Dual boot question.

[Jimes]

Not sure where to put this, sorry...

I used linux a long time ago, but when I upgraded my computer for gaming, Cedega just didn't cut it at the time.

When I dual boot, is there anyway I can access my windows harddrive from linux? I really don't want to have to rip 3000 songs from CD, or back them up on DVD, I'm just too lazy.

Thanks.

(EDIT) Haha, I just looked at my post, and it says "Just joined! September 2005"

[Thrillhouse]

Yes, if you dual boot it's not difficult to access your Windows drive. If your Windows is using ntfs file system then you can install ntfs-3g on whichever distro you're using and use it to read/write to your Windows partition.

[Jimes]

Badassery/
NTFS-3g?

Thanks!

I'll go hunting for a walkthrough or something.

I'll be back in 2 years when I have another issue.

[Jimes]

Back earlier then I expect, sorry...

I've used Gparted to partition 20GB off my Harddrive to Linux and 300 to swap. I have Ubuntu 7.04 up and running.

I can't select Windows from grub though, and through my hunting on this site, and others, I've found that it has something to do with fdisk, and menu.lst.

I think I'm supposed to add windows into menu.lst, but I'm hesitant to touch anything right now, for fear of really boning it up.

Also, I'm not sure how to edit menu.lst since it's read only.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

# menu.lst - See: grub(, info grub, update-grub(
# grub-install(, grub-floppy(,
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 3

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=2453b004-8897-43a9-85bf-28b47282af6f ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,6)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic
root (hd0,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=UUID=2453b004-8897-43a9-85bf-28b47282af6f ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic
quiet
savedefault

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=UUID=2453b004-8897-43a9-85bf-28b47282af6f ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic

title Ubuntu, memtest86+
root (hd0,6)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

FDISK

Disk /dev/hda: 200.0 GB, 200049647616 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24321 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 5099 40957686 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda2 5126 24321 154191870 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda5 5127 21695 133090492+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda6 21696 21731 289138+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/hda7 21732 24321 20804143+ 83 Linux

Disk /dev/hdb: 200.0 GB, 200049647616 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24321 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdb1 1 24320 195350368+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

[devils casper]

Execute this

gksu gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Add this code at the end of file

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

Save file and reboot.

[Jimes]

Beauty!
Thanks alot. Now I can learn my way around ubuntu without giving up familierarity!

[devils casper]

Glad to help you. Do start a new thread if you have any other query.