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arielsegal 07-21-2011 11:49 PM
duel boot with grub question
 
Hi,

My PC runs only one OS, Linux Mint. I want to install Fedora and be able to choose at boot time between Mint and Fedora. Each one of these OS'es, at installation, will let me do a duel boot. But I want to keep the Mint installation as the main OS, so, when I will remove the Fedora installation, I will not have to repair grub.
If I just install Fedora, It will recognize the previously installed Mint, and will be able to install Fedora along side with it, by re-installing grub, and the grub configuration file will be on the partition of Fedora, so, if I format the Fedora partition, I'll have, again to re-install grub.
How do I add Fedora to my system without re-installing grub?

weibullguy 07-22-2011 12:12 AM
Don't install grub when you install Fedora. Manually add Fedora to your existing menu.lst file.

arielsegal 07-22-2011 01:04 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by weibullguy (Post 4421993)
Don't install grub when you install Fedora. Manually add Fedora to your existing menu.lst file.
How do I do this? Does Fedora Installation provides this option? I'm afraid to start installation when the automatic installer might do thing I do not want him to do.

Larry Webb 07-22-2011 06:35 AM
If you are going to distro hop I would suggest using virtualization or chainloading with grub. There is not an easy one step automatic way of doing what you want. Any distro you install will need grub default install changed. Keep a live dvd of your mint and it will be easier to repair your grub from terminal.

arielsegal 07-22-2011 06:52 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Webb (Post 4422203)
If you are going to distro hop I would suggest using virtualization or chainloading with grub. There is not an easy one step automatic way of doing what you want. Any distro you install will need grub default install changed. Keep a live dvd of your mint and it will be easier to repair your grub from terminal.
Thank you for your answer.
Do you mean that I'll have to change the Fedora distro, such that it will not install grub? If that's the case, it is indeed easier to repair grub. But then, will I have to uninstall grub from Fedora, after I've repaired the grub in Mint?
I was considering installing Fedora on VirtualBox, but I think it will not work for me, since I want to write my own device driver for h/w, change the kernel etc. without harming the Mint installation that servers as my personal PC, with all my life on it.

Larry Webb 07-22-2011 08:18 AM
First thing to do is make a backup of everything on your h/d now if your whole life is on it.

Quote:
Do you mean that I'll have to change the Fedora distro, such that it will not install grub?
No you do not need to change the default installation of fedora but would not need to do anything if on fedora installation install grub into / and then boot mint and from terminal run update-grub and it should add the fedora to your mint.


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