-> WC> Why must they overwrite the MBR to install their software?

-> For the same reason Linux takes control of the MBR. When you install
-> any operating system, the programers expect total control. 
   
Well I've booted Linux straight out of FAT 16 DOS
with a standard unmodified MBR.

There's a script in Knoppix that tells me I can do the same with
FAT 32 on this particular machine however I won't be installing DOS
next time around.

-> They expect
-> it to be /dev/hda (C:\). Although the MBR is screwed because the disk 
-> is unreadable it doesn't mean the BIOS can't see it. It just can't 
-> boot it.  

Linux is perfectly happy with a hard drive on /dev/hde.
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5