How to recover entry to Linux after installation of WindowsXP in another partition

[vvvrrr]

Hi,

After installation of Windows XP in the disk where Linux was installed in another partition the GRUB menu allowing to choose operation system to load dissapeared. This menu previously appeared right after switching the computer on. But after installation of Windows in the partition intended for it only WindowsXP is loaded automatically once I switch on my computer. But switching it on with Linux rescure cd-disk results in loading my ordinary Linux from hard drive. This shows that Linux is not destroyed at the loading of Windows, but just made unreachable. Possibly installation program for Windows has destroyed GRUB or some of its files. Does somebody know how to restore normal functioning of GRUB?

Details:

I am using Scientific Linux 4, which is derivative of RedHat Enterprise Linux.
I have currently installed WindowsXP SP3. But previously I had the same problem with SP2 at the same computer and the same partition. At that time I needed to reinstall the full Linux after installation of Windows. This was not a problem, since this was right after its purchase and there was nothing useful. But recently I needed to re-install Windows, now it is SP3. And unfortunately I have received expected result: Windows have been installed, but it made unreachable Linux. Now I need to find a way to solve the problem with fixing access through GRUB to all systems without reinstallation of Linux, since it will be too time consuming to pass all its adjustments and loading which I need.

Probably the problem is typical and well-known. Grub, Linux in one partition and installation or re-installation of WindowsXP in another partition. How to repire GRUB and entries to all systems after that?

Thank you for any information.
Igor

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

The SuperGRUB LiveCD will usually work to recover the GRUB bootloader, as needed:

Super Grub Disk Homepage

[vvvrrr]

Thank you.

But I cannot somewhy reach this page. My mozilla shows only:

Table './supergrubdisk/sgd_smf_log_online' is marked as crashed and should be repaired

Interestingly, there is a site www dot supergrubdisk dot com, but it looks suspitiously. Google shows many references to www dot supergrubdisk dot org, but they do not work with mozilla.

(I printing dot instead of ., because otherwise it says:You are only allowed to post URLs to other sites after you have made 15 posts or more. )

[rokytnji]

Here is Supergrubdisks Old Website. Super Grub Disk Webpage: Download

It seems the new site server is having problems. You can wait till it comes back up or try the link I just gave to download. I was wondering also. I think I remember Ozar or Moe mentioning that the new Parted Magic Iso includes Super grub disk in the Bootable Live Iso ( It could just be the voices in my head wishing it were so to). But for the life of me I can't remember.
Might be worth checking out News

[vvvrrr]

Hi,

OK, I clicking at this reference, then click on download, then
click on "Super Grub Disk CURRENT Cdrom ISO" (since I do not know how to load my computer from USB) and it shows:

No File Packages
There are no file packages defined for this project.


If I click at rext reference ("Super Grub Disk Current Cdrom ISO (#1 Mirror") ), it shows a whole list:

Index of /Super_Grub_Disk/download/binaries/sgd
Filename Description
bzip2-100-x86-win32.exe
sgd_0.9588.iso
sgd_0.9588.iso.gz
sgd_0.9590.iso
sgd_0.9590.iso.gz
sgd_0.9598.iso
sgd_0.9598.iso.bz2
sgd_0.9642.iso
sgd_0.9642.iso.bz2
sgd_0.9662.iso
sgd_0.9662.iso.bz2
sgd_0.9662.iso.zip
sgd_0.9667.iso
sgd_0.9667.iso.bz2
sgd_0.9667.iso.gz
sgd_0.9667.iso.zip
sgd_0.9670.iso
sgd_0.9670.iso.bz2
sgd_0.9670.iso.gz
sgd_0.9670.iso.zip
super_grub_disk_0.9689.iso
super_grub_disk_0.9701.iso
super_grub_disk_0.9701.iso.bz2
super_grub_disk_0.9710.iso
super_grub_disk_0.9711.iso
super_grub_disk_0.9716.iso
super_grub_disk_0.9718.iso
super_grub_disk_0.9722.iso
super_grub_disk_0.9725.iso
super_grub_disk_0.9726.iso
super_grub_disk_0.9763.iso
super_grub_disk_0.9770.iso
super_grub_disk_0.9783.iso
super_grub_disk_0.9795.iso
supergrubdisk_0.9677.iso
supergrubdisk_0.9677.iso.bz2
supergrubdisk_0.9677.iso.gz
supergrubdisk_0.9677.iso.zip

There is no any description.
What of this I am expected to copy to CDROM? What do these numbers "9588" etc. mean?

[rokytnji]

What do these numbers "9588" etc. mean?

Those are release numbers. 9558 is a earlier release of Supergrub disk. The one below that I copied and pasted is the latest version on the list. Download and burn a image of that ISO and set bios to boot CDROM first and Use it to fix grub.



super_grub_disk_0.9795.iso

[exkor5000]

I hope XP was install first... otherwise you will get ackward lettering for the partitions in Windows.

The simplest way to solve this is to load a rescue CD, either your distribution native or RHEL, or even a live CD such as Slax for the matter. You can even probably achieve this by using the installation CD and jump out to the shell (ALT-F2 or some other F key).

After boot you will need to mount the Scientific Linux root "/" unto your current root with the "chroot" command. For example, if I know that the Scientific Linux root is at /dev/hda7 I would do this:

mkdir /mnt/hd
mount /dev/hda7 /mnt/hd
chroot /mnt/hd

If you have a separate partition for "/boot" then you would need to mount it as well:

mount /dev/hdaX /boot

Then install GRUB. If for example I knew that I wanted to install it into the MBR of /dev/hda I would do:

/sbin/grub-install /dev/hda

reboot and you're all set.
Next step is to add Windows to the boot menu, but that's a different topic.


Best!

[vvvrrr]

Those are release numbers. 9558 is a earlier release of Supergrub disk. The one below that I copied and pasted is the latest version on the list. Download and burn a image of that ISO and set bios to boot CDROM first and Use it to fix grub.



super_grub_disk_0.9795.iso

Many thanks to "ozar" and "rokytnji". I took this version.
It was not obvious to what one should click in SuperGRUB menu, but after some trials one of the buttons (that one, which as far as I vaguely remember, contained "LINUX 1" phrase) restored all original grub menu at switching computer on.

To exkor5000: I have Windows installed last in time and in second partition. So far there is no "ackward lettering" noticed.

Thanks to all.
Igor