[SOLVED] Multi-boot - 2 Win XP + Linux (Mint)

ldmn · 06-15-2010, 03:39 AM

Greetings,

would set up a 2 WinXP and 1 Linux(Mint) multi-boot config with the least efforts, and Linux know-how.

The way with GAG multiboot loader seems to be an easy way, but it seems dated, inconvenient especially without floppy drive.

Do you think it would be possible to make Grub2 of Linux Mint to accept 2 Win XPs as bootable partitions?
/Although without using GAG, the WinXP bootloader will take control for both XPs/. The threads in this topic seemed to be quite complex.

Would it be really too difficult to set up such a config for Grub2, and you rather recommend Virtualization (XP within Linux Mint)?

Thanx if thou hast some expertise to share.

syg00 · 06-15-2010, 04:03 AM

Grub will handle it easiely - the difficulty is getting 2 XP systems independently on the disk; you have to hide the first during the install of the second. Too much trouble IMHO.
See saikee's post here

ldmn · 06-15-2010, 09:49 AM

Thanx for info!

Multi-boot is operational, and with this help hiding XP partitions was solved, too. ( As I faced a GRUB2 named danger...)

Relevant part of my Grub.cfg in /boot/grub:

Code:

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda1)" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	parttool (hd0,1) hidden-
	parttool (hd0,2) hidden+
	parttool (hd0,1) boot+
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set ae18c3ec18c3b19f
	drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
	chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda2)" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,2)'
	parttool (hd0,2) hidden-
	parttool (hd0,1) hidden+
	parttool (hd0,2) boot+
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2e7cbadd7cba9ed1
	drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
	chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

---my task chronology:
-installed xp1
-hid xp1 partition
-installed xp2
-installed linux Mint
-run gparted to remove hidden status from xp1 and xp2 partitions (several times...)
-amended grub.cfg (several times...)

--> had no more to do than to look like a satisfied hobbit after his 2nd supper.

syg00 · 06-16-2010, 05:19 PM

Glad to hear it.
Thanks for posting that cfg - I continue to avoid grub2 as I still feel it's not up to standard, but I'll have to come to terms with it sometime.