>> My XP overstepped the Vista's boot loader when I installed it (even though it was on a separate partition). Linux/BSD is a much better neighbor, it doesn't tread over anything unless you tell it to.
>>
>>Depends on how you view things. Linux usually installs GRUB and uses its boot manager to start windows - which makes using windows repair functions/disks a no-no. Each OS usually wants to own the MBR. In an older version of Knoppix you could build an "in-between" install allowing you to copy the CD-Rom (I said older <g>) to your HD and start the grub loader and mini-Ram-disk from the windows boot.ini - much nicer IMHO, as Windoze is still my main OS.
>
>My point is that you can still boot your Windowses after you install a Linux. You don't have the option of doing that in the reverse order - Windows won't allow you to keep any other OS unless it's an older version of itself.

Have not personally checked it yet, but there are dev efforts underway to install linux directly and WITHOUT LILO or GRUB into windows installations needing just an entry in the boot.ini - WUBI for ubuntu and topologilinux. A few years back I helped a bit making knoppix-ISO installable in NTFS partitions and loading a boot configuration using a partition local GRUB from normal windows install through an entry in boot.ini - was too much effort to keep alive back then but this seems to be more stable.

As I still do >90% in Win, it looks like the fitting combination for my needs.

regards

thomas