multi-boot system configuration

73nhdf83n · 12-29-2006, 08:10 AM

hi,

simple problem, but cant figure it out.
How do I configure a MBR?
- I installed XP first
- Then I installed Vista beta 2
- and then I installed Fedora Core 6 (without GRUB)

So far so good, everything went fine....
I hoped to configure FC6 with the Windows bootloader... but I cant figure it out. How do I tell Windows, that I have a /boot partition on sda3? (sda1 = XP, sda2 = Vista)

The funny thing is, that Vista somehow reconfigured the loader. Now I always get two screens when booting:
1. Previous Versions on Windows --> leads to a second boot screen, with XP as choice
2. Microsoft Windows --> boots Vista

I also tried to "rescue" the FC6 installation and tried a
"dd if=/dev/sda3 of=boot.lnx bs=512 count=1"... without knowing what the command actually does..., but the file apears to be emtpy (at least when I do "cat boot.lnx")

So can someone please tell me what to do?

Thanks,
Chris

koen plessers · 12-29-2006, 08:48 AM

Hello

Is there any specific reason for not using GRUB? I've been using it on several multiboot configurations, the reason why I like it is that Fedora, Suse, ... recognize other distro's and Windows, so you don't have to worry.

Bye

Koen Plessers

PTrenholme · 12-29-2006, 08:49 AM

Well, you've started OK. Now copy that boot.lnx file to the C: dive of your XP system and edit the C:\boot.ini file there to look similar to this:

Code:

$ cat /mnt/WinXP/c/boot.ini
[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=C:\boot.lnx

[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
C:\boot.lnx="GRUB"

There may be a similar boot system in Vista, but I'm not familiar with Vista, so I can't help you there.

<aside>
Before you proceed to use Vista, you should carefully review the EULA since it requires you to relinquish lots of your rights. For example, you must give Microsoft permission to disable your computer if MS decides you might be violating their IP rights.

You might also want to read this note on the "cost of Vista," which addresses the system degredaion that may (and, probably, will) occur when "premium" material is present on your system.
</aside>

pixellany · 12-29-2006, 08:54 AM

There are recent posts here about how Vista has a different booting scheme--a search should find them.
There are also lots of threads about multi-booting using the Windows loader

The easiest thing---pre-vista--is to simply install grub and boot Windows from there. Not knowing the Vista issues, the SAFE way would be simply to boot Fedora from a floppy. You said /boot was on sda3..... In a terminal, do this:

Code:

grub      --starts grub shell
root (hd0,2)     --tells grub where "home base" is  (grub counts from zero)
setup (fd0)      --put a blank floppy in the drive first

Finally, this:
"... without knowing what the command actually does..."
is a REALLY bad idea--especially with dd
What you did was to copy the first sector of sda3 (not the mbr). Nothing would be there unless you had installed grub to the boot sector of that partition.

73nhdf83n · 12-29-2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTrenholme

...
Before you proceed to use Vista, you should carefully review the EULA since it requires you to relinquish lots of your rights. For example, you must give Microsoft permission to disable your computer if MS decides you might be violating their IP rights.
...

i never read this stuf.
"disable"? How do I "disable" a computer?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixellany

What you did was to copy the first sector of sda3 (not the mbr). Nothing would be there unless you had installed grub to the boot sector of that partition.

ok.. there is nothing in there indeed! So thats why the suggestion PTrenholme made, does not work.

And starting from floppy is not an option... I dont have one.
I'm afraid to re-install Fedora with grub, cause I dont want to lose the XP installation... And afaik the windows-partition must be the "active" to start it? or something like that...

cheers and thanks!

pixellany · 12-29-2006, 11:07 AM

Quote:

i never read this stuf.
"disable"? How do I "disable" a computer?

Lot's of ways--where would you like to start? The issue with MS is that they can simply revoke the authentication.

Quote:

ok.. there is nothing in there indeed! So thats why the suggestion PTrenholme made, does not work.

To do the boot from Windows thing, you have to first install grub and then copy it per previous instructions. Reason: grub stage1 gets "hard-coded" to point to its "home base".

Quote:

I'm afraid to re-install Fedora with grub, cause I dont want to lose the XP installation... And afaik the windows-partition must be the "active" to start it? or something like that...

Installing grub has never bothered a Windows install for me. The active flag is--I think--only releavant when Windows boots from a windows mbr--but I'm going to go check this. But, so what? In typical dual-boot systems, the Windows partition is flagged as active. (Linux does not care about this flag.)