Install WinXP without breaking Grub

d135-1r43 · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 129

As long as there is no Linux implementation of the iLok system I will have to run my software sampler under Windows XP. (Un)fortunately my PC is completely windows free. Now I want to install Win XP on a free partition without breaking Grub. Is there any possibility to do so? Can I force the Windows installer not to overwrite the MBR? Can I preconfigure Grub to load Windows from the free partition before I start to install Win?

Alternatively you can give my hints to crack iLok :-)

Jesterhead · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 75

I dont think thats possible to tell windows installer that it doesnt break grub

But if you have a live-cd at hand, you can easily repair grub by booting the Live-CD after Installation of windows,
and bring grub with
grub-install /dev/***
back to life

Another Solution would be virtualbox, qemu, vmware, kvm, and so on...

iron999mike · n00b Joined: 17 Feb 2006 Posts: 24

I am in the same position where I have to run one program in windows. I know you probably want to install it on your free partition, but have you considered just getting another (possibly cheap) hard drive. Then you can just install windows on your new drive while you have the others physically disconnected. This isn't the way you requested, but it works and is often easier (I recommend this to people new to linux).