[madhttr]

Maybe I missed some nuance to the dualboot installs suggested but chameleon just wouldn't do it for me for a XP / OS X dual boot.

Trying for 5 hrs to get it right over and over again and not getting anywhere.

I finally tried EasyBCD which needs to be setup in XP but was PERFECT and quick. No more banging my head on the desk.

I did this on a 10v and I know EasyBCD is only supposed to be for Vista but it DOES work with XP, you just need the C:\Windows\Boot folder from Vista to make it work on XP.

(Also required is 2.0 .NET Framework)

Once that folder and framework are there, it's ridiculously easy and you can even set which OS you want to boot by default.

I know many of you swear by chameleon, but EasyBCD was the way to go for me (I was just happy I had access to a Vista machine).

I'd say if I had to make a dualboot again, my time would go from 10 hrs (slightly exaggerated) -> 2 hrs.

Sorry, I know I'm half-venting, but just also giving feedback on another method.

(also it's quite possible I read the chameleon dual boot instructions wrong)

[schnide]

Fancy writing a guide?

[madhttr]

Originally Posted by schnide

Fancy writing a guide?

it's on my to-do list Hopefully later today

[shines on]

The problem with using EasyBCD i've experienced from running a Windows7/OSx dual boot is that every time you need to update chameleon it'll break the dual-boot and neither OS will be able to boot correctly until you restore the MBR from the recovery console and then re-run EasyBCD. I'd rather use chameleon to dual boot, but I have yet to figure out how to get that working correctly.

[madhttr]

Originally Posted by shines on

The problem with using EasyBCD i've experienced from running a Windows7/OSx dual boot is that every time you need to update chameleon it'll break the dual-boot and neither OS will be able to boot correctly until you restore the MBR from the recovery console and then re-run EasyBCD. I'd rather use chameleon to dual boot, but I have yet to figure out how to get that working correctly.

I'll obviously have to play around with that idea. I did this for my roommate so I'm not going to purposely mess it up. For the forseeable future though, I don't think 10.5.8 is going to ever need to be updated. I only have a 16GB SSD so I won't be able to test this.

[TheStalker]

ok, could really do with this guide. Looking forward to reading

I am so confused about how this works lol

I already have XP on my 10V but want to snip the disk into 3 so i can install OSX and ubuntu. Im not sure how many partitions i need.

[madhttr]

Ok I'll try to expand on this later...but here it goes:

NOTE: Before starting you need access to a Windows Vista machine

1. Create a working OSX install on the entire hard drive (no partitions yet)
2. With the boot USB disk, boot into the OSX installer and use Disk Utility to save the image to an external USB drive.
3. After the image has been copied off, choose partition and select your 2 partitions and choose Master Boot Record in the options. Make one partition FAT32 for Windows (I named mine WIN) and the other one as Mac Journaled (I named this one OSX). (To be honest, I used Boot Magic from a boot disk I had but I see no reason why this shouldn't work.) I've also heard of other people that had problems with the partitions from Disk Utility. If you run into issues, try another partitioner. I have no suggestions besides Boot Magic. NOTE: The Windows Partition Must be the first partition, OSX can be second
4. Take out the USB boot disk and install Windows XP via the Dell Restore CD (Like I did) or a USB drive or whatever you have to boot windows into onto the WIN Partition. If it works with leaving the format how it is, then cool, if not, do a quick format as FAT32.
5. Install windows normally and let it reboot when done to finish the install. You don't need to install drivers or anything yet.
6. Once booted into windows successfully, restart and re-insert your OSX boot USB drive.
7. Do a restore on the OSX partition that you saved off before (do not reformat anything).
8. Once done, reboot and it should boot into windows.
9. Download EasyBCD 1.7.2 (I couldn't get it to work with version 2.0) (Do not attempt to run it yet)
10. Download 2.0 .NET Framework (google is your friend)
11. Place C:\Windows\Boot folder from your Vista machine onto your XP installation in the same place.
12. Start up EasyBCD.
NOTE: Before continuing, here's some more info: How to: Install the Vista Bootloader on Windows XP — The NeoSmart Files
13. I forget what the actual setup options are, but its farely straightforward. First off is delete the current boot record (cause thats for vista). Then you create the XP boot record and then you create a Mac boot record (choose x86).
14. Save your settings and reboot. You should now be able to choose to boot into XP or OSX

Feel free to ask some questions and I'll try to help out as much as possible.

[TheStalker]

Thanks for getting back so quick. Very good instructions.

I will be trying this within the next couple of days (once i can get enough time away from work) I will no doubt have some questions for you.

thanks again

[granduke]

Originally Posted by madhttr

Ok I'll try to expand on this later...but here it goes:

Madhttr, do you still intend to rewrite your guide?

Has anyone else tried this?