dual boot loader problem
 

Hi obviously new to linux fedora and have a few problems here.

I have XP pro loaded on a master drive and am trying to install fedora on a slave drive. So XP is on HDA and I want Fedora on HDB with the boot loader on HDA so that I can choose which OS to boot into. I have tried to install Fedora by instructions on a thread at overclockers.com (Im a newbie to this forum so not allowed to add link). I have ATA drives, its a bit of an old machine but should be upto the job. Ive used the test media options and all CDs pass.

1. Fedora 6 wont install in graphic mode - it hangs with a white screen just after it correctly detects the video card (quite soon in the install process). If i remove the Hard drive with XP installed it starts to install correctly - however I need my XP drive in there so that I can have my boot loader on it.

2. Tried installing in text mode and success - however when I reboot it just boots into XP and I never get the option to choose an OS.

3. I've installed Fedora 5 in graphic mode and again success but when I reboot I don't get any OS options and I just automatically boot into XP.

During install Im asked which OS I would like to default boot from - I choose Fedora - Is this right?

During install I choose the grub boot thingy and select HDA to put it onto - Is this right?

Ive been looking at similar questions on linux forums and should I have a CD to boot from? I dont think I should.

Also when I installed Fedora 6 in text mode I followed a thread that suggested using the rescue disk and typing some commands to create a floppy with a boot.lnx file and adding a line to windows boot.ini file. This gives me the option which OS I would like to boot from when I reboot. When I choose Fedora 6 I just get a black screen with a flashing curser.

I think Im doing something really obvious but I don't know what.

How can I get my Dual boot to work. Any help most welcome

thanks

Chris.

Seems Anaconda ain't too good with installing the loader where there are multiple disks - see losts of queries like this.
As a test, after a successful install (FC5 or FC6 text mode), try changing the BIOS boot order, and see if you have any success that way.

If you don't get an option menu, but it boots o.k. (eventaully), just reboot and hit <ESC> when the screen goes blank.

Yes you should put grub in the MBR, and Fedora as default is fine - doesn't really matter.

Ok, first things first.
When installing Linux, I recommend setting the Linux drive as the primary, and not the slave (change the jumper configurations on the hard drive itself, and properly hook up the IDE/SCSI cables accordingly).

There is a way to configure the WinXP BOOT.INI file using the GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader) bootloader, but it's a tricky bit of business. The easiest way is to user either GRUB or LILO (LInux LOader), as your primary bootloader, and configure a WinXP entry in that.

Install Fedora on the linux drive, and set the linux drive to be the primary (and not the slave) and just configure the bootloader accordingly.

EDIT:

Quote:

...try changing the BIOS boot order, and see if you have any success that way.

Windows is a persistant bugger, and not to mention that despite whether or not you configure it in the BIOS, the system will - 99% of the time - boot the primary drive being dictated by the cable setup.

The BIOS will attempt to load from the disk it is directed to - if there is valid boot-loader code there it will get transfered to.
Else the BIOS will search other disks in order until a valid loader is found.

Windows has no say in this, although the Windoze loader may be located by this search sequence.

As for disk jumpering, not an issue - the BIOS search will find any disk it (the BIOS) thinks is a bootable device. Personally I prefer "cable select" for all disks as it means they can be moved easily without causing problems.

Thanks for your replies. I have the drives as cable select and I have tried changing the boot order in the bios. On reboot I get missing operating system.

Ive changed bios order back to original and Ive just done an "upgrade" to make sure that the boot loader is located on "other/hda1" and not "fedora" and that it's put on MDB. No joy. On completeion of upgrade I get warning - no kernal packages were installed on your system. Your boot loader configuration will not be changed. Any other pointers?

thanks

Mmmm - let's see if you have a boot-loader installed on each disk. Try something like the following as root

sorry when and where should I put this?

D'oh .... :eek:

You'll need a working Linux system - enter this at a console/terminal. Doesn't require X.
Either boot the first Fedora CD in rescue mode, or use something like Knoppix.

damnit ive run out of time, ill try that in a couple of hours, what should i look for?

thanks

Just post it - if you use Knoppix and have a DHCP server (say a router), you should be able to connect and post it directly.

If you have a boot loader, which should be Grub for Fedora, you can restore Grub by any Live CD or Fedora installation (rescue mode). The Live CD is a general method that works for every Linux. Task B5 of the last link in the signature refers.

The Task B4 of the same link is equally applicable but require a Live CD that has Grub inside so that you can invoke a Grub shell by command "grub".

You need to know the partition number of /boot though. If you have the Windows in the 1st disk and Fedora in the 2nd disk they will be called (hd0) and (hd1) by Grub. Fedora always install /boot directory into the first partition and that will be called (hd1,0) by Grub which counts from zero.

Therefore in a Grub shell you can ask Grub to "source" its system data from partition (hd1,0) and install itself into the XP disk (hd0) by commands
You should learn how to use one Linux to mount Fedora and to break into it too (Task H1 and H2 refers). The Fedora installation CD can be used as a Live CD except you work in terminal mode.

Hi thanks for replies. I don't fully understand what anyones talking about. Ive got XP on HD0 and I assume fedoras on hd1. I know this cos when i change my boot order in the bios I can work it out from whether xp boots up or not.

saikee wrote:
I know that grub is my boot loader, I have a rescue disk but I don't know where task B5 or B4 is.

Could you tell me what a grub shell is and how to access it? I could then try to input that line of code that you gave me.

thanks

I have just changed the color for you to find Task B5 in Post #11. Take a look at the boottom of Post #11 if you do not know what a signature is and try to click "Just Booting Tips".

Whenever you operate in a Linux terminal this command invokes a Grub shell
Inside you can ask Grub to do various tasks. For example these two commands list the partitions of your disks
This is to get the disk order from the mouth of the horse!


Type help to see the possibiliies. Print out a Grub Manual if you want to know all about Grub.

Saikee is referring to the links in his signature--One of them includes task B4 and task B5

the grub shell is accessed by typing "grub" in a terminal. For this kind of thing, you would generally do "su" to become root.

You might want to ask something a bit more specific--a lot of stuff has been posted here.

All I want is to duel boot a system with fedora 6 or 5 and Xp on separate hard drives. I've been at this for 4 days now and can't get it to work at all. Installing 6 in graphical mode gives me the white screen of death half way through install. Installing in text mode is successful but when I go to reboot I get either auto boot into xp without any options to load fedora or I get missing OS depending on what boot sequence I choose in the bios. Im not sure that text mode is the correct thing to install because when i finally got it to work (not duel boot) i just go command line prompts. I've tried all the options as to where to place the grub boot loader (mba or hda1 hdb1 hda2 etc etc) force lba etc. Ive tried creating a floppy with boot.lnx and altering boot.ini in windows as instructed by another thread on this forum. I will have a look at saikee's signiture - I've had a quick look but either i dont understand it or it seems quite advanced. Maybe attempting a duel boot is too advanced for a newbie. This is my first experience of linux. Maybe my version of windows is dodgey and stopping things from happening - it is a genuine copy but I think it is a very early one as there seems to be loads of holes in it. Thanks for everyones support but I think I'm ready to give up on the whole idea.