Hello,
I am having the same problem other dual boot users are having: the grub boot manager isn't loading and so I don't have a choice of operating systems when starting, it automatically goes to Windows. I've tried the solutions on this message board and have had no luck.
I have Windows XP installed on one disk, and I installed Fedore Core 4 on a new, seperate disc drive. In the setup of Linux I chose Automatic Partition, and only allowed it to use my second drive. The install went fine, but now I can't run Linux as there's no menu that gives me a choice. I've tried pressing other keys when booting to get the "hidden menu". In linux rescue mode I've commented out "hidden menu" in the grub.conf file, and I've tried grub-install /dev/hd(every combo), and still no love.
This is what my setup looks like:

>df
Filesystem ...
/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 ... 5% /
/dev/hdb2 ... 13% /boot

>fdisk -l
shows hda1, hda2, hda5 is for Windows, and
hdb1, hdb2, hdb3 is for Linux. hdb1 has the star on it for boot.

>cat grub.conf
shows that Fedora core has root (hd1,1),
and "Other" as rootnoverify (hd0,0). Note: it doesn't say Windows XP, this title is Other.

Any help would be great!
Thanks,
ConfusedAndReadyToGiveUp

Got the same problem here..... any one find a solution?? Did the link solution work?

Used to work on the same set up no problem until I had to re-install XP from scratch!! Very annoying.

The explains how to start linux with the windows boot loader, which will send you to grub on the /boot partition if you choose to start linux. It works fine, but is a bit of a roundabout way.

Have you tried to do a 'fixmbr' from the windows command line before reinstalling grub?

Alsomake sure that when you use the rescue disk you issue the chroot command to get into the installed system and check (by doing a umount - mount on the /boot partition after that) that your /boot is properly mounted.

finally make sure that when you do 'grub-install' you tell it to install to /dev/hda without a partition number!

(Have you been able to mount the windows partition in linux? That way you are absolutely sure which /dev/hd? to use)

boot the fedora from xp read this link .

good grief - post some explanations with your links- don't be unhelpful- especially to new users. : ) thanks.

um. grub is good value. the grub manual is good http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html

I agree with linmix- try reinstalling grub- and tweaking the menu.lst file (found in /boot/grub) All the stuff you need is in the manual- seriously. or googling helps too, and of course the forum.

welcome to LQ and good luck!

titanium_geek