where to put boot record on FC5/XP dual boot system?

hm4288 · #1 26th March 2006, 09:40 AM

i have XP installed and i want to add FC5 to make a dual boot system. going through the installation i went to a step asking where i want to put the boot record. either MBR or another like /boot.

my XP is running quite alright with programs i use very often so i don't want to risk on it. by choosing the /boot above am i be safe to make sure even the FC5 doesn't work i can still able to boot into XP and remove the grub?

i know people here are fans of linux, so am i, but just too green to the linux environment so i hope anyone reading this message can show me the safest method to make sure the dual boot work.

thank you.

p.s. i actually gone through several 'tutorials' on the installation but just seemed to miss out the point i made above.

herrib · #2 26th March 2006, 09:45 AM

Choose MBR.

In case of trouble (Windows no longer accessible), you'll have to boot on the XP CD, choose "restore" and type:

Code:

C:\WINDOWS> fixboot
then confirm
C:\WINDOWS> fixmbr
then confirm
C:\WINDOWS> exit

Don't forget that grub, by default, launch Linux. To display the menu, you will press any key when the grub line is displayed.

wjp · #3 26th March 2006, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herrib

Don't forget that grub, by default, launch Linux. To display the menu, you will press any key when the grub line is displayed.

Or if you prefer, you can edit /boot/grub/menu.lst and set the menu to display by default by changing:

Code:

hiddenmenu

to:

Code:

# hiddenmenu

Cheers

Catlett · #4 26th March 2006, 01:53 PM

Do a full backup of your windows system before you begin. The install should work fine. I experiment all the time with different distros and I never had a problem with Grub. I always have Grub rewrite the MBR. Still, you should make a backup to be safe. That way if something goes wrong you can run your backup which will reformat your hard drive(erasing Grub) and get you back to where you are now. If you only have a boot problem after install the previous post was correct. Boot from your recovery disks (these are the ones from your computer manufacturer, not everyone has an XP install disc) or a XP install disc, enter recovery console and enter the command fixmbr . Good luck, if you have a good backup there isn't too much risk in installing FC5. From the posts I see the people with problems are ones who didn't have a backup.

herrib · #5 26th March 2006, 04:03 PM

Well, well. The MBR (master boot record) is a small part of the hard disk (512 bytes, in a mandatory place) where instructions are stored to launch a loader.

The MBR settled by XP will launch only the XP loader. The MBR settled by Linux will launch Grub, which is able to load a kernel (Linux) or the XP loader.

There's only one place ...

But the partitions are not modified There is no need to back up an XP system if don't modify the NTFS partitions where the XP system is installed.

Catlett · #6 26th March 2006, 05:36 PM

Are you really telling someone not to make a back up of their system before they try to alter their computer to dual boot and rewrite the Master Boot Record? The purpose of a backup is "insurance". A backup will take an hour at most. Once that is done he can go for it worry free. The partition is modified because the MBR is overwritten by Grub. Get insurance. Back up your system then follow the defaults of the installation. Let Grub be put at MBR. You shouldn't have a problem. When your computer boots Grub will give the option to boot to FC5 or XP. If something goes wrong first try the XP recovery console and give the command fixmbr. If that did not work and something more severe happened, run your backup. That will get rid of Grub and your system will boot like before. Good luck.

herrib · #7 26th March 2006, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlett

Are you really telling someone not to make a back up of their system before they try to alter their computer to dual boot and rewrite the Master Boot Record? The purpose of a backup is "insurance". ....The partition is modified because the MBR is overwritten by Grub.

I don't mean to suggest that the back up is no longer an insurance ... I just mentioned that the MBR from FC5 will erase the previous MBR whith no effect on the partitions table. This table, which describes the space allocation of the partitions and their properties, is managed with no relation with the MBR.