Dual OS installed. Win7 and Mint. Not boot option. Windows loads.
 

Hi
I don't know how to start Mint without the live USB. Whenever I start the computer (without USB) it loads window7. I don't get the option of choosing between OS. I want to set Linux as the default or bring up the option to choose which OS I want to load. I would also like to install another system to play around with and learn more, so info on getting a choice between the three systems on startup would be helpful.
Using the USB doesn't give me the option of doing anything with the bootloader. I get start linux, start linux (compatability mode), check for errors and memory test.
How do I make the computer recognise the linux GRUB?

My installation type is as follows:

/dev/sda
/dev/sda1 ntfs win 7
/dev/sda2 ntfs
/dev/sda5 ext4 Linux Mint 15 Olivia
/dev/sda6 swap


I realise this may have been answered somewhere else, but I can't find it. Perhaps because I'm using the wrong jargon when doing a search.

All help will be appreciated.

Two things are coming to my mind.
1) Your Mint Installation did not install grub to your drive MBR (Master Boot Record).
That is your grub hasn't been installed yet.
2) Your grub has been already installed but it is configured to boot Windows promptly.

For 2), you have to first boot from live USB, check /dev/sda5 by mounting it. Go to /boot/
directory, find menu.lst or grub.cfg file inside it. Open it and check is there timeout or default option. If these files or grub/ directory doesn't exists, then probably grub is not installed.

For 1), you have to again install grub to MBR by going into Installation Procedure of Linux Mint using your USB.

Caution: Messing with MBR is serious afair. Take precautions seriously.

"Better that you check it first and then report it in your post."

Thanks for the prompt reply.
I've found the grub.cfg file as mentioned and to me it seems there is a default code and function save default. The code is very long so I didn't include all of it.
Does this mean I have grub installed but not in the master boot record?
Could you please explain how to install grub to the MBR?

Regards
Filip

Contents of grub.cfg:

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

Set Default '0'means the first OS. Usually, Linux with more priviliges takes the precedence, and it should boot up with the same. There could be some area including "CHAIN...." in the Grub file. Pls provide that also.

The link below provides several methods to install Grub to the master boot record. It is specific to Ubuntu but applies to Mint as well as Mint is a derivative of Ubuntu. If you install Mint to the mbr, you should not need to worry about setting it as default as it will be when it boots. When you boot with the flash drive in, you are booting the system on the flash not the system on the hard drive.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr...talling_GRUB_2

Thanks for the replies. My os is in a foreign language, hence I ran into some trouble. I'm reinstalling the whole thing and starting from scratch, so I can't post feedback on whether this thread solved my problem.
On one of the forums it said that there are problems with dual booting linux mint. Are there any precautions I need to take into consideration when installing it as a 2nd OS? Is there any way to install mint without needing to reinstal the GRUB later. This time round all windows .exe files stopped working, even the internet browsers wouldn't launch.
Thanks for the help.

The problem is usually user error. Someone not understanding or paying attention. There should be no problem dual or multi-booting Linux Mint with other operating systems.

If you are going to be dual-booting, you need to determine in advance which partition to install it to. You can identify the windows partitions if you intend to keep them by opening a terminal in Mint before installing and running this command: sudo fdisk -l(That is a Lower Case Letter L in the command). The windows partitions will show as ntfs under the System column of that output. The partition will be shown in the Device column on the left. You will have an option to install Grub during the Mint installation. It should show on the partitioning screen at the bottom, Device for bootloader installation. /dev/sda would be the master boot record of the first drive so if you want to boot both Mint and windows with the Mint Grub bootloader, that would be the selection to make.

I have no idea what you mean by that or what windows executables have to do with installing Mint?

If the OS only boots when usb is connecxted then grub was installd to usb drive when it should've been installed /dev/sda.
You could just boot with usb drive connect the unmount it & remove then install grub
or

You could always boot into your BIOS and then select Mint as your boot option. Might even be able to set Mint as the default, depending on the BIOS.

Are you saying that it is possible to boot OS using BIOS?
Because it is done by bootloader. I have grub installed. So options are selected using grub.

If I understand you correctly, yes. I boot windows7 from my BIOS every time I switch partitions and vice versa. Occasionally I'll boot into Debian via the bios just because I was in the bios updating something. Should be the same regardless of the distro. Although, you might not be able to. I have AMI bios system so could be different on others.
I understand you are having problems with grub but shouldn't matter if you choice what you want to boot into via the bios.

Member Response
 

Hi,

Booting from BIOS would require a loader on each of the devices to be booted. If the loader for Gnu/Linux is not on the default device selected then 'no go'. The same with a MS Windows based system, a loader would be required.