Cannot dual-boot Windows XP after Linux RH9 install

[fries321]

I just installed Red Hat 9 (yes, I know it is old) on a spare FAT32 partition
on a machine that had been factory pre-loaded with WinXP Home Edition,
SP1. The installation went well, Linux boots fine, but I cannot boot WinXP
any more.


********* HERE ARE THE DETAILS ***********

======= Prior to Linux install

I had two physical drives, with two partitions on the first physical drive
(yes I know C: is the 2nd partition):

C: IDE Master Drive 0 Partition 1 NTFS ~110GB
D: IDE Master Drive 0 Partition 0 FAT32 ~5GB
E: IDE Slave Drive 1 Partition 0 NTFS ~80GB

======= After Linux install

Loaded Linux onto D: (called /dev/hda2 in Linux)

Used manual partitioning to find the D: drive (hda1) and specified that is
where I wanted Linux loaded


From the System Tools => Hardware Browser => Disk Drives screen:

device start end size type
/dev/hda
1 1 <1 Free space
hda1 1 583 4570 ext3
hda2 583 14595 109915 ntfs
14595 14597 13 Free space
/dev/hdb
hdb1 1 9964 78160 ntfs


From the /boot/grub/grub.conf file:

default=0
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,0)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.20-
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20-8 ro root=LABEL=/ hdd=ide-scsi
initrd /boot/initrd-2.4.20-8.img
title Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
makeactive
chainloader +1


======== When I try to boot my PC

I get the GRUB spash screen with the boot options. When I select Linux,
the PC boots without a problem. However, when I select Windows XP, I
see the commands in grub.conf being executed, but then the boot just
hangs after "chainloader +1".

Some people, in response to a non-booting XP, have suggested adding:

map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)

to the Windows XP section. However, I think that only swaps the drives,
not the partition on a drive.


HELP !?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[Opnosforatou]

Boot up linux, login as root and edit the file: /etc/grub.conf

Remove or put a # infront of: makeactive

Save the file and exit.
Reboot your machine.

Did this work ?

[fries321]

I tried that, did not work. I also tried every possible combination of
rootnoverify (hd0..hd1, 0..1..2) to no avail. I also tried re-mapping
(hd0) and (hd1), as well as (hd0,0) and (hd0,1) to no avail.

I tried every suggested modification, from this and several other Linux
forums, to the grub.conf file, none of which worked.

I figured out that, since Linux was on the first HD/first partition
and Windows XP was on the first HD/second partition (I just used the
partitioning that HP had provided me pre-loaded,) Linux had replaced
the WinXP boot loader with GRUB on the first partition but had failed to
put the WinXP boot loader on the second partition. So, I figured I would
use the WinXP Recovery System to put the WinXP MBR onto the second
partition.

Unfortunately, after I ran bootcfg and fixmbr, the WinXP MBR had been
put back onto the first partition (Linux) rather than the desired second
partition, rendering my PC unbootable. At that point, I just gave up
and decided to re-partition the HD and load WinXP on the first partition
and create space for Linux on the second partition (backwards from
before.) I only got as far last night as loading WinXP -- tonight I will load
Linux. Thanks for the help.

Incedentally, the partitions were set up the way there were by HP (pre-
loaded.)

[fomhoire]

yeah had similar problem with packard bell there fat32 has other things in the D: drive then just the boot loader which you need to get it up and running. the way youve just done it should work if not remove all the partitions reinstall xp from a standerd cd and then install rh9.

[tomis]

I had the same problem, try set HDD access mode to Large in BIOS.
I have discovered that solution by mistake

[uldisv]

I had the same problem, try set HDD access mode to Large in BIOS.
I have discovered that solution by mistake

That did not help. Even more - it said "Disk read error"

[linuxfordummies]

When you run fixmbr from the Windows XP recovery console, you must specify the partition whose mbr you want fixed.
To do this , first run the Map command from the recovery console to find out the device name for the partition whose mbr you want to fix. It will be something like \Device\HardDisk0
Then type fixmbr device name
(where device name would be the name you got from the Map command )
This should fix the mbr of the desired partition.

[shajuthomasn]

1. boot into linux
2. vi /boot/grub/grub.conf
======================
#boot=/dev/sda
default=5
timeout=5

#hiddenmenu

======================

hope it can make...

reg
saju-

[techieMoe]

shajuthomasn, although we're all happy you're willing to help out, posting an answer to a thread that's 4 years old isn't the best way to do it. There's very little chance that the original poster is still having issues with this. Please do lend a hand to some of our newer posts however.