FC3 and Grub
 

Hi,

Like most people, I was interested in trying out Linux, after humming and hawing over drake 10.0 and 10.1 (way too many bugs...) I decided to try FC3.

I was able to install FC3 via a dvd from a magazine, however, I have run into a problem. I opted to install Grub on hda6, since I planned to dual boot with win xp (ntfs file system). I was never presented with an option to creat a boot disk, nor was I presented with an option to install Grub on my floppy.

So, the net effect is that I have a spanking new FC3 install which I cannot get to :-)

I am installing on a toshiba 5205-s503 laptop using an external USB floppy.


Any thoughts?


thanks a zillion


Paul

I can think of a quick solution that will install grub to the mbr (if windows isn't on the grub list you can always add it later).
1) boot from the installation DVD
2) Enter "linux-rescue" at the boot prompt
3) do "chroot /mnt/sysimage"
4) grub-install /dev/hda

You will need to provide information about your / partition just before step 3.

This install grub to the mbr and you can boot Fedora Core. Windows should also have been added to the list of available partitions. If it hasn't post back here and we can help out. Also make sure you have a Windows boot disk in case stuff like networking doesn't work right and you are not able to post here using Linux (this is very unlikely though, I'm just sayin it as a precaution).

I don't trust cd's and dvd's taped to magazines. They never seem to have all you need.

In this case though, if it was "Linux Format" magazine, it will contain under "essentials" a handy utility called sbm -- smart boot manager. It will boot your new FC3 partition. It fits on a floppy and can come in real handy at times like this.

If you don't have that, download the iso for the FC3 rescue disk. You should be able to get into your new FC3 partition using the rescue disk.

(Please forgive minor typos -- I am winging this from my short term memory.)

1. Boot from rescue disk.

2. I believe it will search for your Linux partition and ask you if you want to mount it. Say yes. If it doesn't ask, mount it at a mount point. I believe the rescue disk provides something like "/mnt/sysimage". If you can't remember the partition name, snoop around with fdisk.

3. chroot /mnt/sysimage

You should now be able to configure grub and run /sbin/grub-install