Boot Loader Question ?

hamoksh · 09-02-2003, 04:10 PM

hi there i'm using redhat 8 dual booted with win98 and winxp
but when something goes wrong, and i install or format the win98 or winxp, the windows changes the MBR so the Grub bootloader
won't start, so i need to install redhat from the beginning

and when i try to only modify the redhat installation and make a new boot loader configuration without installing more packages i get a message at the end of installation saying : "(u didn't install any kernel packages so ure boot loader configuration isn't changed), and it dosen't write the bootloader in the MBR, so i have to install the redhat and format from the beginnning
thats such a mess can some one tell how to make a new boot loader configuration without losing my redhat ?

sorry for the annoying long post

david_ross · 09-02-2003, 04:24 PM

Just boot with CD1 - at the"boot:" prompt type "linux rescue". Once thce system has booted then chroot to your real system:
chroot /mnt/sysimage

Then resintall grub on the mbr:
/sbin/grub-install /dev/hda

contrasutra · 09-02-2003, 04:24 PM

Download a Rescue CD that includes GRUB. There are plenty out there, like KNOPPIX.

After you install Windows, boot into the recovery disk and reinstall GRUB (or LILO).

You may be able to do this from the Redhat CD.

hamoksh · 09-02-2003, 04:40 PM

thanx guys , but what if i install the boot loader on the first part of root partition ?
whats the difference?

i have primary master (40gb for windows)
secondry master (20gb for linux)

so when i install bootloader on MBR , and i want for example to remove the 20gb and place a normal fat hd to exchange some stuff with my friend, i get that the boot loader doesn't start cuz the linux partion is removed

so if i install the grub on on 20gb, would i be able to remove the 20 gb and then hook up my friend's hd ??

thanx for any help

david_ross · 09-02-2003, 04:43 PM

Why not make linux the master?

hamoksh · 09-02-2003, 04:46 PM

sorry
but what do u mean
?

david_ross · 09-02-2003, 04:53 PM

Right now you have:
primary master = 40gb for windows
secondry master = 20gb for linux

Why not have:
secondry master = 40gb for windows
primary master = 20gb for linux

This will let you keep the windows bootloader in tact so it can be made master if needed yet still use grub to chainload windows while the linux disk is the master.