dual rh 9 no grub option

BobNz · 05-02-2004, 07:46 PM

Hi, I installed rh9 on a 2nd drive but didnt add the original drive to the boot loader options so when the pc boots only the new drive shows as an option for booting.

the original drive is /dev/hda

Code:

[root@localhost root]# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/hda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot    Start       End    Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hda1   *         1        13    104391   83  Linux
/dev/hda2            14      9664  77521657+  83  Linux
/dev/hda3          9665      9729    522112+  82  Linux swap

Disk /dev/hdb: 20.4 GB, 20490559488 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 2491 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      2426  19382422+  83  Linux
/dev/hdb3          2427      2491    522112+  82  Linux swap
[root@localhost root]#

This is what grub.conf looks like on /dev/hdb

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 (hd1,0)
#          kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hdb2
#          initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hda
default=0
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd1,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.20-8)
	root (hd1,0)
	kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.20-8 ro root=LABEL=/ hdd=ide-scsi
	initrd /initrd-2.4.20-8.img

I would like to have the option of which drive to boot to at startup.

any help appreciated.

Bob

Demonbane · 05-02-2004, 08:31 PM

If you have GRUB/LILO installed on hda1 then you can simply add something like

Code:

title Other distro
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

Or you can specify the kernel and parameters then load it directly using (hd0,0) as root

BobNz · 05-02-2004, 08:52 PM

hmm, no that didn't work

showed the title other distro at boot but when selected it gave this error:

Error13: invalid or unsupportable format.

thanks anyway

Bob

Demonbane · 05-02-2004, 09:03 PM

Then that means you don't have GRUB/LILO installed in hda1 partition
load the grub prompt

Code:

/sbin/grub

then

Code:

GRUB> root (hd0,0)
GRUB> setup (hd0,0)

BobNz · 05-02-2004, 09:14 PM

Ok did that

Code:

  GRUB  version 0.93  (640K lower / 3072K upper memory)

 [ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported.  For the first word, TAB
   lists possible command completions.  Anywhere else TAB lists the possible
   completions of a device/filename.]

grub> root (hd0,0)
 Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83

grub> setup (hd0,0)
 Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... no
 Checking if "/grub/stage1" exists... yes
 Checking if "/grub/stage2" exists... yes
 Checking if "/grub/e2fs_stage1_5" exists... yes
 Running "embed /grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0,0)"... failed (this is not fatal)
 Running "embed /grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0,0)"... failed (this is not fatal)
 Running "install /grub/stage1 (hd0,0) /grub/stage2 p /grub/grub.conf "... succ
eeded
Done.

grub>

will try rebooting now
ok now the system boots to the original rh9 install /dev/hda but the option for the other rh9 drive returned the error 13.
will just have a look and see whats in the grub.conf

Code:

#boot=/dev/hda
default=0
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.20-8)
	root (hd0,0)
	kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.20-8 ro root=LABEL=/1 hdd=ide-scsi
	initrd /initrd-2.4.20-8.img
title old rh
	rootnoverify (hd1,1)
	chainloader +1

the root no verify has changed to hd1 which is logical but it wont allow me to boot it?
Bob

jax8 · 05-02-2004, 11:33 PM

try changing the "other distro" to this, assuming you have xp on the other hard drive

title Windows XP
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
chainloader +1

BobNz · 05-02-2004, 11:56 PM

What is actually happening is that when I get the initial choice if I choose the option thats not selected i get the error 13 msg then hit any key, but instead of retirning me to the boot choice prompt it brings up the boot choice prompt for the other drive.which behaves in the same way. lol
so boot the new install I have to choose it in the first boot prompt it will then give me the error i tap a key and the new install boot prompt appears where the new install is default option and it will boot.

there must be an easier way

Bob