Can't Dual Boot...

Simian

Simian

Simian

Soldato
Joined
19 Oct 2002
Posts
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Location
Swindoniantown
I've recently re-built my system and encountered a few minor problems (http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17894470&highlight=username_Simian)

The main one being I can't seem to get my system to dual boot!!...

I've tried Ubuntu, Ubuntu-Studio, Mint, and a few other distros with the same result...

It installs fine, setting up the Partitions etc.. Installing and placing Grub on the boot partition.. but then when I reboot it just ignores the Grub and boots straight into Windows :confused:

My System is: (I know its crap!!..)

Abit NF8-V2 (socket 754)
AMD64 (Newcastle) 3400+
1.5Gb PC3200
nVidia 7300GT AGP
250Gb SATA Maxtor (Boot) - SATA Master
200Gb IDE Maxtor (Music/Photos etc..) - IDE Master
20Gb IDE Quantum (Linux) - IDE Slave
120Gb USB OneTouch (Backup)
Windows XP Professional SP3
Linux any Version (non-bootable Grub)

Anyone know how to sort this and possibly get my Linux working??? :(:(

Cheers
Sim. :(
 
You installed grub to the boot partition? That means the windows bootloader is on the MBR of your hard drive, which is where the bios will look for it and hence it finds it and loads windows.

Install grub to the MBR to overwrite the windows loader, then add windows to grub and it should be fine. Also make sure your bios is booting the correct hard drive first.
 
It sounds like your bios is booting from a different hard drive to the one grub is installed on. Go into your bios and try changing the boot order for the hard drives.
 
tntcoder said:
You installed grub to the boot partition? That means the windows bootloader is on the MBR of your hard drive, which is where the bios will look for it and hence it finds it and loads windows.

Install grub to the MBR to overwrite the windows loader, then add windows to grub and it should be fine. Also make sure your bios is booting the correct hard drive first.
Click to expand...

Sorry I meant it installed into the MBR (at least thats what the progress thinggy said!!)..

|Thomas| said:
It sounds like your bios is booting from a different hard drive to the one grub is installed on. Go into your bios and try changing the boot order for the hard drives.
Click to expand...

If I do that won't it throw a flid at boot and not boot at all!!...

It goes...

First Boot: Floppy
Second Boot: CDROM (of which I have 2)
Third Boot: Hard Disk
Boot Other Device: Disabled

Hard Disk Booth Priority:

250Gb SATA Drive - Windows Install
20Gb IDE Drive - Linux Install
200Gb IDE Drive - Storage
Any Other Add In Cards - What ever that is!!...

:confused::confused:
 
Simian said:
If I do that won't it throw a flid at boot and not boot at all!!...

It goes...

First Boot: Floppy
Second Boot: CDROM (of which I have 2)
Third Boot: Hard Disk
Boot Other Device: Disabled

Hard Disk Booth Priority:

250Gb SATA Drive - Windows Install
20Gb IDE Drive - Linux Install
200Gb IDE Drive - Storage
Any Other Add In Cards - What ever that is!!...

:confused::confused:
Click to expand...

If it doesn't boot after changing it just change the boot order back to what it was originally :).

As far as I'm aware ubuntu always installs grub to the MBR of the hard drive it is installed to by default, so change the hard drive boot order to:

20Gb IDE Drive - Linux Install
250Gb SATA Drive - Windows Install
200Gb IDE Drive - Storage

If, for whatever reason, ubuntu hasn't installed grub to the MBR of the 20gb hard drive then the bios will then try boot of the next hard drive. This means that even if I'm wrong you should still be able to boot into windows. It will probably increase your boot up time though.

For future record, I believe the final page of the ubuntu install gives you the option of install grub onto MBRs of alternative hard drives by clicking on the advanced button. Don't quote me on that mind.
 
using the live cd, go to a terminal/command line and do the following as root:
Code: 
blah@blah ~# grub
root (hd0,0)
setup (hd0)
quit
blah@blah ~# init 6
and eject the cd before it reboots.
 
Dj_Jestar said:
using the live cd, go to a terminal/command line and do the following as root:
Code: 
blah@blah ~# grub
root (hd0,0)
setup (hd0)
quit
blah@blah ~# init 6
and eject the cd before it reboots.
Click to expand...

That won't work in this case, his partition scheme isn't set out like that. You could do something along the lines of:

Code: 
grub
find /boot/grub/stage1
root <the harddrive/partition it lists>
setup (hd0)
quit
init6

That should work, but it's a bit more complicated than my method above. Plus if it doesn't write to the MBR properly for whatever reason then you are left not being able to boot into windows or linux anymore.
 
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