grub won't boot Windows XP.

**TauLepton** · 07-02-2005

I just installed Debian "sarge" dual booting with Windows XP Home Edition.
My bootloader is GRUB, but I didn't install it to the MBR. Now Debian boots just fine, but Windows refuses to load. when I select it from the list, it just says:

rootnoverify (hd0,2)
savedefault
chainloader +1

which, byt the way, is what's written in /boot/grub/menu.lst

I've changed rootnoverify to root, but that just makes it say "unknown file system" before it hangs.
Could this be caused by a bad bootsector on the windows partition? I recently had to fix it (It was listed sometimes as FAT12, sometimes FAT16, and sometimes NTFS.)

**dylunio** · 07-02-2005

You may want to try changng the windows stanza in the menu.lst file to

title Windows
map (hd0) (hd2)
map (hd2) (hd0)
rootnoverify (hd0,2)
savedefault
chainloader +1

**TauLepton** · 07-04-2005

When I do that, it gives me a generic "error loading OS. Press any key to restart" type of message. (I don't know exactly what it says as I don't have access to that computer right now.) This message seems to come from windows rather than GRUB, so that's a good sign. Still won't boot, though. Do I need to configure boot.ini or something like that?

**dylunio** · 07-04-2005

Can you post the exact error message you get when booting XP?

**TauLepton** · 07-05-2005

Sorry. It says "Disk error. Press any key to restart."

**loft306** · 07-06-2005

try putting this in your menu.lst instead

Code:

title Windows
map &#40;hd0,0&#41; &#40;hd0,2&#41;
map &#40;hd0,2&#41; &#40;hd0,0&#41;
rootnoverify &#40;hd0,2&#41;
makeactive
savedefault
chainloader +1

if this dosnt work then please paste the output of

Code:

fdisk -l

(and that is a small 'l' ell not a '1'one)
that is to be typed in a shell,terminal,konsole

**TauLepton** · 07-06-2005

I just formatted my windows partition, reinstalled XP, and now everything works fine. I think that the NT bootcode had somehow gotten fubared. Anyway, thanks for the help! case closed.

**danwoodard** · 12-09-2005

Thanks, your menu.lst entry did allow me to boot XP, Not sure why the map statements are needed, however.

title Windows
map (hd0,0) (hd0,2)
map (hd0,2) (hd0,0)
rootnoverify (hd0,2)
makeactive
chainloader +1

Thanks,

Dan

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grub won't boot Windows XP.

It worked for me (menu.lst to boot XP)

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