Red Hat Knowledgebase

If you need to install Windows NT and Linux on the same machine, read the Linux and NT HOWTO that has been prepared by Bernd Reichert. The latest version can be found at http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/mini/Linux+NT-Loader.html.

Since this guide is extremely helpful, only a brief summary is presented below:

• Partition and install Windows NT first, making sure to leave space for Linux to place its partitions. If possible, do not create any logical partitions, as we have had reports of this causing problems. Get NT running and its boot loader happy. If you haven't already, make an NT rescue boot floppy just in case something goes wrong later in this process.

• Install Linux and install LILO to the root (/) partition instead of the Master Boot Record (MBR).

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• Edit the /etc/lilo.conf file to remove the prompt line and any other operating systems listed. The prompt action can occasionally confuse the NT boot loader. Here is an example /etc/lilo.conf file that has been set up for NT.

  boot=/dev/hda map=/boot/map install=/boot/boot.b timeout=50 image=/boot/vmlinux-2.2.12-20 label=Linux root=/dev/hda5 #(make sure that you put your correct root partition here) read-only

• Follow the rest of the directions in the mini HOWTO on making the NT OS loader Linux-aware.

A more recent mini HOWTO that discusses more installation can be found at http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/mini/Linux+WinNT.html.