Cant find other OS

[sterlingb06]

I had a laptop with xp and a destop with vista. I loaded mandriva 2008 on seperate partitions in each computer. I got both linux OS's to work fine but when i wanted to get back in windows... grub doesnt find it. When i start the computer it goes directly to mandriva (on both computers) and i dont even have the option to get into windows. On my laptop i can get into the files from mandriva but on the desktop (where all my important files are) i cannot even do that. Is there any way i can get into those harddrives and get the data off or find a way to get back into windows. I know very little about linux (first time) and i need some help.

Thanks,
Sterling

[yancek]

Log in to Mandriva and as root type the command: fdisk -l (Lower case letter L) and post it here along with the output of the /boot/grub/menu.lst file. Since you're having problems on two computers, be sure to specifiy for which computer the output is.

When you boot, do you get a menu listing different options for Mandriva?

[sterlingb06]

I have done some rearranging on both computers. I have only been messing with my laptop incase i lose files it is not a big deal. I reinstalled windows over mandriva, got xp working and then reinsalled mandriva again as well. Still get the same thing (dont have the option to get into windows).


I am not so well with linux codes so here is what i put into my konsole.

[sterling@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost sterling]# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/hda: 60.0 GB, 60011642880 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7296 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x94e494e4

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 4466 35873113+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda2 4467 7296 22731975 5 Extended
/dev/hda5 4467 5485 8185086 83 Linux
/dev/hda6 5486 5940 3654756 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/hda7 5941 7296 10892038+ 83 Linux

[root@localhost sterling]# /boot/grub/menu.lst
bash: /boot/grub/menu.lst: Permission denied
[root@localhost sterling]#

I couldnt get the /boot/grub/menu.lst thing to work. Im not sure i did that right.


I have the option to get in Mandriva and Mandriva Safe.

Again, any help is apprectiated!!

Thanks,
Sterling

[devils casper]

Execute this

less /boot/grub/menu.lst

Or open menu.lst file in any Text Editor like kate or gedit.

Post contents of menu.lst file.

[sterlingb06]

I couldnt find kate or gedit but i do have konsole. So in konsole i typed in that command and this is what popped up.



initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd.img

title linux-nonfb
kernel (hd0,4)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux-nonfb root=UUID=c779e482-06dd-47b9-92f5-559ed67e5d9b resume=/dev/hda6
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd.img

title failsafe
kernel (hd0,4)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=failsafe root=UUID=c779e482-06dd-47b9-92f5-559ed67e5d9b failsafe
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd.img

title desktop586 2.6.24.4-1mnb
kernel (hd0,4)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24.4-desktop586-1mnb BOOT_IMAGE=desktop586_2.6.24.4-1mnb root=UUID=c779e482-06dd-47b9-92f5-559ed67e5d9b resume=/dev/hda6 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd-2.6.24.4-desktop586-1mnb.img

title desktop586 2.6.24.5-2mnb
kernel (hd0,4)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24.5-desktop586-2mnb BOOT_IMAGE=desktop586_2.6.24.5-2mnb root=UUID=c779e482-06dd-47b9-92f5-559ed67e5d9b resume=/dev/hda6 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd-2.6.24.5-desktop586-2mnb.img
~



I also used the find files and searched for menu.lst and this is what it says...


timeout 10
color black/cyan yellow/cyan
gfxmenu (hd0,4)/boot/gfxmenu
default 0

title linux
kernel (hd0,4)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux root=UUID=c779e482-06dd-47b9-92f5-559ed67e5d9b resume=/dev/hda6 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd.img

title linux-nonfb
kernel (hd0,4)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux-nonfb root=UUID=c779e482-06dd-47b9-92f5-559ed67e5d9b resume=/dev/hda6
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd.img

title failsafe
kernel (hd0,4)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=failsafe root=UUID=c779e482-06dd-47b9-92f5-559ed67e5d9b failsafe
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd.img

title desktop586 2.6.24.4-1mnb
kernel (hd0,4)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24.4-desktop586-1mnb BOOT_IMAGE=desktop586_2.6.24.4-1mnb root=UUID=c779e482-06dd-47b9-92f5-559ed67e5d9b resume=/dev/hda6 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd-2.6.24.4-desktop586-1mnb.img

title desktop586 2.6.24.5-2mnb
kernel (hd0,4)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24.5-desktop586-2mnb BOOT_IMAGE=desktop586_2.6.24.5-2mnb root=UUID=c779e482-06dd-47b9-92f5-559ed67e5d9b resume=/dev/hda6 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd-2.6.24.5-desktop586-2mnb.img



Thanks,
Sterling

[yancek]

You don't have a stanza entry for windows in your menu.lst file. Put the following entry in menu.lst (make sure there is a space before the +1 in bottom line.

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

[devils casper]

Is that a complete output? You have to add an entry for Windows OS in menu.lst as suggested by yancek.
Execute this

su -
nano /boot/grub/menu.lst

Add this code at the end of file :

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

Press Ctrl+X, Y and hit Enter key to save file. Reboot machine and select Windows title in GRUB Menu. Check if Windows OS boots up fine.

[sterlingb06]

Thanks,

I actually just reinstalled windows... again... all on a different partition that the linux system, and now i have windows up and going. But as of now, i cant get into linux (goes straight to windows). I thought i was computer literate but im running in circles. I can do this loop on more time and reload linux again; then when i cannot get into windows i can put that code in. But, a better option might be, if there is a code that i can put in the windows OS that will give me the option to boot to either XP or linux. Maybe through command prompt or something. Again i am not familiar with coding but i would figure, if anyone would know it would be one of you two.

Again, thanks for all the help. I see the light at the end of this dark tunnel!

Sterling

[devils casper]

You have to re-install Linux Boot Loader (GRUB) again. Boot up from SuperGRUB CD and select Fix Linux Boot Loader (GRUB) option.

[sterlingb06]

Was i supposed to download the exe file at the top of the page or an iso file. I did the exe file and when i rebooted and started the boot loader it said "failed to fix" and have a big sad face. Then said press any button to reboot. And i could go through that loop or go into windows. So as of now the problem is still there....