[SOLVED] deleted option to boot windows from bootloader

sumeet inani · 12-19-2008, 02:33 AM

i am using open suse 10.3.I have deleted 'booting windows option' from bootloader.Can you tell me how to add bootsector of windows partition.In windows 'bootpart program' allows you to add bootsector of another partition for booting is there a similiar tool in linux.

linuxlover.chaitanya · 12-19-2008, 02:47 AM

You dont need any third party tool to add windows to grub. Reinstalling grub will add it automatically.
from the terminal just give the command:
sudo grub-install /dev/sda/

Assuming grub is to be installed on sda. Check out the name for your drive.

sumeet inani · 12-22-2008, 02:29 AM

FOR ALL READERS
If you want to boot into windows.
I read this from magazine 'linux for you' simply do the following as root
#gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
then add following to end of file

title windows xp
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

NOTE
(hd0,0) represents /dev/sda1
(hd0,4) represents /dev/sda5
(hd1,0) represents /dev/sdb1
hd0=primary master hard disk
hd1=primary slave hard disk
hd=secondary master hard disk

If you find my post useful than thank me by pressing thumbs up button.Happy hacking.

sumeet inani · 06-21-2010, 06:58 AM

Actually I deleted my ext3 partition which contained bootloader.It seemed now I won't be able to boot windows till I reinstall my ubuntu.
Then
I booted from live cd
Mounted ext3 partition as /ubuntu (let us say)
Then I ran command as root

Code:

grub-install --root-directory=/ubuntu --no-floppy <File system>

Now I created file /ubuntu/boot/grub/menu.lst containing (my windows is on /dev/sda1)

Code:

title xp
root  (hd0,0) 
makeactive
chainloader +1

Now i can boot windows till I don't install a linux OS whih will add its entry to bootloader.
Hope , it helps

tommyttt · 06-22-2010, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sumeet inani

Actually I deleted my ext3 partition which contained bootloader.It seemed now I won't be able to boot windows till I reinstall my ubuntu.
Then
I booted from live cd
Mounted ext3 partition as /ubuntu (let us say)
Then I ran command as root

Code:

grub-install --root-directory=/ubuntu --no-floppy

Now I created file /ubuntu/boot/grub/menu.lst containing (my windows is on /dev/sda1)

Code:

title xp
root  (hd0,0) 
makeactive
chainloader +1

Now i can boot windows till I don't install a linux OS whih will add its entry to bootloader.
Hope , it helps

One option any dual-boot user has to boot into windows if grub/lilo isn't functioning is Hiren's Boot CD, available as free download from: http://www.hirensbootcd.net/

Download and burn to CD. It will boot into moat versions of windows (including 7 & vista) as well as rescue boot into linux.

Tom

sumeet inani · 08-04-2010, 10:44 PM

QUESTIONS at end

lupusarcanus · 08-05-2010, 12:15 AM

I love Super Grub!

http://www.supergrubdisk.org/

Great tool for issues such as this.

sumeet inani · 08-05-2010, 12:26 AM

tommyttt , In my case grub was gone . How can hiren fix MBR to boot from the windows xp partition ? Can you explain ?

To leopard ,
i had deleted ext3 partition containing ubuntu & my grub bootloader. How can supergrub help in this case ? i saw http://rescatux.berlios.de/wiki/Main_Page . Rescatux wants the linux partition but i have deleted it so its unallocated space.

lupusarcanus · 08-05-2010, 12:46 AM

http://www.supergrubdisk.org/wiki/Ho...thout_problems ?

sumeet inani · 08-05-2010, 09:06 AM

Thanks leopard.
I read the wiki & my windows is on /dev/sda1 so 'WIN' option will make windows as default boot option , appropriate for me.

Code:

I  downloaded  super_grub_disk_english_usb_0.9799.tar.gz .
Then extracted boot folder to pendrive.
Unmounted pendrive.
Now run
#sync;grub
grub>root (Press tab because we want to find out our pendrive
 Possible disks are:  hd0 hd1
grub>geometry (hd0)
drive 0x80: C/H/S = 38913/255/63, The number of sectors = 625142448, /dev/sda
   Partition num: 0,  Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x27
   Partition num: 1,  Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x7
   Partition num: 2,  Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x7
   Partition num: 4,  Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x82
   Partition num: 5,  Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x8
That was my hard disk because i have ubuntu on my 6th partition (part of extended 4th) while others are ntfs.
grub>geometry (hd1)
drive 0x81: C/H/S = 1187/120/55, The number of sectors = 7837696, /dev/sdb
   Partition num: 0,  Filesystem type is fat, partition type 0xb
This was my pendrive with single partition of fat32 
grub>root (hd1,0)Set the current "root device" to pendrive
grub>makeactive setting boot flag of USB partition
grub>setup (hd1,0)
 Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
 Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
 Checking if "/boot/grub/fat_stage1_5" exists... yes
 Running "embed /boot/grub/fat_stage1_5 (hd1,0)"... failed (this is not fatal)
 Running "embed /boot/grub/fat_stage1_5 (hd1,0)"... failed (this is not fatal)
 Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd1,0) /boot/grub/stage2 p /boot/grub/menu
.lst "... succeeded
Done.
grub>setup (hd1)
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
 Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
 Checking if "/boot/grub/fat_stage1_5" exists... yes
 Running "embed /boot/grub/fat_stage1_5 (hd1)"...  22 sectors are embedded.
succeeded
 Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd1) (hd1)1+22 p (hd1,0)/boot/grub/stage2
/boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
Done.
Now boot

Quick way for those with internet
Select 'super grub disk' in distribution of unetbootin then it downloads a .img file & creates a working USB .

The other question that remains is
tommyttt , In my case grub was gone . How can hiren fix MBR to boot from the windows xp partition ? Can you explain ?