where did you install grub/lilo? you should have selected the /mbr

Try using google to search out answers!!

Problem

"There is not a boot manager screen at all, it just boots right into windows but GRUB boot window does not appear. I cannot figure out to access fedora, I do not have a boot disk and need to know if there is someway to boot into fedora"

"I forgot to install GRUB, I didn't install GRUB in the MBR, I chose to install GRUB on the first track on the partition where I installed Fedora but that was not an active primary partition".

Solution

You have to install GRUB on the MBR (Master Boot Record). To do this just follow this steps:

(First of all, enter your BIOS setup and in BOOT Sequence window choose to boot with CDROM first.)

1) Boot with your Fedora Core Installation CD 1.

2) Type "linux rescue" at the prompt.

3) Answer the questions about keyboard and language.

4) Tell the rescue mode to use your proper partition to mount (the one that you want to get booted into)

5) When you come to the console prompt type: chroot /mnt/sysimage

6) Type grub

7) Set the GRUB's root device to the partition containing the boot directory like this:

grub> root (hd0,0)

Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83

I have Windows 98 in hd0,0 ; Windows XP in hd0,1, Fedora Core /boot partition in hd0,2 and Mandrake /boot partition in hd0,6. So in my case the command should be: > root (hd0,2)

If you are not sure which partition actually holds this directory, use the command 'find' like this:

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1

This will search for the file name '/boot/grub/stage1' and show the devices which contain the file.
Once you've set the root device correctly, run the command 'setup'.

8) Then, run the command setup

grub> setup (hd0)

Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists....... no
Checking if "/grub/stage1" exists....... yes
Checking if "/grub/stage2" exists....... yes
Checking if "/grub/e2fs_stage1_5" exists....... yes
Running "embed /grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0)"....... 15 sectors are embedded
succeded
Running "install /grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0) 1+15 p (hd0,2)/grub/stage2 /grub/grub.conf....... succeded
Done

This command will install GRUB boot loader on the Master Boot Record (MBR) of the first drive.

9) Type quit

grub> quit

GRUB is now in the MBR.

10) Finally, you'll have to edit your /boot/grub/grub.conf, for example whith nano:

> nano /boot/grub/grub.conf

(/etc/grub.conf or /boot/grub/grub.conf or /boot/grub/menu.lst, they are the same file) This file has the boot partitions of the disk/s.

11) Restart your PC without the Fedora Core CD 1 Installation.


http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=975

Thanks I'll give it a try, and i did use google thats how i ended up here

My definition of dual-boot is one has two bootable systems and want a menu to select either for booting.

Seems to me you got a repair job first for the FC4 before starting the dual boot.

Have you run a search on dual-booting...? There's a lot of info here and at Linuxforum.com

From what I've read, you'll need to edit the grub boot loader and set your bios to boot off the FC4 drive first. Many of the later bios allow configuring the boot drive without moving cabling.
good luck...

Hi again, thanks for the instructions they helped a lot but unfortuently when i got to #10 i got a access denied when ever i tried to get into the file, maybey this is because fedora is on (hd1) not a partision on my main hd.
Thanks
Albuca
p.s. can any1 point me in the direction of a file that will give me an easy way to configure the mbr so i can dual boot windows and fc4 with a little select screen.
pp.s. if the file would run in windows this would be the best.

when u get to #10 log in as root if u didnt already u should beable to do it than

Thanks everyone for the help

Albuca