Beating a dead horse..boot loader install

jasondodd · 12-12-2006, 02:00 AM

Hi All,

I have done tons of reading on this, so please don't think I haven't searched the threads. I have had >5 succesfull dual boot installs, but my new computer has been stumped.

I have tried multiple time to install SUSE 10.1 secondary to WinXP and keep messing up the mbr to where it's un repairable. In the past, I always just installed grub right to the mbr without any problems, but that's not working with this machine. Makes it so grub does not load at all and FIXMBR does not work either.

Before I go reinstall everything again, I'd like to know if there is a standard grub installation that seems to work the best.

I've tried installing to "MBR", "/dev/hda", and "/dev/hda5" (no idea how to chainload secondary partition).

Now my computer won't boot up at all unless I boot into suse from installation cd.

current machine

asus m2m32-sli mobo
dual nvidia 7600gs vid cards
amd64 x2 4200+
seagate 500GB hdd

sadiqdm · 12-12-2006, 08:07 PM

I've had problems with dual booting XP. If it was pre-installed, there is usually a hidden partition for Recovery/Rescue, and this messes up the partition count. On all my dual boots I put GRUB on the MBR of /dev/hda.

This is how I have fixed it before.

You will need a CD or other boot disk to get started. The 1st CD of the Suse set can help, also a Ubuntu/Kubuntu Live CD. I also have a Linux tools CD called RIP which you can get here

Once you get to a prompt do as follows:

Note: My Linux root partition is /dev/hda3. Replace this with the partition for your Linux - /dev/hda5 ?

Code:

#> mkdir /tmp/hda3
#> mount /dev/hda3 /tmp/hda3 

#> mount --bind /dev /tmp/hda3/dev 
#> mount --bind /proc /tmp/hda3/proc 
#> chroot /tmp/hda3 /bin/bash 
#> grub-install /dev/hda 
#> exit