Dual boot

thezig · 08-22-2010, 07:09 AM

Hi guys

I'm not sure this is the right websire for my problem but i'll try anything now.

I have a laptop with Windows XP. I partitioned the drive and installed opensolaris on the second partition. No wheneveri turn on the laptop, Grub opens and only gives me the option for Solaris and not wiondows. I haven't been able to boot to Windows since. I've seen alot about editing the command lines for Grub but i'm new to this.

Does anyone have any idea's on how to solve this? i feel like it's not such a big thing but it's beating me right now.

Big thanks

carltm · 08-22-2010, 07:44 AM

I'd suggest that you boot opensolaris and add an entry for Windows to grub.

Add these lines to /boot/grub/menu.lst:

Code:

title Windows XP
root (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

The hd0,0 refers to the first drive (0) and the first partition (0). If
Windows were installed on the third partition of the second drive you would
use hd1,2 instead.

To answer your question about the command line, just type "root (hd0,0)"
and "chainloader +1".

thezig · 08-22-2010, 07:58 AM

Hey

how do I access the menu.lst?? Do I have to open the Terminal?

If so I did that and there wasn't a manu.lst. I created one using touch manu.lst and then used vi to add the command lines.

This didn't work. Can you see where i'm going wrong?

Thnaks for your help

carltm · 08-22-2010, 08:08 AM

Delete the file you created. Some systems use /etc/grub.cnf or
/boot/grub/grub.cnf. Look through the /etc, /boot and /boot/grub
directories for a file named menu.lst or grub.cnf. When you find
the right file it will have many lines, and the new entry you add
should go at the bottom.

thezig · 08-22-2010, 08:42 AM

Hi

I looked in both directories and can't find either grub.cnf or menu.lst

I can see nbgrub and pxegrub in the boot/grub directory..

What if I make the windows partition active using some other software that I have? Will it then boot to Windows?

Appreciate your help with this

carltm · 08-22-2010, 09:10 AM

Can you check all three directories, /etc, /boot and /boot/grub?

Odds are the Windows partition is already active. You can tell
by running "fdisk -l". What we need to do is update the early
booting process to allow that partition as an option.

sag47 · 08-22-2010, 09:36 AM

What version of grub are you using?

Code:

cat /boot/grub/installed-version

thezig · 08-22-2010, 09:37 AM

Hey

I can't see either menu.lst or grub.cnf in any of those places.

After I type in fdisk -l what is the next step?

If i was to give up on this whole problem, could I just remove Solaris and get back to just using the windows partition? I have to use my laptop for work tomorrow and i'll be in a bit of bother if it's not sorted :-)

colorpurple21859 · 08-22-2010, 09:52 AM

Is there a /boot/grub/grub.cfg file? sorry about that has it wrong the first time a around so reedited it.

thezig · 08-22-2010, 10:08 AM

Sorry mate, I can't see grub.cfg either. I do see other files just not the one's we need.

I have found the menu.lst on the Solaris cd. It has some content to. can I copy this across?

colorpurple21859 · 08-22-2010, 02:38 PM

Do you have this file here

Quote:

/rpool/boot/grub/menu.lst

if so edit this file to add windows.

sag47 · 08-22-2010, 10:12 PM

If you must pop in the Windows Installer CD and boot to recovery console. Run the following commands to restore Windows as your primary boot...

Code:

fixboot
fixmbr
fschk c: /r

Of course the fschk command is optional. From there you can actually add entries to your Windows boot loader for booting Solaris.

How advanced are you with Unix/Linux in the terminal. Do you know your way around? Do you understand the general structure of the OS such as where stuff it booted from, startup, and where programs are installed?

I'm just trying to get a feel for where you stand as a user because it's quite possible that us telling you to run these commands may be ineffective if you don't know how to run them.

Please let us know...
SAM