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This guide will show you how to quad boot microsoft xp, vista, mandriva and ubuntu linux. There are many possible ways to quad boot four operating systems, but there is also a easy way in booting two microsoft os and two linux distros on the same machine.

To start this off, you will first want to partition space with your xp install cd, leaving free space at the end of the hard drive. You will use this free space to setup up partitions for your other os.  After you have installed xp, you will then want to partition space with your vista install dvd and then install vista on your machine. After you reboot your pc, you should now a new menu that pops up before your os boots. This boot menu should allow you to boot into either xp or vista.

After you have install both of your microsoft os’s, you are now ready to begin installing your linux distros. The easiest way I found to setup the quad boot is by installing mandriva first, since ubuntu pretty much kicks ass and is really easy to use. When I install mandriva, I set up a partition for:

• /
• /boot
• swap

At the end of the installation on mandriva, you should be asked where you want to install the boot loader. You should get two options; install to the master boot record or install to the root partition. You should choose to install the boot record to the root partition. The reason you need to install the boot record to the root partition is because you will be using ubuntu to master boot record.

Once you have installed mandriva you will now install ubuntu, setting up your partitions the same as you did during the installation of mandriva. Like I said before, you will install the boot loader to the master boot record. After you have completed the ubuntu installation and your pc reboots, you should now be able to quad boot your computer.

This guide can also be modified to boot other microsoft os’s and other linux distros. One thing to remember when installing your microsoft os’s is to always install the older microsoft os first. Backward compatibility will allow the newer os to recognize the older os, but the older os will not recognize the newer microsoft os. For instance install in this order:

• Windows 3.1
• Windows 95
• Windows 98
• Windows ME
• Windows 2000
• Windows Xp
• Windows Vista

Another important hint is to always install you microsoft os’s first and your linux distros last. And when you install you linux distros, make sure that you install the boot loader to the root partition on your 3rd os and install to the master boot record on the 4th os.

Boot Record for quad boot

• Install Xp to master boot
• Install Vista to master boot
• Install mandriva to root partition
• Install ubuntu to master boot

Boot Record for 6 – etc boot

• Install Xp to master boot
  Install Vista to master boot
  Install mandriva to root partition
  Install red hat to root partition
  Install other linux os to root partion
  Install ubuntu to master boot

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