GRUB loader lost - how to reactivate it?
 

Hi,

I'm sure this question has been asked hundreds of times before but I couldn't quite find the answer I wanted while Searching; so here it goes again:

I have a desktop machine with dual boot:
1) Linux Fedora Core 6
2) Windows

Actually I had it working fine before; using the GRUB Linux loader it gave me the option to boot either Fedora or Windows. The Windows o.s. was then Windows 2000 Server installed on C drive.

Then just today, loading first Windows 2000, I installed Windows Vista Home Premium onto E drive.

Now the only loader available is the Windows one which gives me the option to load either Windows Vista or Windows 2000.

I know the GRUB sector is still there waiting to be activated again but I forgot now how to do it.

Here's a copy of my disk partition map:

http://www.techspot.com/gallery/data/500/DiskMangmt.jpg

I'm quite sure the GRUB loader must be in the "102Mb sector" depicted on the previous image.

What is the proper way to reactivate it?
Should I use the Fedora Core 6 install DVD -which I do have- or should I do it from the Vista Disk Management?

BRgds

Well, know you know why people say Windows doesn't play nice with others.

This is a fairly easy fix, fortunately. You should be able to boot into rescue mode with your Fedora DVD. Once in rescue mode, if there isn't an option to reload your boot sector, you can mount your FC6 boot partition and rerun grub-install. You will need to add Vista to the grub menu (/boot/grub/menu) to be able to boot back to Vista, and Vista may complain about unsupported boot sectors.

Task B4, B5 and B6 of the last link in my signature refer. Just take your pick.

GrueMaster suggestion is Task B6 which is available in Fedora installation CD.

It pays to understand it is no different to Task B5 which you can rescue Grub with any Live CD. Once understood you can use any Linux Live CD to restore any boot loader in Linux. The principle is you can use any Linux A to rescue the boot loader of Linux B and it works for Lilo as well.

Thanks Gruemaster and Saikee,

how about creating a LILO boot disk on another machine, could I use it on my problem machine?

I have access to another machine that has Fedore Core 6 as well; would I find there any option to create a LILO boot disk? It would have to be a boot CD because my problem machine doesn't have a floppy drive.

Is there such a thing as a GRUB boot disk (as in diskette or CD)?

BRgds

To book a system with Lilo you must compile the boot loader with it. Afterward if you want it boot from a floppy you issue terminal command
If you want Lilo to take over the MBA of sda disk the command is
etc etc.

Lilo floppy disk only boots the systems prefixed with the original Linux. You can use it to boot 27 images.

Grub is a lot more flexible because it can be installed without attaching an operating system. You boot to a Grub prompt. As far as I am concerned I have not found a PC system that cannot be booted by a Grub prompt.

You can put Grub in a floppy, a CD, a DVD, a thumb drive, an internal hard disk or external hard disk, with or without an operating system. You can boot as many as systems as you can install and one Grub can all of them.

Yes you can put Grub in a floppy, or a CD or a thumb drive and call it a universal boot disk. Such boot disk is the most lethal booting weapon in the business. How to make such a disk is all described in the GNU/Grub Manual (Chapter 3.1 and 3.4).