multiboot (GRUB) problem

GoK · 07-23-2003, 08:17 AM

hey ppls

i have just been using linux for 3 days (very newbie) and i seem to have a problem with my bootloader GRUB. i think i configured (red hat 9 'i389'?) linux wrong in the installation process --> i have 2 drives, with xp on 1 and 98 + redhat9 linux on the other, but i installed GRUB on the xp drive and now i cant boot 98... GRRR

wat do i do now to install GRUB on the present drive and revive 98??????????????

____________________________________________________
i am such a

in linux

fancypiper · 07-23-2003, 08:59 AM

You can remove grub or lilo from the mbr by booting with a Windows 98 boot floppy (at the prompt, type fdisk /mbr)

Red Hat 9 Boot Loaders - Grub

Installing a bootloader
Multiboot with GRUB Mini-HOWTO
Linux+Win9x+Grub HOWTO

# Redhat links
RedHat Linux Manuals
Get your mp3 support here
Maximum RPM
rpmfind
Easier software management: apt4rpm - Red Carpet
RedHat 8.0 Tips & Tricks

# Redhat 7.3 down configuration commands
setup leads to several configuration tools

# Redhat 7.3 up configuration commands
Configure soundcard:
redhat-config-soundcard
Configure X server:
redhat-config-xfree86
Configure network:
redhat-config-network
Manage software:
redhat-config-packages

# Handling NTFS
New Technology FileSystem (NTFS) HOWTOs
Linux NTFS project

Mara · 07-23-2003, 03:19 PM

Hello,
I've just moved your thread to Linux - Newbie (Member Intro is not a good place to ask questions; in other forums more people will read your post).

How was your dualboot configured before? I understand you had XP bootloader to choose between XP and 98, right? Now you have two options - make all three boot from grub (you only need to add one entry - for 98) or boot all three using XP booloader (but Linux needs its own bootloader, so when you decide to go back to XP one, you'll have two bootloaders - first you choose from XP, then, if you decided to use Linux, you get lilo.grub).

aaa · 07-23-2003, 03:23 PM

I think the XP bootloader can only boot one non-XP os.

Mara · 07-23-2003, 03:55 PM

It can boot Linux, but some extra work is needed.

funkenbooty · 07-23-2003, 04:06 PM

The way I finally got my system to dual boot, XP and RH8 after the third try was to NOT install any bootloader during installation.

Made the boot disk instead, which I guess you should do anyway.

I found this way was less likely to have any nasty surprises when trying to boot back to Windows. I had the same problem as you.
Been there done that.

It may not be as smooth or pretty as having one of those boot loaders but the floppy boot works for me!

I learned that from this page:

http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/O...multiboot1.htm

"18) Boot loader selection: (Image 1.18)
For my Linux installs, I do not use any boot loader of any kind. They over write the Master Boot record and I would rather not have that happen.

I choose to not install any boot loader here. If you do go this route, you MUST COMPLETE THE NEXT STEP! Otherwise, you Linux install will not be available to use."

fancypiper · 07-23-2003, 04:12 PM

Make 6 of them as floppys fail often.

fancypiper · 07-23-2003, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by funkenbooty
Made the boot disk instead, which I guess you should do anyway.

I found this way was less likely to have any nasty surprises when trying to boot back to Windows. I had the same problem as you.

You can boot Windows and not have any nasty surprises? I wish I could. I discovered Linux because of nasty surprises.

Quote:

For my Linux installs, I do not use any boot loader of any kind. They over write the Master Boot record and I would rather not have that happen.

MBR is meant for the bootloader, isn't it?

What does Windows use that part of the disk for, I wonder.

funkenbooty · 07-23-2003, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fancypiper
Make 6 of them as floppys fail often.

I only made two!

funkenbooty · 07-23-2003, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fancypiper
You can boot Windows and not have any nasty surprises? I wish I could. I discovered Linux because of nasty surprises. MBR is meant for the bootloader, isn't it?

What does Windows use that part of the disk for, I wonder.

Nasty surprises meaning :
Installing Windows then installing Linux and its boot loader only to find out that you can't figure out how to boot back into Windows because you are a

at Linux along with lilo, grub and/or dual booting.
I think thats what the original post was referring to

GoK · 07-24-2003, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mara
How was your dualboot configured before? I understand you had XP bootloader to choose between XP and 98, right? Now you have two options - make all three boot from grub (you only need to add one entry - for 98) or boot all three using XP booloader (but Linux needs its own bootloader, so when you decide to go back to XP one, you'll have two bootloaders - first you choose from XP, then, if you decided to use Linux, you get lilo.grub).

i have 2 different drives; my grub is on my 1st drive and i can only select rh9 - on my 2nd drv - and xp - on my 1st drv, but not win98 - on the 2nd drv (same drive as linux) and i cant boot anything if i select boot from 2nd drive in bios, so i cant boot to 98 on my 2nd drv

i would now prefer to remove grub from xp drv mbr, and install grub on the 98/rh9 drv to access 98 and rh9 , but if i remove grub, i wont be able to access 98 or rh9.

wat can i do

GoK · 07-24-2003, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by funkenbooty
Nasty surprises meaning :
Installing Windows then installing Linux and its boot loader only to find out that you can't figure out how to boot back into Windows because you are a at Linux along with lilo, grub and/or dual booting.
I think thats what the original post was referring to

my problem is, yes, booting back to windows, but on a different drive (the drive with linux on it) since my grub was installed on the wrong drive and my 98 partition cannnot be booted (via either grub or bios drive boot setting) as it is on the 2nd partition

GoK · 07-24-2003, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fancypiper
[B]You can remove grub or lilo from the mbr by booting with a Windows 98 boot floppy (at the prompt, type fdisk /mbr)
/B]

pity i cant do that or i have no way of booting either from linux or win98 on my 2nd drv, and btw would fdisking mbr delete all mbr records and stuff?

GoK · 07-24-2003, 03:28 AM

btw how do u pronounce linux - line + ucks or lin as in linseed + ucks?

Bruce Hill · 07-24-2003, 04:04 AM

Linus Torvalds pronounces it lean-ucks

I got an audio file of him saying, "Hello this is Linus Torvalds and I pronounce Linux as 'leanuscks'." Can't remember where I got the link from, probably off this forum somewhere.