"Grub" is displayed in dual-boot dual-drive Win xp and Fedora 6 installation

hanscom · 02-24-2007, 07:11 PM

I used these instructions to get my system to dual-boot:
"Convert a Windows system to dual-boot Linux on a second drive
by Philip J. Hollenback
Originally published on February 21, 2005 at Newsforge"
It is coming up with:
1. WIn XP and
2. Fedora
as selections. When I time out or select Win XP it is fine and starts Win XP, but when I select Fedora i get "GRUB" displayed in upper left-hand of monitor and stops .... locks.
I assume it is working but trying to start Grub. Do I need to bypass Grub somehow or am I all washed up ? Thanks.

syg00 · 02-24-2007, 07:52 PM

Using ntldr like that requires that you installed grub to the partition rather than MBR. Did you do that ?.

hanscom · 02-25-2007, 05:27 AM

I installed Fedora 6 to the partition. Would that not add Grub to the same ?
How would I check ?
Additional info: not sure this is useful:
If I switch the jumpers on drives so the master and slave drives are switched then Linux starts up fine.
Thanks, my first post.

syg00 · 02-25-2007, 05:42 AM

Nope.
And your additional info is certainly useful. (always add everything - even if you don't think it's relevant).
You shouldn't need to play with the jumpers, just do it in the BIOS - much cleaner, and less liklehood of accidents.
Does XP boot from the (switched) FC6 environment ???. Let's see the output of

Code:

cat /boot/grub/menu.lst

saikee · 02-25-2007, 05:55 AM

Try boot XP manually and then include it as a permanent setting if satisfied

Steps

(1) Arrange Fedora to boot up first
(2) At Grub booting screen do not choose system to boot but press "c" key to get a Grub prompt
(3) Boot XP manually by command

Code:

root (hd1,0)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
chainloader +1
boot

(4) If thing works out include the above into Fedora's /boot/grub/grub.conf with an extra statement at the front

Code:

title XP installed in master now boots from slave (2 map statements to switch disk order)

Grub use /boot/grub/menu.lst universally in every Linux but Fedora has /boot/grub/grub.conf symbolic-linked to it too.

netsupremacy · 02-25-2007, 12:40 PM

i installed fedora from some scratched disks and got that too...

one thing also to do would be to boot rescue mode (from FC cd) and run fdisk on it

and make sure the CDs you installed from (assuming that it was you installation medium) are not scratched, ive noticed with linux disks even the most miniscule marks have a dramatic effect...

hanscom · 02-26-2007, 02:46 PM

[QUOTE=syg00]
Does XP boot from the (switched) FC6 environment ???.
If you are referring to selecting the Linux when asked which system to boot the answer is "It works". When I request Win XP it says:
"booting Win XP
rootnoverify(hd1,0)
Error 21 selected disk does not exist"

Note:
I was getting "grub" and locking up before I did this as suggested by 'saikee':
root (hd1,0)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
chainloader +1
boot

Output of Code: cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
------------------------
# comments
default=0
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,0) /grub/splash.xpm.gz
hidden menu
password ------------------------ left out by me
title Fedora Core (2.6.18-1.2798.fc6)
root(hd(0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6 ro root=/dev/
VOlGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6.img
title Win XP Professional
rootnoverify(hd1,0)
chainloader +1
------------------------
Thanks

hanscom · 02-26-2007, 03:18 PM

[QUOTE=saikee]I tried these(manually in shell) and it said it was looking for bios devices, I believe, and could take a long time. (Sorry I lost that window and wound not let me do them again. ) So I waited and nothing. However it does not give the "grub" on starting Win XP now but:
"booting Win XP Professional
rootnoverify(hd1,0)
Error 21: selected disk does not exist "
Thanks

wpn146 · 02-26-2007, 04:16 PM

[QUOTE=hanscom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by saikee

I tried these(manually in shell) and it said it was looking for bios devices, I believe, and could take a long time. (Sorry I lost that window and wound not let me do them again. ) So I waited and nothing. However it does not give the "grub" on starting Win XP now but:
"booting Win XP Professional
rootnoverify(hd1,0)
Error 21: selected disk does not exist "
Thanks

hd1 would be your 2nd drive. They start counting at hd0.

hanscom · 02-26-2007, 06:39 PM

[QUOTE=wpn146]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanscom

hd1 would be your 2nd drive. They start counting at hd0.

I realize hd1 is 2nd drive and this is where I have Win XP.
My Win Xp was set up using mbr. I thought hd(1,0) was the 1st sector in dr2. Maybe you could tell me if the mbr is found here or at another sector ? Or maybe tell me I'm all messed up in my thinking.
Thanks

hanscom · 02-28-2007, 10:48 AM

[QUOTE=saikee]Try boot XP manually and then include it as a permanent setting if satisfied

Steps

(1) Arrange Fedora to boot up first
(2) At Grub booting screen do not choose system to boot but press "c" key to get a Grub prompt
.
.

I tried to do step 2 from a shell once working in Linux rather than doing exactly as I was told. I learned I was at the wrong timing maybe !
I now have the same menu coming up reversed and have to select 1st item "Win Xp" or let it time out to do itself I expect. Not a problem. At least it works. Just wanted to say thank-you to all who helped me !