[SOLVED] Let GRUB manage Ubuntu, openSUSE and Fedora

[deviantdark]

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Hi all.
This is my first post in this forum, I hope I can have some help from you and maybe give you too in all your other threads [if I can give it...].

I am trying to create a multi-boot within my home desktop.
I have just installed my Ubuntu 8.04 which is perfectly working, and this is STILL my one and only OS.
I have 3 IDE hard disks:

sda - 80GB [which should contain all the OS]
sdb - 120GB: data, ext3 FS
sdc - 320GB: data, NTFS FS

The hard disk I want to split into 3 partitions is sda, the 80GB one.
This is the output of sudo fdisk -l within Ubuntu:

Disco /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 byte
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cilindri of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000f0920

Dispositivo Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1               1        3918    31463302   83  Linux
/dev/sda2            9353        9729     3028252+   5  Extended
/dev/sda3            3919        6634    21816270   83  Linux
/dev/sda4            6635        9352    21832335   83  Linux
/dev/sda5            9353        9729     3028221   82  Linux swap / Solaris

Le voci nella tabella delle partizioni non sono nello stesso ordine del disco

Disco /dev/sdb: 122.9 GB, 122942324736 byte
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14946 cylinders
Units = cilindri of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xad0dad0d

Dispositivo Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *           1       14946   120053713+  83  Linux

Disco /dev/sdc: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 byte
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cilindri of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xe25ce25c

Dispositivo Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdc1   *           1       38912   312560608+   7  HPFS/NTFS

I have just tried to install Fedora 9 [first] and openSUSE 10.3 [then], but for some reason that I still don't know, while Ubuntu and openSUSE were booting fine from GRUB, the GRUB gave me an error about Fedora boot [GRUB Error 2: Bad file or directory].
I am quite sure that my menu.lst was configured fine, but I'd like to have your opinion and your how-to's.

Now I have erased every trace of Fedora and openSUSE, leaving just Ubuntu as my first OS, with a 100% working GRUB.

I'd like to know how to proceed... If I have to install GRUB on sda as Fedora is asking me while installing it, and how to edit the GRUB from openSUSE installation.

I confide in your reply, and I am here for any question you would make.
Thanks forward.

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

Best way is, keep using Ubuntu's GRUB and install GRUB of Fedora and SuSe in boot sector of their / ( root ) partitions.

Let say, you are planning to install Fedora in /dev/sda3 and SuSe in /dev/sda4. During installation of Fedora, type /dev/sda3 in Boot Loader location box. Installer will install GRUB in boot sector. Do the same during SuSe installation. Type /dev/sda4.

Add this code in Ubuntu's menu.lst file to add entries of Fedora and SuSe in its GRUB Menu :

title Fedora
rootnoverify (hd0,2)
chainloader +1

title OpenSuSe
rootnoverify (hd0,3)
chainloader +1

[deviantdark]

I thank you very much.
I begin the installations and will let you know.
I hope your explanation [clear as the sun] will work... stay tuned!

[devils casper]

You are Welcome !
Waiting for your response. Good Luck !

[deviantdark]

Everything just worked fine!
Thanks a lot man...

I only changed something: I didn't let Ubuntu GRUB manage my accesses, because I don't like it's crappy skin, and I can't get in to install gfxboot into Hardy [I did it with Gutsy... I don't know why I cannot in Hardy].

So: I installed GRUB of Fedora into /dev/sda3 [ad you adviced], then I let openSUSE's GRUB manage my access.
Everything's like I wanted, now...

I hope I will give my help into this forum... I owe you a favor

See ya!

[devils casper]

Glad to help you deviantdark !