restoring fedora 3 bootloader

pcandpc · 05-08-2005, 12:57 AM

Hello,

I would like to restore FC3 bootloader to the MBR.

Currently, I have WinXP in the MBR and FC3 on
a second hard drive.

I tried the FC3 install CD and followed the directions
for updating and creating a new bootloader, but this
failed due to some "unchanges" in package installs.

I don't want to risk my system for a new install just
to introduce some package install changes.

Thanks.

mrGenixus · 05-08-2005, 02:16 AM

usually it's a good idea todo your windows install first to aviod this type for problem. however. get a gentoo liveCD and follow the gentoo instructions for installing grub to the MBR, that should fix your problems.

http://gentoo.org

pcandpc · 05-08-2005, 10:57 AM

Hello mrGenixus,

Great. Thanks for your feedback.

Actually, I had installed Windows first and Linux later.
But, I was trying to add a second Linux on a third hard
disk and the install was not successful. So, I had to
remove this second Linux and that's when I messed up
with the MBR bootloader. And, I restored Windows back
in the MBR.

So, Gentoo allows me to install BRUB back in the MBR?

I'll consider that distro.

Regards,

- pcandpc

mrGenixus · 05-08-2005, 02:20 PM

linux is linux. you can use gentoo to reinstall you FC3 boot loader. also, if your install tanks, you should never need to uninstall the bootloader unless it doesn't load at all. Just use the liveCD to install grub, using the handbook there. also, it's not usually a good idea to load two linux distos on the smae machine, unless you're using virtualization software to run one on the other.

rickh · 05-08-2005, 10:55 PM

Let me tag on to this thread for a little clarification of my own. I've read this question phrased differently several times, and the answer is usually, 'Use a live distro cd to reinstall Grub.'

Could a person add the grub-install program to a Boot floppy to be used for just this purpose?

mrGenixus · 05-08-2005, 11:10 PM

yes, in fact anything that has grub installed on it (liveCD's dont' work quite this way, they use the isolinux bootloader, usually) will work. installing grub is a matter of being able to get grub to run and typing a couple of commands inside it.

rickh · 05-09-2005, 01:22 PM

Could a person add the grub-install program to a Boot floppy to be used for just this purpose?

Yes,...

I foresee a need for this in the future. Suppose I'm holding in my hand a boot floppy for my system. How do I go about adding Grub to it?

CoonerTheRed · 05-09-2005, 02:39 PM

here's how i've done it from the fedora core 3 CD:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=321501

pcandpc · 05-16-2005, 10:18 PM

Hi CoonerTheRed, rickh, mrGenixus,

Thanks you all. Great!

I solved this problem exactly how CoonerTheRed did.

Happy Computing!