Most recent edit on 2007-05-06 22:00:23 by SySy [moved]
Additions:
moved to http://docs.mypclinuxos.com/index.php?title=Adding_PCLinuxOS_to_Windows_Bootloader∞
Deletions:
Adding PCLinuxOS to Windows Bootloader
Back to The Bootloader FAQ
You have installed Windows already. Now you are wondering how can I add PCLinuxOS to the Windows bootloader?
Windows has a bootloader as well. It is called NTLDR. It automatically starts when you boot Windows, you probably haven't seen it, because it immediately launches Windows. Still, it is there.
To have Windows boot PCLinuxOS we have to get an image of the bootsector. So when you install PCLinuxOS make sure you install the bootloader to the partition you've installed PCLinuxOS on. Not the MBR, the partition's bootsector. Let's presume you have installed PCLinuxOS to /dev/hda3 and you've installed the bootloader to the bootsector of /dev/hda3 as well.
We now need to take a snapshot of the bootsector and transfer it to Windows. First of all, we copy the bootsector of the PCLinuxOS installation to a file. Be careful here! Make sure you type this correctly before pressing enter. Change /dev/hda3 to the partition you've installed PCLinuxOS. As root-user, execute:
dd if=/dev/hda3 of=./pclosboot.lnx bs=512 count=1
This command will have made a file called pclosboot.lnx. We now have to copy that file (which is small - 0.5kb) to Windows. You could do this with a floppydisk or a usbkey. You could even email it to yourself from Linux to Windows. Whatever you want. Make sure you've copied the file pclosboot.lnx we just created to c:\pclosboot.lnx
The configuration file for NTLDR is called 'c:\boot.ini' and is an hidden file. To show the hidden files with Windows 2000/XP, in the Explorer (the file manager) go to the c:\ folder. Now click on Tools->Folder options. Click the Views tab. If you scroll down a little bit, you see the option "Hidden files and folders". Select "Show hidden files and folders". Also uncheck the "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)".
You will now see (and be able to edit) the c:\boot.ini file. Edit the boot.ini file and add this line to the end of the file:
c:\pclosboot.lnx="PCLinuxOS"
The "PCLinuxOS" part is the name you'll see. You can modify that.
You can make more changes to the boot.ini file, by opening the Control Panel. Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> System. Click on the advanced tab, and click on "Startup and Recovery". In the window you now get, you can further tweak your bootloader settings.
Reboot and you'll see the menu with the PCLinuxOS option!
Remember: If you make changes to lilo.conf, and reinstall the changes to the bootsector of the /dev/hda3 partition, you'll have to create a new pclosboot.lnx file and copy it to Windows again!
CategoryFAQ
Edited on 2005-12-07 09:40:13 by LexNL
Additions:
CategoryFAQ
Deletions:
CategoryAdvanced
Edited on 2005-12-07 09:05:16 by LexNL [Minor correction]
Additions:
c:\pclosboot.lnx="PCLinuxOS"
Deletions:
c:\pclosboot.lnx="""PCLinuxOS"""
Edited on 2005-12-07 08:50:43 by LexNL [Edit intro]
Additions:
You have installed Windows already. Now you are wondering how can I add PCLinuxOS to the Windows bootloader?
Edited on 2005-12-07 04:16:17 by LexNL [Initial text]
Additions:
The configuration file for NTLDR is called 'c:\boot.ini' and is an hidden file. To show the hidden files with Windows 2000/XP, in the Explorer (the file manager) go to the c:\ folder. Now click on Tools->Folder options. Click the Views tab. If you scroll down a little bit, you see the option "Hidden files and folders". Select "Show hidden files and folders". Also uncheck the "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)".
Deletions:
The configuration file for NTLDR is called 'c:\boot.ini' and is an hidden file. To show the hidden files with Windows 2000/XP, in the Explorer (the file manager) go to the c:\ folder. Now click on Tools->Folder options. Click the Views tab. If you scroll down a little bit, you see the option "Hidden files and folders". Select "Show hidden files and folders". Also uncheck the "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
Edited on 2005-12-07 04:15:43 by LexNL [Initial text]
Additions:
You will now see (and be able to edit) the c:\boot.ini file. Edit the boot.ini file and add this line to the end of the file:
Remember: If you make changes to lilo.conf, and reinstall the changes to the bootsector of the /dev/hda3 partition, you'll have to create a new pclosboot.lnx file and copy it to Windows again!
Deletions:
You will now see (and be able to edit) the c:\boot.ini file.
Edit the boot.ini file and add this line to the end of the file:
Remember this: If you make changes to lilo.conf, and reinstall the changes to the bootsector of the /dev/hda3 partition, you'll have to create a new pclosboot.lnx file and copy it to Windows again!
Edited on 2005-12-07 04:15:18 by LexNL [Initial text]
Additions:
To have Windows boot PCLinuxOS we have to get an image of the bootsector. So when you install PCLinuxOS make sure you install the bootloader to the partition you've installed PCLinuxOS on. Not the MBR, the partition's bootsector. Let's presume you have installed PCLinuxOS to /dev/hda3 and you've installed the bootloader to the bootsector of /dev/hda3 as well.
Deletions:
To have Windows boot PCLinuxOS we have to get an image of a bootsector. So when you install PCLinuxOS make sure you install the Bootloader to the partition you've installed PCLinuxOS on. Not the MBR, but the partition's bootsector. Let's presume you have installed PCLinuxOS to /dev/hda3 and you've installed the bootloader to the bootsector of /dev/hda3 as well.
Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2005-12-07 04:14:07 by LexNL [Initial text]
Page view:
Adding PCLinuxOS to Windows Bootloader
Back to
The Bootloader FAQ
Windows has a bootloader as well. It is called NTLDR. It automatically starts when you boot Windows, you probably haven't seen it, because it immediately launches Windows. Still, it is there.
To have Windows boot PCLinuxOS we have to get an image of a bootsector. So when you install PCLinuxOS make sure you install the Bootloader to the partition you've installed PCLinuxOS on. Not the MBR, but the partition's bootsector. Let's presume you have installed PCLinuxOS to /dev/hda3 and you've installed the bootloader to the bootsector of /dev/hda3 as well.
We now need to take a snapshot of the bootsector and transfer it to Windows. First of all, we copy the bootsector of the PCLinuxOS installation to a file. Be careful here! Make sure you type this correctly before pressing enter. Change /dev/hda3 to the partition you've installed PCLinuxOS. As root-user, execute:
dd if=/dev/hda3 of=./pclosboot.lnx bs=512 count=1
This command will have made a file called pclosboot.lnx. We now have to copy that file (which is small - 0.5kb) to Windows. You could do this with a floppydisk or a usbkey. You could even email it to yourself from Linux to Windows. Whatever you want. Make sure you've copied the file pclosboot.lnx we just created to c:\pclosboot.lnx
The configuration file for NTLDR is called 'c:\boot.ini' and is an hidden file. To show the hidden files with Windows 2000/XP, in the Explorer (the file manager) go to the c:\ folder. Now click on Tools->Folder options. Click the Views tab. If you scroll down a little bit, you see the option "Hidden files and folders". Select "Show hidden files and folders". Also uncheck the "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
You will now see (and be able to edit) the c:\boot.ini file.
Edit the boot.ini file and add this line to the end of the file:
c:\pclosboot.lnx="""PCLinuxOS"""
The "PCLinuxOS" part is the name you'll see. You can modify that.
You can make more changes to the boot.ini file, by opening the Control Panel. Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> System. Click on the advanced tab, and click on "Startup and Recovery". In the window you now get, you can further tweak your bootloader settings.
Reboot and you'll see the menu with the PCLinuxOS option!
Remember this: If you make changes to lilo.conf, and reinstall the changes to the bootsector of the /dev/hda3 partition, you'll have to create a new pclosboot.lnx file and copy it to Windows again!
CategoryAdvanced