LinuxQuestions.org - Dual boot problem w/ Sabayon

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Dual boot problem w/ Sabayon

Here's the problem: I have sda, which has Windows XP on it and sdb, which has Sabayon installed on it. I installed GRUB to the MBR on sdb and switched the driver order in the BIOS. I've never had a problem making this work before, but I can't seem to boot to Windows now. Here's the menu.lst that Sabayon generated at installation time:

Code:

# grub.conf generated by anaconda

#

# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file

# NOTICE:  You have a /boot partition.  This means that

#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.

#          root (hd0,0)

#          kernel /kernel-genkernel real_root=UUID=f5cba4d6-54bb-42a6-b341-6bf64fc9b4dd

#          initrd /initramfs-genkernel

#boot=sdb

default=0

timeout=6

splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz

title Sabayon Linux x86-64 3.4 Mini Edition

        root (hd0,0)

        kernel /kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.22-sabayon  dolvm2 root=/dev/ram0 ramdisk=8192 real_root=UUID=f5cba4d6-54bb-42a6-b341-6bf64fc9b4dd  quiet  init=/linuxrc splash=silent,theme:sabayon vga=791 CONSOLE=/dev/tty1 pci=nomsi

        initrd /initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.22-sabayon

title Windows x86_64

        rootnoverify (hd1,4)

        chainloader +1

One thing I don't understand is that GRUB refers to my Linux drive as hd0. I thought GRUB always referred to drives in the same order, irrespective of their order in the BIOS. Any help would be appreciated.

title windows
rootnoverify (hdx,x)
map (hd1) (hd0) <----------- vital!
map (hd0) (hd1) <----------- vital!
chainloader +1

Tried that... All I get is:

Code:

Booting... 'Windows x86_64'



rootnoverify (hd1,4)

map (hd1) (hd0)

map (hd0) (hd1)

chainloader +1

It doesn't even go back to the GRUB menu, I have to reboot.

OK, then use

title windows
rootnoverify (hd1,4)
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

Code:

Error 12: Invalid Device.

I've switching the 'map' lines and putting 'makeactive' both above and below the 'map' lines, in all four combinations, with no luck. I'm totally stumped here.

That is a weird layout you have. Is your windows really on the fifth partition of the second drive. If so, it shouldn't be too difficult to see why it fails to boot:
- either XP is not on that fifth partition and you need to adjust GRUB to reflect its actual location
- or it really is in the fifth partition, which by definition is not a primary but a logical partition - and windows needs to be on a primary partition if it is to boot at all. Solution: move XP to a primary partition.

I don't know what happened. Did you edit the root statements for both operating systems?

For some stupid reason, XP decided to create an extended partition at the beginning of the drive. I don't know what the deal is with that. I've done this before using 'map', but it doesn't want to work now. Perhaps, I will try to (ughhh) reinstall Windows.

hey Y do u want to re-install windows

just change drive order..

& then change GRUB to be in the MBR of hda or sda in ur case..

The reason I switched the drive order is because Windows can overwrite the MBR on the drive. I know I could just reinstall GRUB in that case, but I also know that I've made it work with my current configuration before.

Are you sure that you left a space between the (hd) parts of the map statemenets? I remember one occasion where I didn't and XP wouldn't boot either. Little things like these are easily overlooked but they can have some nasty consequences.

Yeah, I've actually had that problem in the past too, so I don't make that mistake any more.

So could this be an issue with the Sabayon bootloader? Have you tried booting windows from a livecd?

It worked fine with Gentoo, but I haven't tried with a LiveCD.

Knoppix rescue to avoid reinstall on Windows XP

I had the same problem with Sabayon with the same configuration on the hard drives finally rebooted with Knoppix 5.1.1 which often seems to work as a rescue disc. Let me know if you come up with another solution to mounting the Sabayon.