Howto: Existing Win98 + Linux, dual boot using GRUB

TheSwine · 01-03-2004, 09:28 AM

Having no website to put this on, I'm submitting this HOWTO here....

I've created a dual boot of existing Windows 98 and Linux using GRUB.
On my machine there is one hard drive divided like so (in brackets - GRUB Device Names):

hda1 (hd0,0) FAT 32 - Win98
hda5 (hd0,4) ext2 - Linux
hda6 (hd0,5) swap - Linux swap

Before overwriting my MBR I tried the GRUB setup from a floppy, to install GRUB on a floppy:

From /sbin I ran grub-install '(fd0)'

and then in /boot/grub I've create a menu.lst

Code:

#
# Boot menu configuration file
#

# Boot automatically after a 10 seconds. 
timeout 10

# By default, boot the first entry.
default 0

# For booting Linux
title  Linux
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.22-1-686 root=/dev/hda5 
initrd /initrd.img

# For booting windows 98
title Windows 98
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1
makeactive

Then reboot with the floppy in, to check if the configuration works - it did.

Then:

From /sbin I ran grub-install /dev/hda

That's it fox!

TheSwine · 01-03-2004, 09:43 AM

May I also add, that this is quite a cool and easy boot loader.

It lets you test everything from a floppy before you commit the boot loader on the MBR.

Also, if you're not sure about the configuration, running the GRUB without menu.lst will enter a command prompt where you can type the commands one after the other. (followed by the boot command.)

Note that all you need to read from its manual (http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/man...index.html#Top) to get it running, is the first 5 sections (Introduction - Configuration).

Worth checking out.

johnklvr · 01-03-2004, 10:00 AM

How do I get grub-install in /sbin? I didn't set up my network settings so I can't connect to the internet while using linux. If I could get the grub-install in /sbin I shoudl be able to follow those instructions.

TheSwine · 01-03-2004, 10:06 AM

With Debian, you can get it with dselect. I don't know about other distributions...

if you do manage to get and internet access, this page will direct you to an FTP.