[SOLVED] Dual-boot question - Unable to boot without Windows Hard Drive

sb2406 · 07-18-2014, 07:46 AM

Hi all,

I am currently dual booting Windows 7 with Linux Mint 14. Each is installed on a separate hard-drive, as shown in the attached image.

I would like to remove the Linux Hard drive and insert it into a different machine. As a trial I first disconnected the Linux Hard Drive, to see if Windows would boot. It did not - I suppose because I have overwritten the Windows bootloader when installing Linux?

As a second trial I disconnected the Windows Hard Drive, expecting the Linux drive to be able to boot. It did not and gave an error message about the missing drive.

I would be very grateful for your suggestions as to how I can achieve moving the Linux Hard drive to another machine, and being able to boot to that and also to the Windows Hard Drive in the existing machine.

Many thanks

Sam

syg00 · 07-18-2014, 07:52 AM

Doesn't tell us anything about the boot environment - from Mint14 go here, do as it says and post the RESULTS.txt so we have some hard info to advise.

sb2406 · 07-18-2014, 08:03 AM

Thanks syg00, here are the results:

Quote:

Boot Info Script 0.61 [1 April 2012]

============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================

=> Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector 1 of
the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks
in partition 72 for .
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb.

sda1: __________________________________________________________________________

File system:
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Mounting failed: mount: unknown filesystem type ''

sda2: __________________________________________________________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda3: __________________________________________________________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sdb1: __________________________________________________________________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: FAT16
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sdb2: __________________________________________________________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sdb3: __________________________________________________________________________

File system: ext2
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Linux Mint 14 Nadia
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab

sdb4: __________________________________________________________________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sdb5: __________________________________________________________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files:

sdb6: __________________________________________________________________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda _____________________________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 16,065 112,454 96,390 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/sda2 * 112,455 307,322,879 307,210,425 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda3 307,322,880 1,953,520,064 1,646,197,185 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS

Drive: sdb _____________________________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sdb1 63 96,389 96,327 27 Hidden NTFS (Recovery Environment)
/dev/sdb2 96,390 433,754 337,365 27 Hidden NTFS (Recovery Environment)
/dev/sdb3 434,176 391,059,455 390,625,280 83 Linux
/dev/sdb4 391,061,502 1,953,523,711 1,562,462,210 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 391,061,504 1,891,024,895 1,499,963,392 83 Linux
/dev/sdb6 1,891,026,944 1,953,523,711 62,496,768 82 Linux swap / Solaris

"blkid" output: ________________________________________________________________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda2 5818AB4B18AB26CA ntfs WINDOWS
/dev/sda3 71E0787C3D67D4CC ntfs NTFS DATA
/dev/sdb1 53C5-5D60 vfat DIAGNOSTICS
/dev/sdb2 01CDCBF264075A20 ntfs WinRE
/dev/sdb3 bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff ext2
/dev/sdb5 6c06b7ef-0732-4df3-ac93-a8b9d90f7749 ext4
/dev/sdb6 209213b8-d039-43e6-a4aa-f00c1fe82a57 swap

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sdb3 / ext2 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sdb5 /home ext4 (rw)

=========================== sdb3/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
insmod all_video
else
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod ieee1275_fb
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos3'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos3 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos3 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos3 bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff
fi
font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
set lang=en_GB
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=white/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
set gfxpayload="$1"
if [ "$1" = "keep" ]; then
set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
else
set vt_handoff=
fi
}
if [ ${recordfail} != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "$linux_gfx_mode" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Linux Mint 14 MATE 64-bit, 3.5.0-17-generic (/dev/sdb3)' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos3'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos3 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos3 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos3 bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff
fi
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-17-generic root=UUID=bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-17-generic
}
menuentry 'Linux Mint 14 MATE 64-bit, 3.5.0-17-generic (/dev/sdb3) -- recovery mode' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos3'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos3 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos3 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos3 bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 3.5.0-17-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-17-generic root=UUID=bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-17-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_lupin ###
### END /etc/grub.d/10_lupin ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos3'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos3 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos3 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos3 bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff
fi
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos3'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos3 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos3 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos3 bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff
fi
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry 'Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda2)' --class windows --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-chain-5818AB4B18AB26CA' {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='hd0,msdos2'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos2 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos2 5818AB4B18AB26CA
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 5818AB4B18AB26CA
fi
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sdb3/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
# / was on /dev/sdb3 during installation
UUID=bf639f75-6a07-43d0-9ab5-23eee6f9ddff / ext2 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /home was on /dev/sdb5 during installation
UUID=6c06b7ef-0732-4df3-ac93-a8b9d90f7749 /home ext4 defaults 0 2
# swap was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=209213b8-d039-43e6-a4aa-f00c1fe82a57 none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sdb3: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

141.769638062 = 152.223989760 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
141.705589294 = 152.155217920 boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-17-generic 5
141.614574432 = 152.057491456 boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-17-generic 3
141.705589294 = 152.155217920 initrd.img 5
141.705589294 = 152.155217920 initrd.img.old 5
141.614574432 = 152.057491456 vmlinuz 3

Cheers, Sam

syg00 · 07-18-2014, 08:40 AM

I'm surprised Mint14 used grub2.
As you can see, as you suspected, you've got (at least) Linux cross-linked - easy enough to fix, but first, do you have an install/recovery disk for Win7 ?.

sb2406 · 07-18-2014, 08:48 AM

I do indeed have the Win7 install image that I can create a bootable USB from

Thanks, Sam

sb2406 · 07-21-2014, 06:18 AM

Hi all,

Is anyone able to continue to help with this? As mentioned, the aim is being able to boot from the Linux hard drive in a new machine, and from the Windows hard drive in the existing machine.

Many thanks for any assistance

Sam

yancek · 07-21-2014, 08:23 AM

As has been pointed out above, you have windows installed on sda and its bootloader in the mbr of sdb. Mint is installed on sdb and its bootloader is in the mbr of sda. Install grub2 to the mbr of the disk it is on (sdb) while booted into Mint.

Quote:

sudo grub-install /dev/sdb

Then use your windows installation medium and there should be a repair option that you can use to install the windows bootloader to the mbr of sda. Windows naming conventions obviously are different so it won't show sda so you will need to identify the correct drive. Both are the same size but have different partitions and partition types. You seem to have your windows system partition on a different hard drive than the diagnostics and recovery partition which seems a little odd but I don't use windows much.

Just for your info, Mint 14 is no longer supported so you won't be able to easily get any updates. A brief description on how to repair windows 7 mbr below?

http://www.helyar.net/2010/fix-windo...br-after-grub/

jefro · 07-22-2014, 03:00 PM

Remove windows 7 disk.

Re-install grub to the linux disk.

Remove linux disk and install windows drive.

Replace grub with windows loader on windows.

Replace linux disk.

Now each drive has it's own loader and bios or F key will select proper drive/OS.

sb2406 · 07-23-2014, 06:47 AM

thank you to all for your help - all is working now having followed your instructions.

cheers

Sam