Multi-booting solaris on a DELL Dimension
hi all,
I�ve just acquiered a brand new Dell dimension 3100. intel P4 (EM64T ) , 3Ghz, 160 Go
Objective:
Setting multi-boot capability on my system using : Solaris, Suse Linux, and Windows XP
I read a very good sun blueprint on this topic http://www.sun.com/blueprints/0905/819-2889.pdf
This blueprint suggest for a basic multi-boot system, 4 primary partitions:
- 1 for Microsoft Windows
- 2 for Sun Solaris
- 3 for Linux
- 4 for Common data sharing (very usefull)
Problem:
- Dell computers are shipped with 2 hidden PRIMARY partitions !!
for Dell utility partition + Dell system restore (deleting these partitions automatically break user�s warranty)
- Sun Solaris and Microsoft windows also need to be installed on PRIMARY partitions
- MBR can control up to 4 PRIMARY partitions only.
How can I get around this critical situation ? I need help�
I also read an article somewhere (on my web search) about Dell partitions, see below:
How Dell restore, checks for partition changes
After the Dell MBR boots the Restore partition as drive C:, the autoexec.bat file runs dsrcheck.exe to examine the disk's partition layout. If things are not as it expects, the restore process is aborted.
The Dell-specific Ctrl+F11 process is supposed to completely automate the restoration process, returning the hard disk to the state it was in when Dell shipped the computer.