LinuxQuestions.org
Welcome to the most active Linux Forum on the web.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - General
User Name
Password
Linux - General This Linux forum is for general Linux questions and discussion.
If it is Linux Related and doesn't seem to fit in any other forum then this is the place.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 12-31-2005, 02:19 PM   #1
kylenewton
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jul 2005
Location: BC, Canada
Distribution: Kubuntu
Posts: 9

Rep: Reputation: 0
Exclamation finding grub error 17 with dual boot intentions


Heyall.

I recently had Ubuntu installed on a 120gb hard drive with a 720mb swap partition. I wanted to set up the computer as a dual Ubuntu/WinXP with the majority of disk space going to WinXP.

I booted in with a Win98 boot-disk and ran fdisk to remove the primary and extended partitions that were associated with Ubuntu.

I then restarted the computer (via ctrl-alt-del) and booted into CD-Support mode with a WinXP install disk.

I then created a new partition entirely for WinXP that took up as much of the hard drive as possible. I was going to partition the disk for Linux later. It made the partition and formatted. I then restarted the computer.

Then I made E: my current drive and then CD\i386 to run WINNT

I didn't have SMARTDSK to run and make things faster so I had to sit through 2 hours of copying data to memory and then to my hard drive. It finally completed the copy stage and told me to remove the Win98 boot-disk (floppy) from the drive so it could boot into the CD-Rom.

At this point, it booted into Grub. Loading Grub 1.5. Grub Error 17.

You can imagine this really sucked because it had taken so long to set up the files for the WinXP install.

Please, how might I go about fixing the MBR so it no longer points to a partition that no longer exists? Or how if there are any better fixes (aside from not putting WinXP on at all) might I get my PC running with WinXP again. Thank you.
 
Old 12-31-2005, 04:03 PM   #2
pixellany
LQ Veteran
 
Registered: Nov 2005
Location: Annapolis, MD
Distribution: Mint
Posts: 17,809

Rep: Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743
fdisk has a command to put in the Windows mbr, but the easiest way is to boot from the Windows install disk, select repair, console mode. When you get a prompt, type "fixmbr" and you're done.

Hmmmm: Linux forum helping with Windows install issues--is that legal???
 
Old 12-31-2005, 04:42 PM   #3
saikee
Senior Member
 
Registered: Sep 2005
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne UK
Distribution: Any free distro.
Posts: 3,398
Blog Entries: 1

Rep: Reputation: 113Reputation: 113
Two methods

(A) Any Dos bootable floppy with fdisk.exe inside. Boot up and type
Code:
fdisk /mbr
or

(B) Any Win2k or XP installation CD. Boot it up. When the installer stops and gives out the 3 choices choose the recovery console and type
Code:
fixmbr
Reboot and the Grub will disappear. Your installation should be still there.

The boot sector is not part of the filing system and must be overwritten by another boot loader.
 
Old 12-31-2005, 04:50 PM   #4
kylenewton
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jul 2005
Location: BC, Canada
Distribution: Kubuntu
Posts: 9

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
Boot Sector Write!!!
Virus: Continue Y/N [Y]

that's what I get when I run fdisk /mbr
At this point, what can I do other than just say "Hrm, maybe this is normal" and continue with a 'yes'. Thanks for the help. I'll reply if my problems are fixed.
 
Old 12-31-2005, 04:56 PM   #5
saikee
Senior Member
 
Registered: Sep 2005
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne UK
Distribution: Any free distro.
Posts: 3,398
Blog Entries: 1

Rep: Reputation: 113Reputation: 113
That question will appear every time you use fixmbr. If you don't want to see it use the Dos floppy.

M$'s MBR is interchangeable between DOS and XP. Many think XP's MBR must be restored by its installation CD. I run 3 Dos and 3 Windows in the box and always do the opposite.

I use the floppy to restore XP or Win2k MBR but a installation CD to restore Dos's MBR. Never met any objection yet.
 
Old 12-31-2005, 07:04 PM   #6
syg00
LQ Veteran
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Australia
Distribution: Lots ...
Posts: 21,099

Rep: Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117
Cool

Quote:
Originally Posted by saikee
I use the floppy to restore XP or Win2k MBR but a installation CD to restore Dos's MBR. Never met any objection yet.
You haven't tried hard enough saikee ...
Go find a Win95 system, and build a floppy there - use it to build the MBR, and try and load an XP system located above cylinder 1024.
What about a Dos 3.3 disk - I'd be willing to bet it couldn't deal with a LBA disk at all.

Just my mind meandering in the New Year - haven't tried either of the above ...
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
GRUB - Error 21 Dual Boot Kubuntu / XP mjanveaux Linux - Software 5 06-24-2009 08:08 AM
Dual boot WinXP/Debian, grub error booting WinXP ChemBot Linux - General 5 02-22-2007 04:13 PM
Dual boot Linux with Windows: Grub Error 17 Veniogenesis Linux - Newbie 3 10-23-2005 09:41 AM
Fedora Core 3 Dual Boot, Dual Hard drives, Grub Boot Loader Denali03 Linux - Newbie 1 03-04-2005 01:44 PM
GRUB read error with dual boot with XP gatekeepa Linux - Newbie 1 06-14-2003 05:03 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - General

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:56 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration