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I have XP on the master drive with NTFS file system /dev/hda (C:\). I install Fedora which has grub for boot loader. My machine hangs.
I fixmbr for XP then reinstalled Fedora Core w/o the boot loader. Then I used LILO' s liloloab.b file in c:\boot.ini as c:\bootsect.lnx="Linux". grub.conf file is no longer there.
On /dev/hdb2 lilo is under /bbot/Lilo/lilo.1.8/, this is where I typed make to get the liloload.b file.
When I reboot my machine, the options appear, however, I can only select XP. When I select Linux it says Lilo loader error.
Am I missing some stape in /dev/hdb? I have a feeling that some config file is missing from the /boot. I do not see /sbin/lilo and /etc/lilo.conf
Post your grub.conf file, which you will find at /boot/grub/.
Try one other thing. Load linux from Linux Rescue CD (CD 1 of Fedora installation) and then at command prompt run: /sbin/grub-install /dev/hdb or /dev/hda whichever you prefer. Maybe you have some problems with grub.conf configuration.
find /grub/grub.conf (should give you (hd0,0) or some equivalent)
root (hd0,0) or some equivalent
cat /grub/grub.conf (this will list your grub.conf file)
kernel /vmlinuz-xxx.xxx.xxx (xxx is the version of your kernel, which you will see in your grub.conf file, and use TAB to autofinish the line. ALSO ADD THE PARAMETERS THAT ARE IN YOUR GRUB.CONF FILE)
initrd /initrd-xxx.xxx.xxx.img
boot
That should get you into linux or leave you hanging somewhere with kernel panic.
I do not know why but Windows XP explorer does not see the hard drive once formatted with Linux. Is that normal? Just to remind you, hda is master and hdb slave on primary ide controller.
I reformatted and repartitoned my hard drive and installed Fedora again.
grub.conf is
# 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 (hd1,0)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hdb2
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hda
default=1
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd1,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
title Fedora Core (2.4.22-1.2115.nptl)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.22-1.2115.nptl ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb
initrd /initrd-2.4.22-1.2115.nptl.img
title DOS
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1
fdisk -l gives
Disk /dev/hda: 20.4 GB, 20411080704 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 2481 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 2481 19928601 7 HPFS/NTFS
Disk /dev/hdb: 80.0 GB, 80026329600 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdb1 * 1 13 104391 83 Linux
/dev/hdb2 14 9664 77521657+ 83 Linux
/dev/hdb3 9665 9729 522112+ 82 Linux swap
If you format the linux drive with ext3 filesystem type, you WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE it under windows. if you format the windows partition with NTFS, you WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WRITE ON IT FROM LINUX. The only filesystem type I know of that works between both is FAT or FAT32. However you can read from Linux a NTFS partition, you just can't write to it (yet at least for now).
The partitions that in fdisk -l say Linux ARE NOT VISIBLE IN WINDOWS. In linux however you can view them all. It's just a MS thing not building a bridge the other way.
Originally posted by btexpress So now what do I do to be able to boot from either drive? I get the menu. Windows boots properly. Linux gives GRUB and hangs.
Still
Regards,
Biniam
What do you mean gives GRUB and hangs? How? Why? Are there any errors? Which?
[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
c:\STAGE1="Linux"
if the MBR in dev/hda is in charge, does grub.conf ever get called. It seams it is similar to th boot.ini file. So my understanding is that the boot loader in charge uses its own file.
STAGE1 above is directly taken from /boot/grub. Is there a way that it should be copied to c:\, i.e do I need it use dd if=stage1 of=/dev/fdo bs=512 count=1?
I am going to try this before going to bed.
I still get Blank screen with GRUB and a blinking cursor with all others frozen, even keyboard.
once there, su to root and give your root password.
/sbin/grub-install /dev/hda (hda if you got hd0, hdb if you got hd1 with find grub.conf ...)
Hope you get it right
Peace!
So to do
find /grub/grub.conf
or
find /boot/grub/grub.conf
Do I boot with the floppy? Right now that is the only way I can get in Fedora.
In the grub shell, when I say boot, where does it go? If it goes to restart the machine then I am back at square one.
I am about to try another distro. This is very furstrating and tiresome, going through a lot of reinstall and moving hard drive location etc for the last 5 days until 3 am and get up at 7 am.
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