About boot loader

[satimis]

Hi folks,

On this PC there are 2 HDs

HD-1, IDE connection - Windows Vista 32bit
HD-2, SATA connection - Fedora 12 64bit (previously)

They were controlled by BIOS for start-up without problem. Just wiped out Fedora and installed Ubuntu 9.10 64bit. During installing GRUB I saved it on Master, IIRC. Now Ubuntu and Vista startup are controlled by boot loader. I have to start Ubuntu first and on kernel selection select (loader)(on/dev/sdb1). Then Vista starts. It works.

How can I restore to its original setup? Their booting is controlled by BIOS. TIA


B.R.
satimis

[devils casper]

I have to start Ubuntu first and on kernel selection select (loader)(on/dev/sdb1).

I am not getting it. What does appear on screen when you switch on machine?
By default, Ubuntu's GRUB Menu having option for both OSes, Ubuntu and Vista should appear.

Post the output of sudo fdisk -l command here.

[satimis]

By default, Ubuntu's GRUB Menu having option for both OSes, Ubuntu and Vista should appear.

That is correct. If I wipe out Ubuntu Vista can't start. I tried pulling out the power cable of HD-2 (SATA), Ubuntu 9.10. Vista can't start.

Post the output of sudo fdisk -l command here.

$ sudo fdisk -l

[sudo] password for satimisu910: 
Sorry, try again.
[sudo] password for satimisu910: 

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0003a4bf

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1      118706   953505913+  83  Linux
/dev/sda2          118707      121601    23254087+   5  Extended
/dev/sda5          118707      121601    23254056   82  Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 40.0 GB, 40027029504 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4866 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0883bef2

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *           1        4867    39086080    7  HPFS/NTFS

B.R.
satimis

[devils casper]

According to output of fdisk -l, Ubuntu Hard disk is Primary disk. Vista should boot up without Ubuntu Hard disk.

What error does Vista display on removing Ubuntu Hard disk?
Post the contents of /boot/grub/device.map and /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober files.

[satimis]

According to output of fdisk -l, Ubuntu Hard disk is Primary disk. Vista should boot up without Ubuntu Hard disk.

No. It can't

Problem solved with following steps;

sudo grub-install /dev/sda
sudo apt-get install lilo
sudo /usr/sbin/liloconfig
sudo /sbin/lilo
sudo lilo -M /dev/sdb mbr

Boot loader is now installed on Ubuntu Hard disk

Vista can either boot

1)
via the boot loader on Ubuntu HD

or
2)
by itself without Ubuntu HD


B.R.
satimis

[devils casper]

You have installed both Boot loaders, GRUB and Lilo and it looks like you are using Lilo now.

Did you change anything in Vista Hard Disk?

[satimis]

You have installed both Boot loaders, GRUB and Lilo and it looks like you are using Lilo now.

Anyway to check?

Did you change anything in Vista Hard Disk?

No. I did not touch Vista Hard Disk


satimis

[devils casper]

Anyway to check?

sudo /sbin/lilo
sudo lilo -M /dev/sdb mbr

Above commands installed Lilo in MBR of Ubuntu Hard disk.

You can check it by looking at startup Menu, if its not hidden. GRUB and Lilo display an info message ( version and other details of boot loader in use ) at startup.

Thats really strange. If you haven't changed anything in Vista then it should boot up fine earlier too.

[satimis]

Above commands installed Lilo in MBR of Ubuntu Hard disk.

You can check it by looking at startup Menu, if its not hidden. GRUB and Lilo display an info message ( version and other details of boot loader in use ) at startup.

Thats really strange. If you haven't changed anything in Vista then it should boot up fine earlier too.

Hi devils casper,

sudo grub-install /dev/sda

to install grub2 on /dev/sda.

sudo lilo -M /dev/sdb mbr

to install generic mbr on /dev/sdb from ubuntu:

# locate grub.cfg

/boot/grub/grub.cfg
/usr/share/doc/grub-pc/examples/grub.cfg

# locate lilo.conf

/usr/share/doc/memtest86+/examples/lilo.conf
/usr/share/man/man5/lilo.conf.5.gz
/var/lib/dpkg/info/lilo.config

B.R.
satimis

[devils casper]

sudo lilo -M /dev/sdb mbr

I didn't notice that its /dev/sdb instead of sda.
You have installed Generic MBR in Vista Hard disk and GRUB2 in Ubuntu Hard disk. Thanx for sharing this.
I think both of OSes are booting up fine now. Just mark this thread as Solved.