /dev. Mainly my problem was sound. In Mepis I can do almost everything possible with windows (mp3, dvd, wma, 3D) and /dev is also correct now. I never heard of a second distro with support for wma and else. So I won't use an other distro at the moment!

i say just try it. i usally go through a 100 cdr's a month just playing with other distro's. as long as it's free, have your fill.

Thanks guys,
now have a triboot laptop. XP, Mepis, and Ubuntu. I loaded Ubuntu boot loader to root during install and modified Mepis /boot/grub/menu.lst to

sorry for quote, couldn't get

Travis

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Maybe one day I'll be able to help if I ask enough questions.

http://jenkins.hopto.org

# Linux howto's for newbies from a newbie