dual boot:cannot boot redhat linux 9 with win xp
 

Hello,

Iim a newbie to linux

problem: cant see boot menu where i can choose between rh9 and winxp. it goes to winxp by default.

I have been able to acces redhat 9 using boot diskette


I had winxp installed first and then i installed rh 9.
I used grub

I did not use MBR, installed it on /boot

and the options i had got were: DOS, or redhat
I chose DOS to be the default

Any help as to how I can get a menu to select btw linux and winxp

Thank s in advance
How can

I've got a rather strong feeling that Windows' bootloader is installed in the MBR, and therefore the system is seeing that and never even getting a chance to check your /boot config.
Reinstall grub to the MBR instead of /boot (it sounds like your config file will be accurate the way it is), and that should fix things:
/sbin/grub-install /dev/hda (where /dev/hda is your master hard drive, presumably where both OS's are residing)

re: dual boot loader
 

Hi,

I did not mention this before.

I have one 40 GB hard drive

partition 1 - 19GB ---> where windows is installed
partition 2- NTFS 7GB
partition 3-NTFS 7GB

I have an extended partition

then 3 more partitions for redhat linux which is total of about 4.5 GB
/ root 3.9GB
/boot 118MB
swap 360 MB

So I have windows and redhat 9 installed on two different partitions

and /boot partition is well beyond the 8GB.
So I wonder if it is the issue of 1024 cylinder problem

How do I install grub again please.?

Thanks

First, take a look in your /etc/grub.conf file to ensure that there are indeed sections for booting both Windows & Linux. From what you said earlier, I fully expect this to be fine.
Then, as root, issue the command:

/sbin/grub-install /dev/hda

And you should be good :-)

re
 

hi

i issued the command
/sbin/grub-install /dev/hda

I got a PROBLEM.

When i rebooted, i saw the grub menu BUT i could not log into DOS(windows)
but could log into redhat

the options were

redhat
DOS

when I clicked on DOS, it just came back to the grub menu again and again


I can no longer log into windows anymore


Please note that I have one hard drive and I have partitioned it to run both winxp and redhat 9

please help

thanks

Looks like the RH9 setup didn't get it quite right. Could you post your grub.conf file?

Hi, here's the grub.conf file from /boot/grub/grub.conf

I am typing this as I cant get my internet to work from linux rh9

#boot =/dev/hda7
default=1
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,6) /grub/splash pm.gz
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.20-8)
root(hd0,6)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.20-8 root=LABEL=/hdc=ide-scsi
initrd /initrd-2.4.20-8.img

title DOS
rootnoverify(hd0,0)
chainloader +1


I used windows cd to boot to recovery mode and typed fixboot
Now the grub menu is gone and it automatically logs into windows

thanks for your help in advance

help please

can someone help me out here

thank you

hi dinow
got ur question, firstly u didn't need to install grub at MBR. The boot sequence of a i386 arch makes bios to search for the active partition of the disk. If the active one is found its boot sector/record is loaded and run. so instead u would have made partition with /boot active and ur problem will be solved.
in present case, u go to the linux rescue mode and again install grub. prefer at MBR, may be rewriting ur mbr will fix ur prob this time.
hoping fr the best

Try adding the line 'makeactive' to your grub.conf file, under the DOS section.
So now it will look like this:

#boot =/dev/hda7
default=1
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,6) /grub/splash pm.gz

title Red Hat Linux (2.4.20-8)
root(hd0,6)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.20-8 root=LABEL=/hdc=ide-scsi
initrd /initrd-2.4.20-8.img

title DOS
rootnoverify(hd0,0)
makeactive
chainloader +1