Having a problem loading Linux on Windows system with two hard drives

GameQber · 10-30-2005, 09:26 PM

I have Windows XP Professional installed on my primary hard drive (hda), and just installed Fedora Core 4 on my second hard drive (hdb1). When specifying where to install the GRUB boot loader during the Linux installation, I chose hdb1 as the help file suggested if I had Windows NT installed on the primary hard drive (or something like that).

However, Grub does not load at startup. It boots straight to Windows XP with no sign of Grub whatsoever. I had tried installing Grub on the MBR instead. It didn't make a difference (although I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be installed on hdb1 anyway).

Any help would be great. Thanks!

reddazz · 10-30-2005, 10:03 PM

You should have chosen to install grub on the MBR, that way you can use it to boot into either Windows or Linux. You can login to Fedora by booting using your first installation disc (or the dvd), then do

linux-rescue at the prompt
chroot /mnt/sysimage (after entering info about your root (/) partition)
grub-install /dev/hda (then reboot)

jschiwal · 10-30-2005, 10:03 PM

Do a google search for "NTLDR grub boot", or perform a search on this site. There are many howto's on how to use the XP's NTLDR program to chainload the grub loader.

GameQber · 10-30-2005, 10:45 PM

(nevermind what was here before)

Thanks for the help. Installing it to the MBR worked.

reddazz · 10-30-2005, 11:39 PM

That error message suggests that grub isn't installed installed on your system. I am not sure if there is a way to install it from rescue mode, if you don't find a way you may have to reinstall.

reddazz · 10-30-2005, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GameQber
(nevermind what was here before)

Thanks for the help. Installing it to the MBR worked.

Don't delete your posts, just edit to say it worked.