Hi
I got ubuntu installed on my sata drive, plus i have windows xp installed on my IDE drive which currently is on slave..
My issue is that if i keep in bios the xp drive as first boot device then i get the GRUB 22 error and nothing happens, if i go back to bios and change it so the sata is first boot.. everything works but i cant reach windows.. even if i esc to the menu theres no windows option.. help help..

Whatever other information anyone needs.. just ask..

Take a look at this link to see if it will help: http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/man...2fWindows.html

Im sorry.. im really not very good with computers once i get out of windows.. lol

where do i use this.. and how..

grub> map (hd0) (hd1)
grub> map (hd1) (hd0)

and does this mean i keep my sata (with ubuntu) as boot device one?

I dont even know how to reach this GRUB command prompt..

I would hate to be anoyying or anything but at the moment i cant get into my windows, so.. can someone tell me what to do with this GRUBB switching drives thing..

To get to the grub prompt, type "sudo /usr/sbin/grub".

so do i type that in ubuntu's console?

So, when you boot the SATA, you only see Ubuntu options ???.
From a Ubuntu terminal/console enter the following and post the full outputBoth commands use lower case ell (for list) not the numeral one. You'll need to supply your password for the second command.

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 3

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=71903d66-b653-4bc4-9ae2-342192db9433 ro
# kopt_2_6=root=/dev/sda1 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,0)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-generic
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic
quiet
savedefault
boot

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic
boot

title Ubuntu, memtest86+
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet
boot

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST




________________________________________________________



carlos@carlos-desktop:~$ sudo fdisk -1
Password:
fdisk: invalid option -- 1

Usage: fdisk [-b SSZ] [-u] DISK Change partition table
fdisk -l [-b SSZ] [-u] DISK List partition table(s)
fdisk -s PARTITION Give partition size(s) in blocks
fdisk -v Give fdisk version
Here DISK is something like /dev/hdb or /dev/sda
and PARTITION is something like /dev/hda7
-u: give Start and End in sector (instead of cylinder) units
-b 2048: (for certain MO disks) use 2048-byte sectors

should i still try the hd switch at the grub prompt?

that's an ell, not a one

Let's wait and see what syg00 comes up with. I'm not as well versed on grub as I'd like to be. But please run the proper command so he can see the result.

carlos@carlos-desktop:~$ sudo fdisk -l
Password:

Disk /dev/hdb: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdb1 * 1 9728 78140128+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 29322 30401 8675100 83 Linux



the 80gig has my windows, the 250 is the sata with a partition of 10gigs for ubuntu..

I've never heard of Ubuntu not recognising a Windoze install and not including it in the menu - did you maybe remove the IDE drive to do the (Ubuntu) install ???.
And you have grub on both MBRs - that implies (at least) 2 attempts at the install.

My suggestion would be to put the Windoze loader back on IDE, and worry about grub later.
Set the BIOS back to the IDE, then boot the XP (install) CD - as its booting, hit the <r> key when it says so to get into Recovery Console.
From there, run the fixmbr command.

Then reboot it, to check it worked. To get to to Ubuntu, you'll have to change the BIOS. Use copy-paste to enter what follows.
From Ubuntu terminal, enter "sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst" - this is a normal full screen editor (you'll need to enter your password).
Find the line that says "hiddenmenu" and put a hash (#) in column 1 - now you'll see the menu on boot.
Add this to the bottom

Your right, i installed ubuntu twice.. 2nd time without the IDE connected because the first time i was getting the grub error even when i disconnected the sata and just wanted windows.. so i tried to install ubuntu without it being able to touch the IDE..

So after fixing windows.. i restart and it will go into ubuntu.. then at the console you want me to type
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
but im confused how i add # to column one..
and then right after am i meant to type
title Windows
root (hd1,0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1
one by one into the console?

mbr is also a bit risky.. is there nooo other way? >_<