Installing multiple operating systems
 

Hi, I have been trying for some time to install 2 linux systems with 2 XP's . I am newish to Linux. I have 2 hard drives, on one I have Win XP and Suse 9.2 on the other I have XP and Mandriva, when I boot I only get a boot screen for XP and Suse, if I reinstall Mandriva I only get the boot for XP and Mandriva, so what ever one I install last makes a boot loader for only itself and Windows, even though they are on different drives. Q how can I get them all to show on the boot loader. hope I made sense as I said I am new to Linux so if you can answer in very simple terms I would be gratefull, thanks, Adrian
/dev/hda/windows/c 22.0GB HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda5 16.3GB Linux LVM
/dev/hdb1windows/D 39.5GB HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hdb5 swap 1.0GB Linux swap
/dev/hdb6 / 36.0GB Linux native


Mandriva is on the c: disc /dev/hda5 16GB Linux LVM

You'll have to edit /boot/grub/menu.lst

It will likely list the two operating systems that are currently available when you boot up. You'll have to add the other two. If you post the file we can help a little more.

If you're using grub, try something like this for your /boot/grub/menu.lst

still stuck/ multiple booting
 

Thanks guys, I have only just got back on line, I tried altering the boot menu and ended up re-installing, then another 4 attempts ended the same. I am new as I said so I need simple instructions, I am running Suse 9.2 professional and using the grub menu loader. Mandriva is loaded up on the c drive (/dev/system/Mandriva system 16.3 LV ) and I can see it in LVM in the Yast configuration but I can't get it in the Boot menu.
/dev/hda1 /windows/c 22.0 GB HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hdb1 /windows/D 39.5 GB HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hdb5 swap 1.0 GB HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hdb6 / 36 .0 GB HPFS/NTFS
/dev/system/Mandriva system 16.3 LV

I added the last one (/dev/system/Mandriva system 16.3 LV ) probably all wrong? can you help ? thanks Adrian

Installing Multiple operating systems
 

Hi again guys, I have taken some screen shots to show you what I have, if its any use?
http://adrian.shetlandscenes.co.uk/adrian.htm thanks for your time Adrian

Could you please do what musicman suggested, post the contents of your /boot/grub/menu.lst , that'll give us more information

Hi , the boot menu is:
SUSE 9.2
WINDOWS
FLOPPY
SUSE LINUX 9.2 (FAILSAFE)

It's the contents of the file /boot/grub/menu.lst we need to see. Open it with a text editor
kate /boot/grub/menu.lst
kwrite /boot/grub/menu.lst
gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
or even display it in a terminal
cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
then copy and paste it into this thread please

sorry for the delay, I am very new, had trouble getting it.

color white/blue black/light-gray
default 0
timeout 8
gfxmenu (hd1,5)/boot/message

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title SUSE LINUX 9.2
kernel (hd1,5)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hdb6 vga=0x317 selinux=0 splash=silent resume=/dev/hdb5 desktop elevator=as showopts
initrd (hd1,5)/boot/initrd

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: windows###
title Windows
root (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: floppy###
title Floppy
root (fd0)
chainloader +1

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- SUSE LINUX 9.2
kernel (hd1,5)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hdb6 showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off vga=normal noresume selinux=0 barrier=off nosmp noapic maxcpus=0 3
initrd (hd1,5)/boot/initrd
linux:~ #

Ok, so try adding two more entries to the bottom of itYou'll need to be root to edit it.

Thanks Andrew, Q how do I add it, sorry but its still all a bit new, (1) how do I log-in as root 2 how do I edit it. I brought up the boot info in a terminal and pasted it on to the bottom , was that right? but I don't see how to save it, I rebooted but it wasn't there. Adrian

If you logout of your own save you should be able to login as root at the login screen. Or you could use su and run a text editor like kate from a terminal

Hi, can't seem to get it done. I copied the problem I get below. If I use kate I don't seem to be allowed to edit it although I logged in with my password and username. I can get to the list via the terminal but there doesn't seem to be a way to save the text I paste in. I tried to open the text editors in the console but get is: aaria5@linux:~> su
Password:
linux:/home/aaria5 # kate /boot/grub/menu.lst
bash: kate: command not found
linux:/home/aaria5 #





Password:
linux:~ # kate /boot/grub/menu.lst
kate: ERROR: KUniqueApplication: Can't determine DISPLAY. Aborting.
linux:~ #

also get this:
emacs: Cannot connect to X server :1.0.
Check the DISPLAY environment variable or use `-d'.
Also use the `xhost' program to verify that it is set to permit
connections from your machine.



I know its my lack of knowledge , can you advise, thanks Adrian

# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Fri Jun 3 17:09:42 2005


color white/blue black/light-gray
default 0
timeout 8
gfxmenu (hd1,5)/boot/message

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title SUSE LINUX 9.2

Hi again, got in as root(what an idiot I am) got the new boot loader screen with mandrake but when I click on it I get : kernel (hhd0,4)/boot/vvmlinuz root=/dev/hda5 devfs=nomount splash=silent
Error 17: cannot mount selected partition, I have posted the new boot thingy below. Actual screen reads:
Suse 9.2
Windows
Floppy
Suse 9.2 (failsafe)
Mandrake
Windows D

kernel (hd1,5)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hdb6 vga=0x317 selinux=0 splash=silent resume=/dev/hdb5 desktop elevator=as showopts
initrd (hd1,5)/boot/initrd

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: windows###
title Windows
root (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: floppy###
title Floppy
root (fd0)
chainloader +1

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- SUSE LINUX 9.2
kernel (hd1,5)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hdb6 showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off vga=normal noresume selinux=0 barrier=off nosmp noapic maxcpus=0 3
initrd (hd1,5)/boot/initrd
title Mandrake
kernel (hd0,4)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda5 devfs=nomount splash=silent
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd.img

title Windows D
root (hd1,0)
chainloader +1

Well that's good that you're making progress. It seems the options I guessed for mandrake aren't right. You need to see what options Mandrake would use to boot itself in it's own menu.lst. The problem there is that Mandrake installs Lilo by default, so even if you mounted the partition that Mandrake is installed on and went looking for it's /boot/grub/menu.lst, it wouldn't be there. You may need to use your mandrake CD's to repair or reinstall Mandrake so that you can boot into it and then use the Mandrake Control Centre to change the boot loader to grub. Then you can edit Mandrakes /boot/grub/menu.lst and add an entry for SuSE to it. There should be no problem with that bit as you've posted the settings that work in this thread. Good luck