Install OSX or XP 1st on New HD?

[Aristotle11]

When I install OSX and XP and Ubuntu, I'm doing 4 partitions (one Fat32 swap). What order should I install, and what (free) boot loader is easiest for a noob to use?

THanks!

[Ashiaveli]

not sure about the order but i use acronis boot selector and its very simple

[ssimon]

There is a hard limit of 4 primary partitions in all Windows or Linux/Unix so your best bet is to use Acronis Disk Director or Partition Magic and create a Logical partition for XP.

Also, stay away from Acronis Boot Manager, it is very sloooow... and very problematic to remove if have issues (and you will)

I'd create the partitions 1st then install XP then install the others. For OSX, install at end of drive and make sure you give the partition enough free space as you will not be able to expand it. Leave OSX partition unformated and in OSX Installer "erase" the partition. Easy!

As a boot manager use the XP one and use Chain0 to get OSX up, works FAST and like a charm... Unsure about Ubuntu but I bet someone got it to boot from MS Boot Manager similarly to OSX using Chain0...