• From: Nijmegen, Holland
  • Registered: 2009-12-11
  • Posts: 230

Topic: Creating a hidden Linux installation on a Windows pc

or
How to overwrite your mbr in the full confidence that you will have a dual boot system after doing so

See http://stillstup.blogspot.com/2011/01/c … ation.html

Some teasers :
You have a Windows pc maybe somewhat older; wife and kids are using it, and don't want to migrate to Linux; but you hate waiting endlessly till updates and virus checkers an all other bloat has finished and you want to be able to quickly boot up and access internet for example.
You want a Linux install but you don't want to present them a grub menu, even with autoboot in Windows.

.............................

The big pay-off is that after you test the grub file logging in in Windows and in the new Linux install and everything is indeed OK, you can with a confident mind overwrite the MBR. For insecure newcomers, making the first Linux install, mostly always a dual boot, this will be a trusted path to walk.
The whole procedure goes so fast and slick that this is a feasible alternative to installing grub in the mbr. In this way you will have a completely hidden Linux installation!!

GNu/Linux: Nu nog schoner: http://linuxnogschoner.blogspot.com/  Dutch

pablokal's Website

  • Awebb
  • #! Die-hard
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-07-23
  • Posts: 2,471

Re: Creating a hidden Linux installation on a Windows pc

Just put the bootloader to a USB dongle. It keeps wife and kids away... looks them away :-D

I'm so meta, even this acronym
  • wohn
  • New member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2011-01-23
  • Posts: 6

Re: Creating a hidden Linux installation on a Windows pc

or use grub with 0 sec menu selection, windows as default os and hold shift when booting for grub menu.

Should only see anything grub for <1sec only welcome to grub2 or whatever it says.

  • From: Nijmegen, Holland
  • Registered: 2009-12-11
  • Posts: 230

Re: Creating a hidden Linux installation on a Windows pc

Just put the bootloader to a USB dongle..

This is a nice solution when using an newer pc. None of my older pcs boot an usb stick.

BTW an important reason for writing about this is that my first Linux attempt made my only pc then unusable. I didn't know anything about the mbr and howto fix it and wasn't warned by the info I had found before the attempt.
After that I took two years before I had the nerve to try a new install.
It took me so long because I wouldn't endanger the family pc again.
Playing around with qemu and virtual installs was nice for exercise but did not satisfy me.
I hadn't the knowledge then that you could do an Linux install with a grub install without touching the mbr.
What I describe gives a solution and method to check out your grub configuration in a safe way .
And to access internet, when you need more info, because usability is not at stake.

GNu/Linux: Nu nog schoner: http://linuxnogschoner.blogspot.com/  Dutch

pablokal's Website