Dual-boot with Windows XP

[Amigamerlin]

Hi guys
here some little info how to start PC-BSD from windows.
The wiki available in the site is missing of an important part.

You can use the Windows boot loader. Follow these steps:

Copy the PC-BSD boot sector to the Windows partition (eg. as file pcbsd.pbr):

Code:

dd if=/dev/XXX of=pcbsd.pbr bs=512 count=1 where XXX is your disk device (es. ad0s2a) Copy this file to in your windows partition c:\

Edit c:\boot.ini adding this string: c:\pcbsd.pbr="PC-BSD" ;
so it looks something like this:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windo ws XP"
c:\pcbsd.pbr="PC-BSD"

Make sure that your Windows partition is marked as active (using fdisk).

Reboot your system. You should see the Windows bootloader menu offering the options Windows XP and PC-BSD. After the timeout period (30 seconds in our example) the default system (XP in our example) will be booted.

Now the wiki should be complete .
I tested it and works like a charm. IMHO this tips is the best choice for a dual-boot with WinXP. No need GAG anymore .

[marc]

It might be good choice, but not for everyone.
I simply need and also like GAG, because I got
many OSs installed, and about two HDDs ...
Plus - I don`t like XP and it`s BLoader

[Apatewna]

Plus - I don`t like XP and it`s BLoader

I just noticed XP Bulls*** Loader :twisted:

[marc]

Heheh that`s cool. I know that you don`t like XP too

[NarahariBabu]

Code:

dd if=/dev/XXX of=pcbsd.pbr bs=512 count=1
where XXX is your disk device (es. ad0s2a)

Copy this file to in your windows partition c:\

To use Windows Boot Loader, "No Boot Loader" is opted during PCBSD Installation. Where to execute this "dd" command, when you can boot only in Windows. I faced this dilemma. FreeBSD manual or faq gave this tip.

Boot in Windows, copy /boot/boot1 from Installation CD to C:\ and rename it as "pcbsd.pbr" and do the rest. In the next boot, you can choose PCBSD or Windows.

Also this appears easier than using GAG or other Boot Loaders.

I must say, not providing a tip is much better than giving an inaccurate one.

Cheers

[marc]

Also this appears easier than using GAG or other Boot Loaders.

Yes, but only if you like it and find it useful.
I can`t boot i.e BeOS with this crap ...

[Amigamerlin]

I must say, not providing a tip is much better than giving an inaccurate one.

Cheers

Man, using your principles we weren't what we are.This is a forum and we are here to help one each other and not to write sentence about what is better and what is not. We here trying to be constructive.

I don't think it's inaccurate; the wiki was already present on the site and was incomplete. I have posted here only the missing part, nothing else.
IMHO is better to know that a thing can be done that don't know nothing about. For the "how to do" just using the head or asking in the forum.

Es. you can using DD for windows or copy it from another PC-BSD installation or asking in the forum for this boot file or boot from a linux CD and do the copy or drop the emergency shell from the PC-BSD boot CD and do the copy or search on internet for a solution and when you have found it just post it here without sentence.

This is called helping hand and this is what we need here.

Just use the head and the forum.

IMHO is not too much polite from your side writing that what I've do reaserching and posting the missing part is useless and it is better to not post it because "inaccurate".

IMHO "inaccurate" was your sentence.

Anyway thanks for the addendum ... is really usefull.

Bye.

[bwhsh8r]

Thanks for the great tip!

[maddog39]

Does PCBSD have its own bootloader that will automatically recognize windows and add it, or do you have to use the windows bootloader?

[marc]

Yes, it does.
Press F1 to load the system from the first partition and so on ...