Best Way to Multi-Boot?

[kitepilot at kitepilot.com]

> Did you do anything special to get your installed system to run on the
> external drive?
Nope, bu I have seen what you mention before.
It normally due to a BIOS issue, how old is the puter?
ET 

 

 

Steve Holmes writes: 

> Did you do anything special to get your installed system to run on the
> external drive? In a separate thread here, I've been trying to do this
> vary same thing but my latest problem is I can't get the RAMFS to hand
> off to the full system on the same drive from which the boot image was
> just successfully loaded.  It's like the USB drive is discovered but
> none of the partitions are seen, thus ths init scripts bail and leve
> me in an emergency shell, probably still in the RAMFS. 
> 
> On Mon, Dec 06, 2010 at 08:12:47AM -0500, kitepilot at kitepilot.com wrote:
>> I have a Window$ laptop that I can't officially touch.
>> I boot it in Linux from a USB HD.
>> I created a VirtualBox VM that runs Window$ from its native HD,
>> which allows me to shutdown the thing, unplug the USB and boot
>> Window$ native like it never ever happened. 
>> 
>> I've done it with XP and 7.
>> The only difference between them is that you may want to create a
>> "hardware profile" for XP (although I believe it is not necessary,
>> YMMV), and you will need a "fake MBR" for Win7. 
>> 
>> There are also infinite permutations of boot/VM/HD, use your judgement.
>> Be CAREFUL and BACKUP!!!
>> Free advice, you can't sue me.   ;-) 
>> 
>> Here is (roughly) how it is done (more details down below):
>> Starting point:
>> .- You have a box with a bootable windoze installation on its
>> internal HD and you are running Linux off of a USB HD. 
>> 
>> Steps:
>> .- Install VirtualBox as your Linux flavor demands.
>> .- For Win7, create a "fake boot record" from the box's internal HD.
>> .- Make the box's internal HD accessible to your user, there are
>> several ways to accomplish this.
>> .- Create a virtual HD (that uses such "fake MBR" for Win7) and the
>> box's internal HD.
>> .- Create a VM defined to run your M$'s flavor and uses the VHD that
>> you just created.
>> .- Hold you breath...
>> .- Boot your VM.
>> .- Install Vbox additions.
>> .- Scream, YEEEHAAAW!!!
>> .- Enjoy and brag...   :) 
>> 
>> Now in more detail:
>> Other than "Scream, YEEEHAAAW!!!" and "Enjoy and brag", most
>> everything can be found on detail on:
>> http://www.rajatarya.com/website/taming-windows-virtualbox-vm 
>> 
>> Look also at:
>> http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=333&highlight=createrawvmdk 
>> 
>> You will have problems with Win7 sound/audio.
>> Look at:
>> http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=17442
>> http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1427857
>> http://www.compdigitec.com/labs/2009/07/21/installing-sound-drivers-for-virt
>> ualbox-sound-in-windows-7/ 
>> 
>> And finally, other WEB sites I collected:
>> http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-664692.html
>> http://mesbalivernes.blogspot.com/2008/01/virtual-box-booting-from-existing.
>> html
>> http://blarts.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/how-to-run-virtualbox-using-a-physica
>> l-partition-using-ubuntu-feisty-fawn/
>> http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Migrate_Windows
>> http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=333&highlight=createrawvmdk
>> http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?p=33678 
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Enjoy and remember -> YOU CAN'T SUE ME!!!   :)
>> If you have any question you will get any answer.
>> ET 
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Mike Hoy writes: 
>> 
>> >I need to run Windows and Linux. It has been this way for years. I am
>> >getting fed up with it to be honest. But this isn't just about going
>> >between win and nix. I also am compelled to run at least two different
>> >distro's.
>> >
>> >My solution was to do this:
>> >
>> >HDD1: Ubuntu (for web dev and basically everything I need to get done)
>> >HDD2: Windows
>> >HDD3: Storage (for all backups between both 1 and 2 and all
>> >multimedia)
>> >
>> >There is a 4th hard drive but it has failed so I will leave that out.
>> >It was running Gentoo up until it's demise.
>> >
>> >No matter what since I've owned a computer I find myself constantly
>> >reinstalling operating systems. It has gone down over the years but
>> >it's still like 3 times a year or so.
>> >
>> >Recently I went from 9.10 to 10.10 and that caused problems so now I'm
>> >going to have to go back to 9.10 not the end of the world but it's
>> >getting old as am I.
>> >
>> >Anyone have the ultimate solution for how to manage this? Are you in a
>> >similar situation? What have you done to fix this problem.
>> >
>> >Another problem is disk space. I have 2 500 gig drives (plenty for OS)
>> >but my storage drive can never be big enough. I keep all my client's
>> >data on it because I feel the need to have backups of everything for
>> >those CYA moments. They do come up.
>> >
>> >I find myself in awe of motherboards with more than 4 SATA ports. That
>> >way I can have 8 hard drives! I could run 6 operating systems and 1
>> >storage in RAID config! I'm only somewhat joking there.
>> >
>> >Another question has anyone done any development on chromium OS? Maybe
>> >that belongs in the dev list.
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