[KLUG Members] Update on Dual boot problem on home computer

[Robert V. Kanaley]

Rusty,

<snip>
>Instead of fighting with the dual
>boot, I would just connect the camera to the system and forget the
>software.  They will work with the system similar to a USB pen drive.
<snip>

Although camera software support is quintessential to my wife, I have other,
considerations for trying to get the legacy OS working in a dual boot
configuration. At work I have to support 39 workstations running that
version of the legacy OS. For late night troubleshooting, I also have
personal copies of the proprietary desktop software that I have to support
on those workstations.

Unfortunately I was unable to make a GRUB boot diskette that would boot on
my home computer after I followed the link to the IBM GRUB tutorial that
Bruce provided. I would get as far as loading stage 1.5 and hang. When that
failed, I took a different tack. By reformatting the diskette to 1680KB I
was able to make a Linux boot disk by running the Red Hat 9 mkbootdisk
program. Once again, when I booted from the diskette, the boot failed. In
desperation I turned to Partition Magic.

Since I had previously used Partition Magic to push the legacy OS up and
down the disk before, I presumed I could do it again. Unfortunately, when I
used Partition Magic this time, the program hung at 97% done. Four hours
later, I rebooted. The legacy OS partition was no longer bootable. When I
booted the Partition Magic rescue diskettes, the partition was marked type
PqPP. The only option enabled was to delete the partition. Great rescue and
recovery capabilities Partition Magic!!!

The quality of my home life now depends upon a Norton rescue/recovery Zip
disk and floppy. Failing that, and assuming I am still alive, it will be
recovery CD time followed by two days of reinstalling and updating legacy
apps. If not, thank you all for your help and suggestions over the years;
and I am fond of creeping lilacs should you ever be in the vicinity of the
Elkhart paupers grave yard.

Still looking for viable way to get my home computer to dual boot.

Regards,

Bob

Robert V. Kanaley
Manager Information Systems
Agdia, Inc.
rvk@agdia.com
http://www.agdia.com