Strang , but for some reason, you download Ubuntu and it doesn't give you a grub or a menu.lst file so can edit the boot up , i'll try the 32bit, but that sucks because i want to be able to access all my ram with 64bit.

Try everything, even tried to restore the grub from the cd and on the cd there is no menu.lst weird

going to try redownloading it agian and see if that helps, both 32bit and 64bit, thanks friends.

Ubuntu now uses grub2, therefore no menu.lst, or grub command.

That explains everything, Thanks

So how would i get it to recognize my other drive with windows 7 in the boot up since it doesn't have grub ?

Is there a way to configure it with grub2 ?

Is there another Linux OS that i can download a free 64bit that can do what im tring to do easier without all the grub hassle?



I don't know which Grub i have , this is hard, i guess my only option is that Wubi , but i don't like it because it splits the C drive and uses its space and slows down Windows as well as puts entries in your Windows 7 registry. I believe Linux should run on its own drive to operate efficiently.

to manually add a windows 7 entry to grub2
after the at the end of the comments enter the following:
You might have to change the "set root" line to '(hd1,2)'.
then rerun update-grub.

Well finally i typed this : sudo gedit /etc/default/grub


How do i configure this for dual boot ?

Windows 7 on 1 drive
Linux on the other


# If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true
GRUB_TIMEOUT=10
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""

# Uncomment to disable graphical terminal (grub-pc only)
#GRUB_TERMINAL=console

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
#GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480

# Uncomment if you don't want GRUB to pass "root=UUID=xxx" parameter to Linux
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true

# Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entries
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_RECOVERY="true"

# Uncomment to get a beep at grub start
#GRUB_INIT_TUNE="480 440 1"

Did everything you said and i finally got a grub , but there is no Windows 7, but it does give me a Ubuntu option and some memory test options, but no Windows 7.

This is the error that i get when i update the grub loader after doing everything you said


gabe@gabe-desktop:~$ sudo update-grub
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
ERROR: isw: wrong number of devices in RAID set "isw_defccdieab_RAID_Volume1" [1/2] on /dev/sdb
done
gabe@gabe-desktop:~$

o.k it seems that im getting a grub now, i'm getting close , but when i try to go to Windows 7 it know tells me that Windows need BOOTMGR is missing, try to repair it but still the same.

Any Suggestions

helpme*;

I think it will help you to step back a bit and understand the boot process.

When the BIOS finishes its startup routine it looks for "bootable devices" in the order specified in the BIOS settings. When attempting to boot a hard drive, there must be boot code in the MBR (Master Boot Record). This boot code typically uses some kind of configuration file to give it the necessary instructions.

In many Linux systems, the boot code is GRUB (version 0.97). In your system, you have GRUB-2, which has some different ways of doing things. (For example, there is no "menu.lst" file, but there is the config file in /etc)

In a typical setup with one drive, the Linux installer will replace the MBR boot code with the Linux boot code (e.g. GRUB or GRUB-2). The installer will also typically detect the Windows system and automatically setup the config file.

In your case---with 2 drives--the situation is slightly different. First, the default location for the Linux boot code will be the drive which the installer thinks is #1. When installing from a CD, I would expect that to be the drive that was set in BIOS as the first to boot, but its possible to get that reversed.

Regardless of all of the above, this should be easy to fix.

First, please post your current configuration file, showing the changes that you made to include an entry for Windows. Once that is correct, we can then re-install GRUB. I recommend that it be installed to your Ubuntu drive. That way, you can always boot to windows by simply changing the boot order in the BIOS.

Finally, please be sure to address all of the posts here, so that we can keep track of which things you have tried, and which you have not. For example, I have notced you asking some questions that were already answered in a previous post.

Hang in there, and Good Luck!!

The error indicates that the line is incorrect and pointing to the wrong partition and/or disk drive.

Finally after 4 long days, i finally got it right with everyone's support. Thank you to all. I finally have dual boot, i went back and examined all the feedback and slowed down and took my time. Everything when smooth and Grub booted correctly Giving me the options i longed for. It displays perfectly just like the Grub2 install site suggest (www.GRUB 2 bootloader - Full tutorial). Boots up in Windows 7 and Ubunto 10.04 perfectly on seperate drives.
The weird thing was during the process, i had to update my Ubuntu before following everyones advice, but it worked. The fact that i didn't update my Ubuntu was defintely screwing up the whole process.
I did a re-installing and updated Ubuntu and following every ones advice, and it worked. I have learn alot from this thread about Linux and Grub. This was very helpful and maybe i can help others who which to set up dual boot OS. Thank you pixellany, colorpurple21859, spiderbatdad, PTrenholme, and anyone else who helped. I am a happy dual-booting camper and hoping that in the next 20 years i will be a master at Linux. Finally i can go get something to eat.

note: the new version of Ubuntu doesn,t come with menu.lst so that could be alot of issues for others setting up Dual boot and looking for a grub menu.lst. to edit the boot configuration. It comes with grub2 for those that aren't aware.

Good for you!!

I'm giving you your first official LQ "Thanks"---for perseverance and for telling us the outcome.

Please tag the thread as "solved" (thread tools at the top)--EDIT: I did it.