installing vista on Linux system - no other choice :(

[hypothalamuse]

I'm running RHEL5 on a system with 2 separate HDD's and 2 other drives in a raid array.

Just added the second non-RAID drive a few days ago and have been storing data on it. Now however, I have to install vista ultimate to run certain applications. Seems like the simpliest way would be to give it that second disk and dual boot.

I'd like to make sure "removing" the disk doesn't screw up linux. What proceedure would be best to install windows (have an iso) and establish a dual boot option?

thanks!

 

[yinan]

Run vista in a VM would be simpler.

 

[hypothalamuse]

thanks - I tried using virtualbox, but you can only allocate 4gb of ram there, and I need at least 16.

 

[hypothalamuse]

still trying to see how to implement this - bump

 

[yuchai]

I used this guide to do something very similar to what you want to do and it worked fine.

I think the key is that you have your live/rescue cd handy so that you can restore the bootloader after installing Vista.

In terms of the "removing" of the drive, I don't think it should be a problem. I would remove (or modify) the reference to it in /etc/fstab if it's in there currently.

 

[hypothalamuse]

That guide looks like it will help, even though I'm installing windows on a completely separate drive.

Linux isn't giving up that drive easily. I've removed any reference to it in etc/fstab but upon bootup I get a message that there a system error, and the machine continues to reboot until I hook the drive up again. But the MBR isn't on the disk i'm trying to remove, so I'm wondering what's up.

 

[sao123]

VMware allows at least 8GB ram on virtual machines, perhaps it may also allow 16GB.
Worth a checkout.