Suse 10.3 Grub&XP MBR repair

[gerhardjl]

Hi,
Hardware config -
Two phys Hdrives.
Drv0 = XP first, then install Suse 10.3 on Drv1
On installation both HDrv were connected
Did first installation XP on Drv0, then
Suses installed on Drv1 with GRUB for BootLoading XP/Suse
This means when power-on PC, the suse GRUB facility
prompts me to either boot XP or Suse
I have used this config for a very long time, great!

Problem -
I require both HardDrives to Boot, the MBR on th XP Drv0
probably points to GRUB on Drv1,
And GRUB then probably points to the MBR on Drv0
Thus, I required both Drv0/1 connected to boot XP, or Linux......

Question (I guess, rather rethorical at this time.....)

1> What is the best possible way to restore the Drv0 MBR to boot XP directly as
a standalone single drive. I have read about rescue discs/ bootfix / repair etc, but
I am still not quite sure what my best option is, without destroying XP data on Drv0. Can someone please advise me on this one?

2> I would like to keep my Suse Installation alive, thus modifying the
Drv1 boot record such that when i install it as a single drv, it will boot.
I believe the process woud involve in first to boot to Linux, (as per my current original dual drv with GRUB config) then change the 'bootloader pointer' to drv1 instead of drv0, or something like this.

3> My primary concern at this time though is to make Drv0 as a stand-alone
bootable drv0 to XP, thus repairing/re-instate original std XP MBR?

I appreciate your informative comments....

Regards,
Gerhard

[devils casper]

1> What is the best possible way to restore the Drv0 MBR to boot XP directly as
a standalone single drive. I have read about rescue discs/ bootfix / repair etc, but
I am still not quite sure what my best option is, without destroying XP data on Drv0. Can someone please advise me on this one?

Boot up from Windows Installation CD/DVD and select repair. Execute FIXMBR command at repair prompt. It will re-install Windows Boot Loader. But, Linux will not boot after that because fixmbr command will remove GRUB.

* Remove GRUB from MBR of Windows Disk.
* Plug-in Linux disk as Primary, Windows disk as Secondary.
* Edit /boot/grub/menu.list file and reinstall GRUB in its MBR.
* Add an entry of Windows OS in menu.lst file.

In above method, both disks will be bootable independently.

Post the contents of /boot/grub/menu.lst file and output of fdisk -l command before removing GRUB from MBR of Windows disk.

[gerhardjl]

Thanks, will do it,
Your advice is great!
Regards,
Gerhard