[SOLVED] Tri-Boot Nightmares

[jmadero]

Hi All,

I'm trying to tri-boot, been trying for quite some time and so far, nothing but headaches:

OS's = Fedora Core 11, Ubuntu 9.10, Vista

Current Status:

Installed Ubuntu first, then installed Fedora Core, I have a separate /boot partition. Vista and Fedora Core load fine, Ubuntu gives a "Error 15" on me. Here is my grub

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
# root (hd0,6)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/sda6
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=0
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,6)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora (2.6.30.8-64.fc11.x86_64)
root (hd0,6)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.30.8-64.fc11.x86_64 ro root=UUID=de208c84-b9be-48fb-9fd4-57241235b884 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.30.8-64.fc11.x86_64.img
title Fedora (2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64)
root (hd0,6)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64 ro root=UUID=de208c84-b9be-48fb-9fd4-57241235b884 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64.img
title Ubuntu
rootnoverify (hd0,4)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.31-11-generic ro root=UUID=115a6dc0-3826-4c5d-a117-01ec16f654de quiet
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.31-11-generic
title Other
rootnoverify (hd0,2)
chainloader +1

here was my old grub from only Ubuntu, when Ubuntu loaded fine and so did Vista

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
load_env
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
save_env saved_entry
prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd0,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 115a6dc0-3826-4c5d-a117-01ec16f654de
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
if [ ${recordfail} = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/white
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-11-generic" {
recordfail=1
save_env recordfail
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd0,7)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d443e8af-ce32-47bf-af37-7f3899a91ddd
linux /vmlinuz-2.6.31-11-generic root=UUID=115a6dc0-3826-4c5d-a117-01ec16f654de ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.31-11-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-11-generic (recovery mode)" {
recordfail=1
save_env recordfail
insmod ext2
set root=(hd0,7)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d443e8af-ce32-47bf-af37-7f3899a91ddd
linux /vmlinuz-2.6.31-11-generic root=UUID=115a6dc0-3826-4c5d-a117-01ec16f654de ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.31-11-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64" {
recordfail=1
save_env recordfail
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd0,7)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d443e8af-ce32-47bf-af37-7f3899a91ddd
linux /vmlinuz-2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64 root=UUID=115a6dc0-3826-4c5d-a117-01ec16f654de ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd-2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64.img
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64 (recovery mode)" {
recordfail=1
save_env recordfail
insmod ext2
set root=(hd0,7)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d443e8af-ce32-47bf-af37-7f3899a91ddd
linux /vmlinuz-2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64 root=UUID=115a6dc0-3826-4c5d-a117-01ec16f654de ro single
initrd /initrd-2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64.img
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
linux16 /memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
linux16 /memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sda3)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd0,3)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 045824c05824b1fa
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

for the error 15 I'm not understanding why something wouldn't be found because here is my /boot

config-2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64 memtest86+.bin
config-2.6.30.8-64.fc11.x86_64 System.map-2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64
config-2.6.31-11-generic System.map-2.6.30.8-64.fc11.x86_64
efi System.map-2.6.31-11-generic
grub vmcoreinfo-2.6.31-11-generic
initrd-2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64.img vmlinuz-2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64
initrd-2.6.30.8-64.fc11.x86_64.img vmlinuz-2.6.30.8-64.fc11.x86_64
initrd.img-2.6.31-11-generic vmlinuz-2.6.31-11-generic

all the files being used are located, they are RIGHT THERE.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I changed the hd (#,#) in the conf file, before it was set to 4, I set it to 5 (for Ubuntu), does this refer to the # after sda? Fedora is on sda6, Ubuntu on sda5, Vista on fda3

Thanks all.....

[chris81]

Hi

I think that you did a mistake when you manually edited your new conf file :

(from the old menu.lst from grub)

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-11-generic" {
recordfail=1
save_env recordfail
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd0,7)

and you said :

Fedora is on sda6, Ubuntu on sda5,

also :

Vista on fda3

shouldn't it be on sda3 ?

(anyway, if it boots fine with sda3, don't change it into the config file)


Finally

Also, I changed the hd (#,#) ...

the first # character represent the number of the hd :
hd(0) -> the hd that is plugged to the master ide cable, in master place
hd(1) -> the hd that is plugged to the master ide cable, in slave place
hd(2) -> the hd that is plugged to the slave ide cable, in master place
hd(3) -> the hd that is plugged to the slave ide cable, in slave place

and so on

the second # sign represents the partition number
hd(0,0) -> /boot
hd(0,1) -> /swap
hd(0,2) -> /home

and so on.


Hope it helped.
chris81

[jmadero]

thanks for the advice the #,# was just me saying that numbers are there, not that the pound sign is there. Also, yes, you're right, it was a typo, sda not fda

I am currently having problems with a new config:

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s /boot/grub/grubenv ]; then
have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
save_env saved_entry
prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd0,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set ff69ca81-288e-4249-b82f-cd7c2033c667
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
if [ ${recordfail} = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/white
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd0,7)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9b7f5c38-f0f3-4429-b80f-245acdf55e3b
linux /vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=ff69ca81-288e-4249-b82f-cd7c2033c667 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
menuentry "Fedora release 11 (Leonidas)" {
insmod ext2
set root=(hd0,7)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set cfce4727-d8e6-443d-bf6f-225dbbfc07f8
gfxpayload=1024x768
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64 rhgb root=/dev/sda6
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.29.4-167.fc11.x86_64.img
}


### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
linux16 /memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
linux16 /memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sda3)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd0,3)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 045824c05824b1fa
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

I'm getting an error

"must load kernel first"

when I try to load Fedora core...any suggestions?

[Rubberman]

Personally, I prefer to use a VMM like VirtualBox for running multiple operating systems. I run the most stable Linux version for my hardware at the base, and then others (Windows, Solaris, et al) in virtual machines. It's a LOT safer, easier to set up, and more economical from the storage perspective. Besides, that way I can continue to use my base OS while running applications in the virtual machines.

[jmadero]

yeah I agree, I actually run XP in a Virtual Box for netflix movies. The problem is the WHOLE POINT of this tri boot is to see if I can get a USB 5.1 sound card working in Fedora. There are posts saying it works out of the box or is very easy to set up...in Ubuntu I've put hours and hours trying to get it to work and I can't....having a nice 5.1 speaker set set up and only being able to listen to 2.1 is less than optimal so....I'm willing to switch to Fedora if I can get the sound up....I can't really test that in Virtual Box