installed windows after linux. linux gone

[killazys]

Yes, it was a dumb mistake. But now I need to fix it. The partition I have installed linux is on is the second one on hd0, and it's linux mint 7 (helena) running kernal 2. (something I can't remember) - 11. It's the XFCE community edition. How do I use a bootloader to select between them, now that I can't access it? ..

Help, please

[oz]

Yep, Windows will overwrite the bootloader every time when you install it after Linux. You should be able to use the SuperGRUB Live Disk to easily restore your Linux bootloader:

Super Grub Disk Homepage

[penguin2]

Or he can use this guide?:
How to repair your grub - Linux Mint

....since he's using a version of Mint?

I'm not so sure about SuperGrub. I guess you recommend it, ozar?

[oz]

I'm not so sure about SuperGrub. I guess you recommend it, ozar?

Generally speaking, SuperGRUB should work with any distribution.

[hrasdt]

Just put the Linux install disk in, and select "Rescue", "Recover", or similar from the menu. This reinstalls the GRUB loader without wiping your disk. I'm pretty sure most major distributions have this function, because of Windows overwriting GRUB.
My experience with SuperGRUB has been that it's quite hard to follow, even for non-beginners.

[penguin2]

What if you have more than one Linux distro installed? Do you choose the install CD of the distro you want to control the boot loader so it will use its grub?

I was wondering if this is the best method to restore or rebuild grub Legacy? I think there are also some CLI commands that repair grub.

It's something like this?:
HOWTO Restore GRUB

Restoring GRUB on a dual-boot Windows/Linux system

So, in a nutshell, you can choose one of your distros and install grub for it in the MBR and then it will operate your boot loader with its grub. So, a Live CD can do this or you can go to the CLI of the Live CD and run the commands. Right?

If you are using Grub 2 for the boot loader then it's totally different, right? I think you are installing a grub config file or editing it? So, if you are using a later version of Ubuntu, for e.g., you either use Grub Legacy of another distro for your grub boot loader or Ubuntu's Grub 2 but then it's a different process. How do you restore/repair Grub if using Grub 2?

[hrasdt]

Personally, I don't have much experience with Grub2, so I can't help you there. But you were right, you can use any of the LiveCDs to install GRUB, either using the command line or skipping steps in the install procedure.

From the command line, these steps should install Grub properly:

grub # To start the grub command line.
find /boot/grub/menu.lst # To find out which grub-device is your boot partition.
root (hdX,Y) # The device from the previous step.
setup (hdX) # The first part of the device from the previous step. Installs to the MBR.

This was copied almost entirely from the official GRUB site, so unless I've mucked up in my comments, it should work.
The Super GRUB Disk will work with Grub2, but from what I've seen of it, it's tricky to get working if you don't know exactly how to do it.

[SA.com]

Just put the Linux install disk in, and select "Rescue", "Recover", or similar from the menu. This reinstalls the GRUB loader without wiping your disk. I'm pretty sure most major distributions have this function, because of Windows overwriting GRUB.
My experience with SuperGRUB has been that it's quite hard to follow, even for non-beginners.

Dreamlinux does not offer this feature. MME, MMGL, 3.5 DE & 4.0 Alpha require you to re install windowzzz first then DreamLinux.

I know it's a pain, but if you haven't begun to store anything on there yet [I suspect you haven't] then you might want to consider just starting over.

In my book, the DreamLinux Way: A practical Guide for Newbies & Moderate Users, I cover this very topic. I am guessing that you have formatted the partitions already ?

Lemme know If I can help.

Steve