6 ms·

how do you expect it to boot? At least linux keeps windows as an option, try installing windows after linux and you will be left without a way to boot it

dizhn 4y ago
It would install its bootloader into its own partition and then it would be up to you to direct your boot sequence to look there. I just did this 2 hours ago with opensuse.
- bmacho 4y ago
  While windows had its things in the bootloader, how could opensuse take over the boot, without touching it?
  - dizhn 4y ago
    Windows bootloader is at the mbr of the first disk. You have opensuse install its bootloader into its own disk. I am not sure if UEFI changes things here but if anything it probably makes things easier.
  - Dalewyn 4y ago
    Both NTLDR and Windows Boot Manager are capable of redirecting to subsequent bootloaders, this feature is intended for dual booting with older versions of Windows but can also be used to dual boot into Linux and other operating systems. As an example, if you install Windows 98, then Windows XP, then Windows 10 side by side, the following things happen: 1. Windows 98 installs its bootloader. 2. Windows XP takes a dump of 98's bootloader into a file and then overwrites the MBR with NTLDR. NTLDR is then configured with an option to chainload into 98's bootloader by reading its dump file. 3. Windows 10 takes a dump of NTLDR into a file and then overwrites the MBR with Windows Boot Manager. Windows Boot Manager is then configured with an option to chainload into NTLDR by reading its dump file. This means you can install Windows 10 (and Windows Boot Manager), install Linux and have it install its bootloader (eg: GRUB) somewhere, then configure Windows Boot Manager to chainload the Linux bootloader (eg: GRUB) by reading from wherever it's stored.
- nunodonato 4y ago
  how does a non-technical user direct its boot loader to boot from a partition?
  - csdvrx 4y ago
    efibootmgr
  - dizhn 4y ago
    Depends on what kind of user it is. My BIOS can select the disk that will be first tried for boot, and within that which partition has priority. I can select this during boot without setting it in the bios too. Another option is to use one of the boot disk on usb drive solutions. There are even alternative boot loaders (not windows or grub) that can search the disk for ALL bootable partitions.
  - loloquwowndueo 4y ago
    A non-technical user does not mess around with partitions :)
Dalewyn 4y ago
Windows only cares for other installations of Windows, it doesn't care about anything else. For Linux installations, you need to do all the proper preparation work prior to installing Windows. That being said, as I wrote in a comment[1] further down both NTLDR and Windows Boot Manager are capable of chainloading into other bootloaders, including Linux bootloaders like GRUB. [1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35380297 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35380297
maximus-decimus 4y ago
By selecting the Ubuntu drive I installed linux in the Bios and then that would let me boot either windows or Ubuntu. Which is what it's supposed to do.

dizhn 4y ago

It would install its bootloader into its own partition and then it would be up to you to direct your boot sequence to look there. I just did this 2 hours ago with opensuse.

bmacho 4y ago
While windows had its things in the bootloader, how could opensuse take over the boot, without touching it?
- dizhn 4y ago
  Windows bootloader is at the mbr of the first disk. You have opensuse install its bootloader into its own disk. I am not sure if UEFI changes things here but if anything it probably makes things easier.
- Dalewyn 4y ago
  Both NTLDR and Windows Boot Manager are capable of redirecting to subsequent bootloaders, this feature is intended for dual booting with older versions of Windows but can also be used to dual boot into Linux and other operating systems. As an example, if you install Windows 98, then Windows XP, then Windows 10 side by side, the following things happen: 1. Windows 98 installs its bootloader. 2. Windows XP takes a dump of 98's bootloader into a file and then overwrites the MBR with NTLDR. NTLDR is then configured with an option to chainload into 98's bootloader by reading its dump file. 3. Windows 10 takes a dump of NTLDR into a file and then overwrites the MBR with Windows Boot Manager. Windows Boot Manager is then configured with an option to chainload into NTLDR by reading its dump file. This means you can install Windows 10 (and Windows Boot Manager), install Linux and have it install its bootloader (eg: GRUB) somewhere, then configure Windows Boot Manager to chainload the Linux bootloader (eg: GRUB) by reading from wherever it's stored.
nunodonato 4y ago
how does a non-technical user direct its boot loader to boot from a partition?
- csdvrx 4y ago
  efibootmgr
- dizhn 4y ago
  Depends on what kind of user it is. My BIOS can select the disk that will be first tried for boot, and within that which partition has priority. I can select this during boot without setting it in the bios too. Another option is to use one of the boot disk on usb drive solutions. There are even alternative boot loaders (not windows or grub) that can search the disk for ALL bootable partitions.
- loloquwowndueo 4y ago
  A non-technical user does not mess around with partitions :)

Dalewyn 4y ago

Windows only cares for other installations of Windows, it doesn't care about anything else. For Linux installations, you need to do all the proper preparation work prior to installing Windows. That being said, as I wrote in a comment[1] further down both NTLDR and Windows Boot Manager are capable of chainloading into other bootloaders, including Linux bootloaders like GRUB. [1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35380297 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35380297

maximus-decimus 4y ago

By selecting the Ubuntu drive I installed linux in the Bios and then that would let me boot either windows or Ubuntu. Which is what it's supposed to do.