Tripple Os Install Question

ratilio · 01-14-2008, 05:06 AM

Ok here is my question

I had fedora core installed on my system and i used the grub boot loader to boot windows xp and fefora core 8 but i installed windows vista on another partition and it overwrote the master boot record and now only allows me to boot windows xp and vista. Now I know my fedora core resides on my sata 2 hard drive on the partition 2 which is SDB2. I know that if i reinstall my fedora its going to write grub again to the master boot record but i don't want to reinstall the whole os again. My question is: Can anybody tell me how to boot my linux partition and then configure grub to reside on my master boot record and be able to boot all three operating systems?

aus9 · 01-14-2008, 05:23 AM

1) you can overwrite the mbr again and put grub there but you will then need to edit grub menu to add a new entry for Vista.

2) if you have a live cd....boot it...open shell

Code:

su
root (hd1,1)
setup (hd0)

I am assuming you have another drive, sda? if not post more info pls

remove cd and test it boots into grub and then boot into linux

3) with root powers add a new menu line

eg

title Vista
root (hdX,y)
chainloader + 1

you have not supplied enough info for me to know where is vista.

look at my signature or provide more info on exactly what is drive is and the partition table as you know pls

aus9 · 01-14-2008, 05:24 AM

if you have no live cd, Fedora should have a recovery or rescue mode at initial boot up.

David1357 · 01-14-2008, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratilio

Can anybody tell me how to boot my linux partition and then configure grub to reside on my master boot record and be able to boot all three operating systems?

If you can get a LiveCD to boot (or System Rescue CD), you can run

Code:

# mkdir /mnt/system
# mount -text3 /dev/sdb2 /mnt/system
# grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/system /dev/sdb

That will re-install grub in the MBR of "/dev/sdb" using the settings it finds in "/mnt/system/boot". If "/dev/sda" is your boot drive, you need to use that instead.

You will then have to add Vista to "/mnt/system/boot/grub/menu.lst" as a previous poster described. Do not forget to cd out of "/mnt/system" and then run "umount /mnt/system" before rebooting.

ratilio · 01-14-2008, 03:04 PM

Thanks for all the replys I will give it a try when i get home and I will post more information about my setup

ratilio · 01-14-2008, 04:24 PM

Ok I have two drives, SDA
SDA1 is a ntfs partition that holds xp
SDA2 is a ntfs partition that holds vista

SDB
SDB1 which is a nfts partition that i use to store my data
SDB2 which is my linux partition and where i have linux installed
SDB3 which is my swap file

I know the master boot record should be installed on SDA and you guys make sense on your recommendations and i will give it a try right now

aus9 · 01-14-2008, 05:00 PM

the code I wrote above is still good.

now we know where vista is replace (3)' hdx,y with (hd0,1) for the new vista menu

ratilio · 01-14-2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus9

the code I wrote above is still good.

now we know where vista is replace (3)' hdx,y with (hd0,1) for the new vista menu

I am confused with the code because i tried it and it told me unknown command i think am doing it wrong

ratilio · 01-14-2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David1357

If you can get a LiveCD to boot (or System Rescue CD), you can run

Code:

# mkdir /mnt/system
# mount -text3 /dev/sdb2 /mnt/system
# grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/system /dev/sdb

That will re-install grub in the MBR of "/dev/sdb" using the settings it finds in "/mnt/system/boot". If "/dev/sda" is your boot drive, you need to use that instead.

You will then have to add Vista to "/mnt/system/boot/grub/menu.lst" as a previous poster described. Do not forget to cd out of "/mnt/system" and then run "umount /mnt/system" before rebooting.

I tried your commands and the first two worked, i was able to mount my system and view my files, however, when i put the third command an error message appeared saying
/sbin/grub not found
ok i thought maybe i need to copy the grub directory from /mnt/system/boot/grub to the /sbin directory and i did it but it still gave me the same error, am confused now

aus9 · 01-14-2008, 10:22 PM

my commands need a live cd or a install cd that has got grub in it.

oops

my code is wrong. after booting a live cd or running a install cd where you go into console mode from the recovery or rescue option

Code:

su
grub
root (hd1,1)
setup (hd0)
quit

ratilio · 01-15-2008, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus9

my commands need a live cd or a install cd that has got grub in it.

oops

my code is wrong. after booting a live cd or running a install cd where you go into console mode from the recovery or rescue option

Code:

su
grub
root (hd1,1)
setup (hd0)
quit

Well i used the codes that you gave me with the fedora 8 rescue cd but it did not work, and mainly am doing this to learn to troubleshoot linux because by now i would just have installed fedora core 8 however i wanted to learn how to troubleshoot it
thanks for the code but somehow it did not work, i looked for the syntax of grub in the man pages but i still could not fix it, i am just mad because i want to learn to troubleshoot it maybe i should just reinstall it
am going to take a look at the link under your name for a grub tutorial

aus9 · 01-15-2008, 04:05 AM

which live cd are you using please?

what errors are you getting?

If you are using Fedora in rescue mode, what steps did you take? what errors please?

aus9 · 01-15-2008, 04:14 AM

BTW if grub is not on the live cd you have....your error should be
command not found....immediately after trying command grub

ratilio · 01-15-2008, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus9

BTW if grub is not on the live cd you have....your error should be
command not found....immediately after trying command grub

the super user command works and the grub command works
i get the grub prompt but when i put the other coomands exactly the way you typed them it gives me an error i tried putting the
root (hd1,1)
setup (hd0)
but they did not work maybe because they are sata drives?