Install Arch Before Windows?

hank863 · 2009-05-01 20:45:09

My profession requires that I triple boot Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. I have purchased a Macbook Pro and know this is possible. I want to do anything possible to avoid Vista and have decided to download the Windows 7 RC this coming Tuesday. I would like to start making my Arch system right now, however. I know it is more than advised you install Windows first, but does anyone know how I could install Arch, then Windows, and not have a big mess on my hands?

lucke · 2009-05-01 20:50:42

It's not a big issue. Windows 7 probably needs a primary partition, so make sure it gets that, and have some live media handy to reinstall GRUB after Windows eradicates it.

hank863 · 2009-05-01 20:53:35

Ok, I feel better now. Grub should automatically see my Mac OS X partition and everything should be fine from there, correct? I have used Arch for several months on a PC, I just want to make double sure there should be no unexpected Mac OS X related issues before installing.

lucke · 2009-05-01 20:59:11

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Macbook#Dual_Boot

I have no experience booting Mac OS X whatsoever.

stefanwilkens · 2009-05-01 22:03:16

Well it's more then likely that windows will overwrite the boot sector, so you might end up having to re-install grub from the arch installation cd. Keep that cd close by and you'll be fine

I do not know what mac osx does to the boot sequence / what it requires, so I can't make any judgment on that.

Stythys · 2009-05-01 22:32:20

If you want to dual/triple boot on a mac you need to boot from the EFI bootloader first, and most people install rEFIt. From there you can boot into your OS's. Remember your partition table will be a dual gpt/mbr, so you can only have four primary partitions.

Also, I don't see how the order of installing the OS's would matter at all.

Last edited by Stythys (2009-05-01 22:32:43)

.:B:. · 2009-05-01 23:08:23

It does matter, because Windows will just overwrite whatever bootloader is there and replace it with his own (but not on a Mac if you use Boot Camp, that's a different thing).

With that in mind it makes sense to install Windows first, then Linux. Doing it the other way around would require you to re-install GRUB or LIlo, or whatever boot loader you use to call your Linux installation.

Stythys · 2009-05-01 23:13:19

yeah, that's what I was saying. On PC's, sure, windows will overwrite the bootloader....not on a mac, though.

hank863 · 2009-05-02 04:04:37

Thank you all for your input! I used rEFIt and have Arch and Mac OS X dual booting perfectly. I hope all goes well Tuesday when I add Windows.

Arch Linux

#1 2009-05-01 20:45:09

Install Arch Before Windows?

#2 2009-05-01 20:50:42

Re: Install Arch Before Windows?

#3 2009-05-01 20:53:35

Re: Install Arch Before Windows?

#4 2009-05-01 20:59:11

Re: Install Arch Before Windows?

#5 2009-05-01 22:03:16

Re: Install Arch Before Windows?

#6 2009-05-01 22:32:20

Re: Install Arch Before Windows?

#7 2009-05-01 23:08:23

Re: Install Arch Before Windows?

#8 2009-05-01 23:13:19

Re: Install Arch Before Windows?

#9 2009-05-02 04:04:37

Re: Install Arch Before Windows?

Board footer