Please Help! Grub Boot Loader

greenjm90 · 07-17-2005, 07:03 AM

I have two hard drives and I want to install Linux to the second one (hdb.) On the first one I want to run windows, which is already installed on the hda.

I would like a boot loader to give me the option to boot windows from the hda and linux from the hdb

I installed Fedore Core 4 on to the hdb and removed all partitions, all went successfully, but however when I rebooted all I could see was GRUB_ I couldn’t do anything type anything, all I could do was restart.

I then installed Suse Linux 9.1. If I installed the boot loader to the main partion I got exactly the same thing. Then I decided that I’d try and install GRUB to the a floppy disk. When that’s inserted I get GRUB Geom Error.

I can’t currently run either Linux or Windows XP as the GRUB boot loader isn’t working.

It is quite important that I run windows again

Could you please advise me on how to get this boot loader working!!

abisko00 · 07-17-2005, 07:21 AM

Maybe you'll find useful information here:
http://portal.suse.com/sdb/en/2003/0...eom-error.html

dugas · 07-17-2005, 01:24 PM

http://www.geocities.com/epark/linux...w2k-HOWTO.html
Follow this tutorial. It uses the windows bootloader. To fix the MBR so windows will run, you need to run the WINDOWS xp disc, go into repair mode and enter
FIX MBR
in the command prompt.

PTrenholme · 07-17-2005, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by greenjm90
[snip]
Then I decided that I’d try and install GRUB to the a floppy disk. When that’s inserted I get GRUB Geom Error.
[snip]

Here's how I made a GRUB boot floppy from the Fedora DVD in rescue mode. (Toward the end of the entry.)

GRUB should calculate/find the floppy geometry if this procedure is followed, but (see below) the error is most often caused by a bad or missing stage2 file, which needs to be on the floppy.

You might also find this reference on GRUB troubleshooting in SUSE usefull.

Oh, here's what the grub.conf file on the floppy looks like (for my system). Note the last entry for booting the Windows system.

Code:

$ sudo cat /media/floppy/boot/grub/grub.conf
Password:
# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
#          root (hd1,1)
#          kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
#          initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hda
default=0
timeout=7
#splashimage=(hd1,1)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
#hiddenmenu
title Fedora Core 4 (2.6.12-1.1398_FC4smp)
        root (hd1,1)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.12-1.1398_FC4smp ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
        initrd /initrd-2.6.12-1.1398_FC4smp.img
title Fedora Core 4 (2.6.12-1.1390)
        root (hd1,1)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.12-1.1390_FC4smp ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
        initrd /initrd-2.6.12-1.1390_FC4smp.img
title Fedora Core 3 (2.6.11-1.35_FC3)
        root (hd5,0)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.11-1.35_FC3smp ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet
        initrd /initrd-2.6.11-1.35_FC3smp.img
title Windows
        rootnoverify (hd0,0)
        chainloader +1