🚀 go-pugleaf

>I would like to leave my primary win98 5.1 drive alone and use all the 1.0GB
>for the linux installation.
>Will Lilo allow this configuration? and will it work? ie. can I dual boot
>two OS's on TWO separate drives? From the book it appears as though it will
>work just fine if I specify /dev/hdb as the linux partition.
Not easily with direct boot of HDD as LILO boot stuff, running before
linux etc loaded, can only address 1st disk- like any boot loader.
 [BTW, Micro$soft also has the additional restrictions not found in
linux of only being able to boot off a primary partition marked
active] . 
Some options are:

1. [Preferred] - boot off a floppy for linux - much simpler. will work
and has advantages pointed out by Darrin Smith already. In addition,
for following methods would still need a boot disk anyway for backup
in case of things going wrong.

2. Create a 1 cylinder linux partition on 1st disk and put /boot
there, then kernel and the various bits of LILO.
Disadvantage: messy; gotta repartition disk 1.... 
[But note most people once used to linux would put most or all of
linux on 1st disk in own partition(s) - if really need that much space
for Micro$oft, create a drive D: partion on all or some of 2nd drive]

3. Create a DOS directory for the bits; link a linux directory /boot
to it, then as for 2.
Disadvantages: messier; system dies whenever do a DEFRAG or otherwise
move stuff; allows a buggy insecure operating environment (W98) to get
at key bits of linux.....

>Oh and will Linux be able to "see" my CD-ROM as it is on the secondary IDE.
Yes. [even W98 can see it!]

Have fun