:hmm: Problem with Linux dual-boot - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

TheProf · 09-20-2009, 09:33 PM

Hello,

I hope everyone is doing well!

I have a single hard drive in my laptop where I have both Linux Fedora 11 and Windows XP installed. Originally I was planning on making it a Linux-only machine, but after I found I still needed XP. Because of this I had installed Linux first and then XP. When I installed XP it wiped out the Master Boot Record that let you boot into Linux. So now the computer only boots into XP with no sign of Linux. However the entire linux installation is still there, as I can see it if I use a Linux Live CD to boot the computer.

So the question becomes, how do I get the computer to dual boot both Linux and XP?

Thank you.

Willravel · 09-20-2009, 09:43 PM

I think this might help.

TheProf · 09-20-2009, 09:56 PM

Hello Willravel,

I checked out that link (specifically this link and I got confused as to the parameters for the commands. Here they state root (hd0,0) but for my installation I am not sure that is the same thing. My linux partition is sda5 for the filesystem and sda3 for the linux swap. The other partitions are all NTFS for XP. I'm worried that hd 0,0 will point to the wrong partition and destroy the XP installation.

Or am I worrying about nothing?

Martian · 09-20-2009, 10:12 PM

Grub names devices and partitions differently from Linux itself. hd0,0 corresponds to the first primary partition on the first device -- if you installed Fedora first, that should be the right partition, unless you messed around with the partitions when you installed Windows.

Even if it's wrong, it won't destroy the partition. You'll get a boot error, and have to liveboot again to change the parameters.

And let this be a lesson to you. Windows doesn't play well with other OSes, and should always be installed first in a multi-boot setup.

09-20-2009, 09:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
TheProf Crazy	:hmm: Problem with Linux dual-boot Hello, I hope everyone is doing well! I have a single hard drive in my laptop where I have both Linux Fedora 11 and Windows XP installed. Originally I was planning on making it a Linux-only machine, but after I found I still needed XP. Because of this I had installed Linux first and then XP. When I installed XP it wiped out the Master Boot Record that let you boot into Linux. So now the computer only boots into XP with no sign of Linux. However the entire linux installation is still there, as I can see it if I use a Linux Live CD to boot the computer. So the question becomes, how do I get the computer to dual boot both Linux and XP? Thank you.

09-20-2009, 10:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	Grub names devices and partitions differently from Linux itself. hd0,0 corresponds to the first primary partition on the first device -- if you installed Fedora first, that should be the right partition, unless you messed around with the partitions when you installed Windows. Even if it's wrong, it won't destroy the partition. You'll get a boot error, and have to liveboot again to change the parameters. And let this be a lesson to you. Windows doesn't play well with other OSes, and should always be installed first in a multi-boot setup. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

09-20-2009, 09:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I think this might help.

09-20-2009, 09:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
TheProf Crazy	Hello Willravel, I checked out that link (specifically this link and I got confused as to the parameters for the commands. Here they state root (hd0,0) but for my installation I am not sure that is the same thing. My linux partition is sda5 for the filesystem and sda3 for the linux swap. The other partitions are all NTFS for XP. I'm worried that hd 0,0 will point to the wrong partition and destroy the XP installation. Or am I worrying about nothing?