[Leo + XP] + [ XP ] + VMware Issue

[antiocles]

So I finally built a new computer a month ago, and made sure to get components that would be fully supported. I run linux on my laptop, and have lots of experience with DB and virtualization and so on. Everything works perfect on my Leo install and I couldn't be happier.

 

What I desire is to have leo on a 260GB partition, a ~36GB left over for XP for a VMWare/native boot. I also have a 250GB drive that was my previous main XP install. This is what I've done so far:

 

Copied data to the 250XP drive from the 300 data drive.

Removed 250 drive.

Created my 260 and 36 partitions (MBR) using leo install CD then exited.

Installed XP on the 36 GB, booted and everything is great.

Installed leo on the 260 partition, booted, everything is great.

Now I have a fully dual booting 300GB drive using the darwin bootloader.

Once complete, I put the 250 drive back in so I can move data and such.

 

Now here is the issue. When I start VMWare, it shows two "boot camp" drives. I click on the 36 GB one, it creates the VMware stuff, but on boot it can't find the OS to start. Running the old 250XP does work perfectly in VMware. I am almost certain this is because there is no boot info in the 36GB partition that VMware can find.

 

I really don't want to screw up something with my perfect dual boot setup by experimentation, but I want to get rid of the 250 XP once all my data is off and just use the (currently) non-working 36GB partition in VMware and fo ra dual boot. So the question is, am I correct in what I've assumed regarding the boot info not being in the small XP partition? Do I boot into the 36GB using the darwin boot loader and use EasyBCD or something else to put some boot info into that partition? Or is there a better way with less risk of futzing something up?

 

Thanks!

 

Ant

[Rick aka Rictorg]

I'm very interested in learning about your project and how you finally get there. The ability to use vmware to access the other partition in a dual boot situation appears to be a very elegant solution.