Help! Windows not reading Ubuntu boot loader

phantom_cyph · 02-26-2007, 05:23 PM

I already have Ubuntu on my drive, I just installed windows on the free space left over. (and windows does only read the amount of space i gave it-not the whole drive as its C drive). I need to install a boot-manager to be able to get to both. The BIOS comes on, then straight to windows...

MS3FGX · 02-26-2007, 05:30 PM

The problem is, you are supposed to install Windows before Linux, or else the Windows bootloader will overwrite the Linux one, leaving Linux unbootable as you have found.

To fix this you will need to boot into Ubuntu with a live CD (the install CD should work for that) and run "grub-install" when you get back into the system.

phantom_cyph · 02-26-2007, 05:34 PM

i couldnt resize the NTFS partition. how exactly do i "run grub-install"

btw-im stuck in XP rite now.

syg00 · 02-26-2007, 05:52 PM

Read this - you want the second heading.

phantom_cyph · 02-26-2007, 06:17 PM

it doesnt work-when i enter the find/boot/grub/stage1, it says that it is an unrecognized command

phantom_cyph · 02-26-2007, 06:18 PM

this is what it looks like:

GNU GRUB version 0.97 (640K lower / 3072K upper memory)

[ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For
the first word, TAB lists possible command
completions. Anywhere else TAB lists the possible
completions of a device/filename. ]

grub>
find/boot/grub/stage1

Error 27: Unrecognized command

grub>
"find/boot/grub/stage1"

Error 27: Unrecognized command

grub>

phantom_cyph · 02-26-2007, 06:34 PM

um-i hate to bring this up again-but right now i'm running a Ubuntu-live CD with no clue as where to go. Can i get some help?

syg00 · 02-26-2007, 06:46 PM

You're in the wrong spot - you need the next block - "Using the Desktop/LiveCD and Overwriting the Windows bootloader"
(BTW, that command is "find " - you needed a space after it. But don't do that, use the one I just suggested).

tidiman07 · 02-26-2007, 06:48 PM

first off it looks like spacing between commands. find /boot/grub/stage1
Lets assume you have 1 Hard drive, labeled hda. To my understanding Ubuntu was first installed and should be on hda1; so do this

Quote:

grub> root (hd0,0)

It should tell you what type of filesystem it is, ext3.
to install grub,

Quote:

grub> setup (hd0,0)

then

Quote:

grub> setup (hd0)

to install grub to whole hard drive- boot menu should include windows, so don't worry.
Now restart and watch the screen, menu should come up and the rest is history.

phantom_cyph · 02-26-2007, 07:02 PM

finally! it does have grub installed, and it directs me straight to Ubuntu if i dont press any keys. the problem is, the GRUB loads so fast i can load the manager. anyway to slow it down?

Hitboxx · 02-27-2007, 12:23 PM

In your /boot/grub/menu.lst(or grub.conf), change the timeout value to a bigger no or entirely disable it by preceding a # to it.
e.g., #timeout 10

uncle-c · 02-28-2007, 03:53 AM

Default timeout values always seem too short.