====== Running Multiple Operating Systems ======
===== Booting MINIX 3 Directly =====
MINIX 3 can coexist on a hard disk with Windows or Linux. The hard part is figuring out how to choose which OS to boot. Here are a few hints:

  * [[http://www.woodhull.com/newfaq/faq/bootother.html|Using the MINIX boot monitor to start other operating systems (May be outdated)]]


===== Using GRUB 2 to boot MINIX 3 =====
GRUB 2 stores its configuration in a file called //grub.cfg// (usually ///boot/grub/grub.cfg//) but you shouldn't edit it directly as it is generated with the information given in ///etc/default/grub// and the files in ///etc/grub.d//.\\
To boot MINIX 3 with GRUB 2 there's two alternatives:
==== add a menu entry for loading the MINIX bootloader ====
Edit ///etc/grub.d/40_custom// (you will probably have to be root to do so) and add the following code:

<code>
menuentry "MINIX 3" {
        set root=(hdX,Y)
        chainloader +1
}
</code>

Here are some examples of GRUB's naming convention for the disks and partitions:

  * (hd0,1) - first primary partition on first hard disk
  * (hd0,2) - second primary partition on first hard disk
  * (hd0,3) - third primary partition on first hard disk
  * (hd0,4) - fourth primary partition on first hard disk
  * (hd1,1) - first primary partition on second hard disk
  * (hd1,2) - second primary partition on second hard disk
  * and so on

<!> Note: GRUB 1 and GRUB 2 have different naming conventions for partitions.

Alternatively, if you want to use GRUB to boot MINIX directly:

==== add a menu entry for MINIX ====
The entry should have this shape:
<code>
menuentry "Minix Latest" {
        set root=(hd0,3,1)
        multiboot /boot/minix_latest/kernel rootdevname=c0d0p2s0
        module /boot/minix_latest/mod01_ds.gz
        module /boot/minix_latest/mod02_rs.gz
        module /boot/minix_latest/mod03_pm.gz
        module /boot/minix_latest/mod04_sched.gz
        module /boot/minix_latest/mod05_vfs.gz
        module /boot/minix_latest/mod06_memory.gz
        module /boot/minix_latest/mod07_log.gz
        module /boot/minix_latest/mod08_tty.gz
        module /boot/minix_latest/mod09_mfs.gz
        module /boot/minix_latest/mod10_vm.gz
        module /boot/minix_latest/mod11_pfs.gz
        module /boot/minix_latest/mod12_init.gz
}
</code>


==== [optional] un-hide the boot menu on startup ====
Edit ///etc/default/grub// and change ''GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0'' to ''# GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0''.\\
(You can also press //shift// during GRUB's startup to show the boot menu.)

==== generate new grub.cfg ====
Run **''grub-mkconfig''** as root to rewiew the new configuration.\\
Run **''grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg''** as root to overwrite your old //grub.cfg// with the new configuration. \\
(change the path to your //grub.cfg// if it differs from the one given above)


===== Using GRUB 0.9x (GRUB1) to boot MINIX 3 =====
To have GRUB1 boot MINIX, you can just add the following lines to your GRUB config file (typically ///boot/grub/menu.lst//):

<code>
title Minix
rootnoverify (hdX,Y) # (hdX,Y) is the disk and partition where you install Minix
chainloader +1       # tells GRUB to call Minix's boot loader
</code>
Here are some examples of GRUB's naming convention for the disks and partitions:

  * (hd0,0) - first primary partition on first hard disk
  * (hd0,1) - second primary partition on first hard disk
  * (hd0,2) - third primary partition on first hard disk
  * (hd0,3) - fourth primary partition on first hard disk
  * (hd1,0) - first primary partition on second hard disk
  * (hd1,1) - second primary partition on second hard disk
  * and so on

<!> Note: GRUB 1 and GRUB 2 have different naming conventions for partitions.

===== Using a Boot Floppy or the CD-ROM =====
If you don't want to use a multiboot loader, you can use a MINIX 3 boot floppy or the MINIX 3 CD-ROM to boot MINIX.

Don't forget to change the //Boot Order// in your BIOS if necessary. You want to boot from the floppy/CD before booting from disk.

<!> The following instructions are relevant to MINIX 3.1.x; the new boot loader uses a different syntax (and there are no boot floppy any more).

==== Using the MINIX 3 CD-ROM ====
  * Insert the MINIX 3 CD-ROM and boot
  * Login as //bin//
  * Type //shutdown// to get back to the MINIX 3 boot monitor
  * Now type:

<code>
boot c0d0p0
</code>
to boot from the operating system image file on controller 0, drive 0, partition 0. Of course, if you put MINIX 3 on drive 1 partition 2, sub-partition 0, use:

<code>
boot c0d1p2s0
</code>
and so on.

==== Using a Boot Floppy ====
If you have a legacy floppy disk drive, you can boot MINIX 3 by inserting your new boot floppy and turning on the power.

===== Starting MINIX 3 from MS-DOS or Windows. =====
  * [[http://www.woodhull.com/newfaq/faq/NT-2K.html|Booting MINIX on a PC with WinNT or Win2K Installed (May be outdated)]]