GRUB/dual boot question
 

I'm unsure of how GRUB works. I have a Linux/XP system, and the dual boot thing is working great. XP is on a 40GB drive and Linux is on a 10GB drive. My question is, if I uninstall Linux or remove the Linux dirve, will the system boot into XP? Dose GRUB alter the BIOS, or are its instructions contained on one of the disks (like HD 0, which would be hda as identified by Linux)? The hard drive with XP on it is the master (hda), and the Linux hard drive (hdb) is set to cable select, I believe.

Thanks!

I think that it would do 1 of 3 things.

1. Act as normal and show both

2. Not show the Linux

3. Crash completely

Does that mean it alters the BIOS? How does GRUB deal with the system at startup?

it seems like you installed GRUB boot loader onto Windows boot loader. therefore, GRUB is working fine with both OSs.
however, you should be very careful when you uninstall or remove your linux because it might remove the GRUB boot loader. and it will not boot any of your OSs.

there is two things you can do when you want to uninstall or remove your linux.
one: remove GRUB boot loader, and reinstall Windows boot loader. it will make new MBR into your MBR sector. however, it is very trouble some. i will probably not do this way.

two: leave your GRUB when you uninstall or remove your linux from your PC. GRUB is usually on the folder, /boot. leave this folder even if your remove linux. then, you will see GRUB is running but there is no selection for linux; in other words, you will see only windows boot option. you can keeping using windows.

Does that mean that GRUB is now part of boot instructions on the hard drive containing Windows? The two different OS's are on two separate hard drives. Sorry, but I am ignorant of how the boot process is now being managed.

see here for more information about your curiosity.
http://www.dewassoc.com/kbase/hard_d...oot_record.htm

thanks, this clears things up a bit