Dual booting windows + linux

untwisted · 09-16-2004, 05:50 PM

Hi,

I am having a problem dual booting windows XP pro and linux. It WASN"T a problem when I started (I partitioned, installed winXP, and then linux) everything worked fine at first, but then windows got all buggy and I had to reinstall. After the install grub didn't load, instead my computer would just go straight to Windows. I tried reinstalling GRUB, but then I couldn't boot to windows (somehow grub ruined the windows master boot record) so I ran the windows FIXBOOT thing (it fixed the boot record) and now windows boots, but again no grub!! How do I fix it?! If I reinstall grub like I did before, I'll lose windows again. If I leave things the way they are, I can't use Linux! Grrrrrr!!!!!!!!

Thanks for any help!

-Brian

leonscape · 09-16-2004, 05:58 PM

When you reinstall grub, can't you set grub too chainload windows? i.e.

Code:

title Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
makeactive
chainloader +1

Adjusting (hd0,0) to where ever windows is installed.

untwisted · 09-17-2004, 02:26 AM

Thats what I tried, however, I think by reinstalling grub it kills my windows boot record...

rjtucke · 09-17-2004, 10:46 AM

AFAIK, killing your windows boot record is not the end of the story. I am more familiar with lilo than grub, but I'm quite certain that it is possible to do this. One thing is certain- back up your important linux files now! That way, if you have to, you can reinstall like fresh and not lose much.

rjtucke

untwisted · 09-17-2004, 01:10 PM

Well, I'm hoping that it doesn't come to this. I know there has to be a way to get this working! It works after I just reinstall linux, so why wouldn't it work when I just install grub? Does anyone know anything about the different ways to install grub? Instead of installing it to the MBR? Or does anyone know how to set the Windows Boot Loader to load Linux as well?

Thanks!

xhypno · 09-21-2004, 04:10 PM

Just search on google for dual booting xp and linux. Find a page that talks about editing the boot.ini (I believe). This will use the win bootloader to boot win, and the entry you add will allow linux to load. Just make sure you put the linux bootloader (lilo or grub) on the linux root partition. I have done this many times, I am at work and don't have the address of had or exactly what you have to add, but it works. I am at work right now, if I can find the address to the site I will post it.

philip

xhypno · 09-21-2004, 04:18 PM

Here is the address of how to do the dual boot, it has work for me many times.

http://www.geocities.com/epark/linux...w2k-HOWTO.html

I have just applied the process to lilo (I hate grub).

hope this helps.

untwisted · 09-22-2004, 08:47 AM

I haven't tried this yet, but I'm guessing it will probably work. Much thanks for your help!

michapma · 09-23-2004, 01:26 PM

Not sure if this helps you, but my approach is to use the Windows (2k) boot manager. I then install LILO into the root partition (using SUSE for example) and write the boot sector to a *.lin file. I transfer this file to c:\ and then tell boot.ini about it. Then you have a simple but functional Windows boot screen. Mine can choose between Win2k and WinXP on hda and SuSE on hdb.

As long as you can boot to Linux with a floppy or CD, you could rewrite the MBR with Windows, then modify as above. See a more thorough documentation though, of course.

Cheers
Mike

Edit: now why do I get the feeling I just summarized what that linked article advises. LOL