Topic: [Noob] simple question about multiboot

[eleanor]

hey all,

i searched your site on severall keywords, but couldn't find the thing i was looking for, so therefor I'm asking you it by this topic

I'm willing to install SME server, (got version 6.5)
but i've got only one computer, which will run windows XP also.
is it possible to run SME server next to windopws XP, opr should I buy a new computer especially for SME server (which isn't an option actually)

best regards

Thijs

[MSmith]

Given the minimal hardware requirements of SME, you can run it on a computer you can get for a couple of bucks at a thrift store or get for free in the trash!  My home SME server is a Pentium II (yes, II), 233 MHz, with 192 megs of scrounged RAM.  True, the hard drive is 100GB, but that came later.

And given that SME isn't useful as a desktop OS, what would you DO with it if it were running on your only computer?

But to actually answer your question, you can try one of the many boot managers out there; here's one that's old but effective and fits neatly in the first track of the HDD.  I don't KNOW if it will boot an SME partition; what the heck, give it a try.  

http://btmgr.webframe.org/

You'll have to set up SME first, then resize its partitions with a partition manager, as SME assumes that it's allowed to take the entire HDD and will wipe out anything that was there first.

[MSmith]

I think I should reinforce the message, actually, that SME will DESTROY your Windows XP setup if you attempt to install SME on your current computer.  This is BY DESIGN and is not a bug.

[eleanor]

i'm not willing to use it as a desktop computer,
but as a part-time server.

just for hobby usage.

how do i install the bootmaanger when i've just installed SME server?

thanks for the reply,

Thijs

[treyh]

You could run SME as a "Virtual Machine" using Microsoft's Virtual PC

I run it at work. It runs in a desktop window, it boots like a normal PC and even gets a different IP from dhcp then your pc. It's pretty cool.

Here is the link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx

Gernal Info:
Virtual PC is a powerful software virtualization solution that allows you to run multiple PC-based operating systems simultaneously on one workstation, providing a safety net to maintain compatibility with legacy applications while you migrate to a new operating system. It also saves reconfiguration time, so your support, development, and training staff can work more efficiently. Microsoft released Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 on December 2, 2003.

[eleanor]

no, that's not really an option.

i want to split my partition. but for now, i have only one problem, and that is that i have overlapping partitions

if anyone knows how to get rid of these overlapping partitions, i'll be able to split my partitions with special software I already gathered

[arne]

I think there is only one really safe way to do this, if you have only one PC.

This is to use an extra HD. "The experimental one" could be a used 10 GB, that you can buy very cheap. If there is room for two HD in the PC you can just swap over the cables.

It could of cource be possible to make other arrangements like making a double boot, but the SME is really not designed for this, and it might be a good risk that such a double boot installation will destroy your existing windows inst.

An extra hd is the safe alternative.

[MSmith]

Wait a minute ... OVERLAPPING partitions?  How is this possible?  Are you having us on?

[CharlieBrady]

Wait a minute ... OVERLAPPING partitions?  How is this possible?  Are you having us on?

At the very least wasting our time...

[treyh]

I believe he's wasting our time.

He has 3 options.

1. Use the 'special software' he already gathered (thought he couldn't spend much money?) to dual boot 2 or more OS's

2. purchase a 2nd hd and dual boot it

3. Use Microsoft's Virtual Machine (which is what I suggested). If he has at least 384mb of memory than he should be fine. I used this program with win2k, on a celeron 400mhz, with 128mb of ram. SME was only given 32 mb of ram and it ran slow but never had any problems.

[psykoben]

In the same way if you choose to use a second hard drive (i think it is the better and cheaper way) for experiment SME, you (maybe) could use your bios to choose on what disk system must boot. In this way you haven't any configuration to do and any risk for your XP install (you MUST unplug your XP hd before installing SME).

You'll have to set up SME first, then resize its partitions with a partition manager, as SME assumes that it's allowed to take the entire HDD and will wipe out anything that was there first.

I use this to multiboot on XP debian and mandrake on three different hd and it work perfectly (if your bios is capable of that), it's in bios boot option choose hd0 or hd1 depending on what disk you want boot. Actually i use this only to boot my XP on hd1 and i have the grub bootloader for all other OS, if someone have a SAFE way to grubboot XP i'm interrested (I crashed my win bootloader at each test i do for this ).