From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Dec 13 01:04:08 2005 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 0CC4F16A41F for ; Tue, 13 Dec 2005 01:04:08 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from gaynw@bristolsystems.com) Received: from fed1rmmtao05.cox.net (fed1rmmtao05.cox.net [68.230.241.34]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id AE9E043D5A for ; Tue, 13 Dec 2005 01:04:06 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from gaynw@bristolsystems.com) Received: from workdog ([68.228.71.3]) by fed1rmmtao05.cox.net (InterMail vM.6.01.05.02 201-2131-123-102-20050715) with ESMTP id <20051213010243.QURJ17838.fed1rmmtao05.cox.net@workdog>; Mon, 12 Dec 2005 20:02:43 -0500 From: "Gayn Winters" To: "'Pietro Cerutti'" , "'Chris Whitehouse'" , "'FreeBSD'" Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 17:03:46 -0800 Message-ID: <03fc01c5ff81$14ae52c0$6501a8c0@workdog> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.4024 In-Reply-To: X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 Importance: Normal Cc: Subject: RE: FreeBSD starter machine X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 01:04:08 -0000 > [mailto:owner-freebsd-questions@freebsd.org] On Behalf Of > Pietro Cerutti > Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 3:56 PM > To: Chris Whitehouse; FreeBSD > Subject: Re: FreeBSD starter machine > > > On 12/13/05, Chris Whitehouse wrote: > > > > A way to use your current machine for both operating systems without > > dual booting is to install a second hard disk, install FreeBSD and > > select which to boot from in the bios. It's a slight faff > changing boot > > disk but works fine and keeps the OS's completely separate. > > > > Could you please tell me the problems which could rise using > dual boot? > > I really can't imagine any, since the two (or more) OSes are on > different slices, and can't interfere which each other in any way. One disadvantage to dual boot is that you can't get one OS to talk to the other over the net. This disadvantage is shared by the above idea. You can, however, transfer files via a shared file system, and this is worth learning. Of course, a special case is to share files via CD, floppy, jump drive, etc. If you are not careful you can mess up your boot block. Windows will do this for you without asking permission! This is easily repaired, however. While switching boot disk in the BIOS works, if you've gone to the trouble to mount a second disk and load FreeBSD on it, I'd recommend just installing the FreeBSD boot loader. In the installation process, just say "yes" to that question, and you're set! Other boot loaders have their proponents. Grub seems to be very popular. As unfriendly as it is, even the NT boot loader can be made to work (I think the Handbook has a section on this). -gayn Bristol Systems Inc. 714/532-6776 www.bristolsystems.com