Fix the GRUB loader

slippyman · 05-18-2010, 10:21 AM

Hi Guys,

PC: Dell Precision T7400
O/S: Windows XP SP3 64-bit & Scientific Linux 5.3 64-bit

The above PC has 2 HDDs installed one has XP and the other Scientific Linux.

Problem: XP needed to be re-installed, i've done this now but now the GRUB Boot loader doesnt load - So just boots straight into XP.

Qustion: Is there anywhere to fix the GRUB? Without wiping the 2nd HDD and re-installing Linux!!

Let me know if you need any more info

Thanks in Advance for any help and Advice.

Steve

AlucardZero · 05-18-2010, 10:24 AM

Yes, boot from a live CD and reinstall grub.

slippyman · 05-18-2010, 11:53 AM

Hi AlucardZero,

Thanks for the quick reponse.

I've booted up using the LiveCD 5.3 and re-installed Grub from the add and remove programs and then rebooted. But I still just boot straight into XP! Do I need to do anything else i.e. run some cammands from the terminal? As you can tell i'm a complete newbie to Linux!!

Thanks in advance

Steve

Larry Webb · 05-18-2010, 12:38 PM

Is the second hd an external? It will help if you could give us the results of 'fdisk -l'.

slippyman · 05-18-2010, 12:57 PM

Hi Larry,

Both Internal HHDs

Results of fdisk -l

Device Boot:

/dev/sdb1 Linux
/dev/sdb2 Linux LVM

saikee · 05-18-2010, 01:10 PM

when you boot up a Live CD, say from the original Scientific distro just drop into a root terminal and invoke a Grub shell with this command

Code:

grub

the Grub can be restored by

Code:

root (hd1,0)
setup (hd0)
quit

The above is to tell Grub that you have a Linux at the 1st partition of the 2nd disk, sdb1 to Linux but (hd1,0) to grub, as the root and install Grub to the first disk (hd0). As no partition is specified in (hd0) Grub will go straight to the MBR.

slippyman · 05-18-2010, 01:30 PM

Thank Saikee,

The code you specified has indeed reinstalled Grub and I can get into Linux fine now. The only problem is I cant get into Windows XP now! I recieved the following error message when selecting XP at boot up:

Booting 'Windows XP'
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
Chainloader +1

Error 22: No Such Partition

Press any key to continue......

slippyman · 05-18-2010, 02:02 PM

FDISK -l Results if this helps any!!

Device Boot Start End Block ID System
/dev/sda1 * 1 38912 312560608 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb1 * 1 13 104391 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 14 38913 312464250 8e Linux LVM

Larry Webb · 05-18-2010, 04:25 PM

edit your menu.lst

title Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

saikee · 05-18-2010, 04:31 PM

I echo Larry Webb's suggestion.

slippyman · 05-19-2010, 01:53 AM

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the help, really appreciated. Everything seems to be working okay now.

Info for anybody else with a similar issue.

1. logged into Linux as root
2. Opened Terminal/Console
3. Typed: sudo gedit/boot/grub/menu.lst
4. The config menu opens in a new window.
5. title Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd0,0),<- Changed this entry from (hd0,1) to (hd0,0)
chainloader +1
6. Saved Changes and Rebooted
7. Selected XP from the GRUB and logged into Windows XP without any hitches.

Thanks again guys, it's been a learning curve.

Larry Webb · 05-19-2010, 06:53 AM

The learning curve is what keeps linux interesting. In any of your next threads please let us know which distro you are using. Is it Scientific Live CD5.3?