linux boot loader help

[dstich]

i want to run mandrake 10 and win xp and when i first turn on the computer i want to beable to select what os i want to use is ther a way to do that plz help me i think the boot loader with mandrake is LILO thx for the help

[MulderMan]

i think with mandrake the boot loaders are lilo and grub, unfortunatly i couldnt get them to work either :(. some people say setup multi-boot in windows but i havent discovered that.

[mikeL]

Where are you installing the linux boot loader, you want install it in /dev/hda (which is your C: drive) so it over writes the windows boot partition. It should also list your Windows OS, so you can select either Linux or Windows.

Mike

[QuickSilver]

Nuts, that means I have to reinstall Grub. How do I go about doing that?

[ogrerocks]

If your bootloader isn't working, you might as well just re-install everything.

[mikeL]

Quicksilver, have you tried the following command
grub-install /dev/hda

[QuickSilver]

Nope. Where do you enter that?

[QuickSilver]

I installed Grub to /dev/hda, but it still doesn't work. I have tried an alternate boot loader mady by Ranish instead, and this boot loader comes up, but I can't get it to boot linux. You have to tell it what partiton to boot from. When I tell it to boot from my main NTFS partition, WinXP boots fine. When I try to boot from the primary Linux partition, nothing happens. I must be doing something wrong, but I don't know what. :confused:

[mikeL]

oops, I guess if you can't get into Linux you sure aren't going to be able to enter that command, now are you. sorry.

As ogrerocks said you may have to re-install linux.

[QuickSilver]

Ok, I finally just started from scratch with a clean blank HDD. I am running Fedora2 right now. The Grub boot loader comes up and everything just fine. Hopefully I can put WinXP on and have it still work.

[mikeL]

grub should find your windows install without any problems, good luck, and welcome to the world of Linux.

Once you get the basics figured out you'll like it alot.

Mike

[QuickSilver]

Wow, and boy is it different too! LOL. I'm using it right now. I don't even know where to install stuff or anything now! A whole new world. Back to school I go man! :D

[QuickSilver]

Ok, when I install Windows (any version), it takes over and the sytem will just boot directly to Windows. I have tried installing Windows first, and that makes no difference. I have made sure every time that Grub is going to the MBR. No dice. I finally gave up and decided to run Linux off of another HDD. I installed it there, changed the boot sequence in the BIOS, and got nothing but a boot disk error. Does Linux have to be on a master drive or something? This is really starting to get old. all I want to do is just get Linux to run so I can learn some how to use it. :(

[mikeL]

You can have linux installed on any drive you want, it dosen't have to be on the primary drive.

After you installed linux on the different drive, where did it install the bootloader? If you are using lilo or grub, you still want it to be installed on /dev/hda (C:drive). If your using ranish, I know nothing about it. (sorry)

You shouldn't have to change the boot sequence, If the linux bootloader is installed on the MBR (C:drive) you should see it at boot up.

Did you create a boot disk when installing linux? there should be a repair option when booted from the floppy.

[QuickSilver]

Ok, I'll try it on that drive with the boot loader in the MBR again. Last time I tried that with Linux on the same phisical drive as Windows, it didn't work. Not sure what I'm doing here, LOL. I don't undersand Linux, so I'm mostly just going by trial and error, and what help I can get online.

[mikeL]

Quuicksilver, this site may help you out on your install, don't get discouraged keep pluggin' away, and it will work out.

http://beginnerslinux.org/

Mike

[QuickSilver]

Thanks for the link. Ill check it out. :)

[Rugpriest]

Ive found that if you install windows first, then the linux bootloader (lilo or grub) will detect it and add it to the boot list but this doesnt seem to happen in your case. Have you tried booting from the linux cd and doing a repair on the linux os? It may give you the option to replace the MBR and then configure it to your liking.

[QuickSilver]

Yes, I have tried that too. :(

[Markoman01027]

Ok, I'll try it on that drive with the boot loader in the MBR again. Last time I tried that with Linux on the same phisical drive as Windows, it didn't work. Not sure what I'm doing here, LOL. I don't undersand Linux, so I'm mostly just going by trial and error, and what help I can get online.

Thats the way to learn, Quicksilver. You screw something up..you learn how to fix it :)