Installing grub to linux partition

**abierstedt** · 03-14-2007

i am finally returning to the task of dual booting vista and Linux, i believe i have ironed out all of the problems with this.

scenario-

Installing Linux after Vista which is as of now my primary operating system

These will both be on 1 250 GB HD

When i am given the option to install grub (default at (hd0))
can i actually change that to a label such as (h0,1) since that is where my linux partition is?

If not, i have obtained the alternate 6.10 CD so i can do something with that

a quick reply will be most appreciated

thankyou

**abierstedt** · 03-15-2007

well my friends that clearly didn't work. I assume that doesn't work because it installed grub to the master boot record

i make this assumption because in my grub list, Ubuntu was loaded from (hd0,0)

and Vista was set at (hd0,1) which it clearly isn't located at

vista happens to be located at the second partition of the 3 on this disk
and Ubuntu is the 1st partition with the swap at 3

another strange thing was that when vista was found by default, it showed as booting from /dev/sda2

there is no sda2 because i only have used one hard drive and disconnected the rest for this task

i recovered vista and i still have my Ubuntu system installed.

What should i do to install grub on the Linux partition and safely ad Vista to the grub list?

i have the alternate install cd and a super grub disk

I hope to not need to re install ubuntu again because i have done it way too many times, and i cant reinstall vista because i already had to re activate it once and that process is a pain.

from what i have read everything will be fine once i get grub on the linux partition. After that i think i am supposed to copy the xboot.bin file with the grub information and out in the system directory of my vista installation (somewhere on the C drive i assume right??)

ok im done typing please help me i really want to learn Linux, i even bought a book haha

-------EDIT-------------------------------

well rejoice i have dual boot them, BUT!!! not necessarily how i wanted to.

i am using the windows boot manager, i have the option of booting vista or grub, well i label it ubuntu but at least it works. I did this with EasyBCD. I have no idea why i cant ad vista to the grub menu, it just wont work. I basically want to just use grub and not the window boot manager. Any ideas on what to do??

**devils casper** · 03-15-2007

GRUB must be installed in the MBR of disk. you did right thing but something messed up.

another strange thing was that when vista was found by default, it showed as booting from /dev/sda2

sda -- SATA harddisk Primary Master, 2 -- third partition

boot up from Ubuntu LiveCD, open terminal and execute this

Code:

sudo fdisk -l

post output here.

**abierstedt** · 03-15-2007

thats a useful tool

the middle sda is 2 sorry for the mistake

is there an easier way to copy this?? i wrote it down then posted haha

thats all you need right??

thankyou

**devils casper** · 03-15-2007

boot up Ubuntu and post the contents of /boot/grub/menu.lst file.

Code:

sudo less /boot/grub/menu.lst

if internet connect is working in Ubuntu, attach that file here.

**abierstedt** · 03-15-2007

i dont have access to internet with ubuntu because of wireless, i can possibly do that at work tomorrow

anything else i can do?

**devils casper** · 03-15-2007

try this, open /boot/grub/menu.lst file

Code:

gksu gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

add this code at the end of file

Code:

title WIndows Vista 
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
chainloader +1

save file and execute this

Code:

sudo grub-install /dev/sda

reboot machine.

**abierstedt** · 03-15-2007

when i typed sudo grub-install /dev/sda it tried to install grub on sda it returned by saying

does not have any corresponding BIOS Drive

and the entry brings me back to the windows boot manager

i will have access to direct connect to the internet later this afternoon when im working

perhaps uninstalling easybcd will make it boot to vista with the entry you suggested?

i dont want to try it until i get your input though, and because i dont quite understand why it is located ad hd0,1 because i have vista on the second partition

thanks for all the help thus far

**devils casper** · 03-15-2007

does not have any corresponding BIOS Drive

post the contents of device.map file too.

Code:

less /boot/grub/device.map

i dont want to try it until i get your input though, and because i dont quite understand why it is located ad hd0,1 because i have vista on the second partition

you have SATA harddisk and GRUB shouldn't throw this error.
partition numbers starts from 0. first partition is hd0,0 and second partition is hd0,1.

**abierstedt** · 03-15-2007

oh i understand i just thought that grubs syntax started with hard drives at 0 and partitions at 1. Or is it an eception since the linux partition is ext3? that probably doesnt matter though.

ok well, i will post the device map too. that will be in about 2 hours from right now.

So what you are saying from the last quote is that i can remove my linux entry from easyBCD and grub should still boot? Since the entry for vista you gave me re directed my to the Windows boot option menu?

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