grub dual boot problem

fakie_flip · #1 10th January 2008, 11:15 AM

Whenever I try to boot Windows from Grub, I get the message "NTLDR is missing". If I do fixmbr from a Windows CD, won't that overwrite grub? How is this problem fixed?

***glennzo*** · #2 10th January 2008, 11:30 AM

Get a copy of ntldr from another windows computer and copy it to the root directory of the Windows drive, c:\. I've done it many times and it works. It's a hidden, read-only, system file so it may be a little evasive but it can be done.

fakie_flip · #3 10th January 2008, 10:16 PM

The file name in c: is ntldr lowercase, and does it have no file extension?

fakie_flip · #4 10th January 2008, 10:17 PM

My Xp is 64 bit. Do I need the ntldr from a 64 bit computer? If yes, that may be hard to find.

***glennzo*** · #5 10th January 2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fakie_flip

The file name in c: is ntldr lowercase, and does it have no file extension?

No file extension. That's on a 32Bit system. No idea about 64Bit. Sorry.

wowbag1 · #6 10th January 2008, 10:30 PM

Hi, if it comes up with "ntldr is missing" it usually means it cannot find it. But as has been said to fix it most times you have to copy across another file. There is no extension.
As an alternative try Smart boot manager it maybe able to find it and load windows.

wowbag1

***glennzo*** · #7 10th January 2008, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wowbag1

Hi, if it comes up with "ntldr is missing" it usually means it cannot find it. But as has been said to fix it most times you have to copy across another file. There is no extension.
As an alternative try Smart boot manager it maybe able to find it and load windows.

wowbag1

Following up on that thought, if that's the case maybe you could post your grub.conf and /sbin/fdisk -l here as it may just be a misguided bootloader.

fakie_flip · #8 11th January 2008, 12:52 AM

Code:

[root@localhost ~]# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000001

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1       23498   188747653+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2           23499       23511      104422+  fd  Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sda3           23512       36565   104856255   fd  Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sda4           36566       38913    18860310    5  Extended
/dev/sda5           36566       36630      522081   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6           36631       38913    18338166   fd  Linux raid autodetect

Disk /dev/sdb: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xe3b6e3b6

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *           1       23498   188747653+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2           23499       23511      104422+  fd  Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sdb3           23512       36565   104856255   fd  Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sdb4           36566       38913    18860310    5  Extended
/dev/sdb5           36566       36630      522081   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb6           36631       38913    18338166   fd  Linux raid autodetect

Disk /dev/md2: 37.5 GB, 37556322304 bytes
2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 9169024 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/md2 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/md1: 107.3 GB, 107372675072 bytes
2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 26214032 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/md1 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/md0: 106 MB, 106823680 bytes
2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 26080 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/md0 doesn't contain a valid partition table
[root@localhost ~]# cat /boot/grub/grub.conf 
# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
#          root (hd0,1)
#          kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/md2
#          initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/md0
default=2
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,1)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora (2.6.23.9-85.fc8)
        root (hd0,1)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.23.9-85.fc8 ro root=/dev/md2 rhgb quiet
        initrd /initrd-2.6.23.9-85.fc8.img
title Fedora (2.6.23.1-42.fc8)
        root (hd0,1)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.23.1-42.fc8 ro root=/dev/md2 rhgb quiet
        initrd /initrd-2.6.23.1-42.fc8.img
title Other
        rootnoverify (hd0,0)
        chainloader +1
[root@localhost ~]# mount | grep sd
/dev/sdb1 on /media/disk-1 type fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096)
[root@localhost ~]# ls /media/disk-1/
AUTOEXEC.BAT            IO.SYS        ntldr_backup   Program Files (x86)
boot.ini                MSDOS.SYS     NVIDIA         RECYCLER
CONFIG.SYS              NTDETECT.COM  pagefile.sys   System Volume Information
Documents and Settings  ntldr         Program Files  WINDOWS
[root@localhost ~]#

I have two ntfs partitions, but the output shows that Windows is installed on /dev/sdb1. When I reboot and get the the grub menu, I push escape and e to edit for "Other" os. Then I changed (hd0,0) to (hd1,0) and hit b to boot. I still got the same error

fakie_flip · #9 11th January 2008, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glennzo

No file extension. That's on a 32Bit system. No idea about 64Bit. Sorry.

I tried the ntldr from a 32 bit computer. I saw that it wasn't the same size as my ntldr, so it's not the same. I used the file command, and it did not say that the file was a 32 bit or 64 bit file, so I am thinking it might be neither.

***glennzo*** · #10 11th January 2008, 01:02 AM

Try this:

Code:

title Other
        map (hd0) (hd1)
        map (hd1) (hd0)
        rootnoverify (hd1,0)  <--- Moved below the map lines.
        chainloader +1

The map thing still confuses me a little.

Edit: Modified this post with more accurate info.

Heimer · #11 11th January 2008, 01:02 AM

another possible problem with the ntldr may not be in the os at all, i have ran into it from a bad motherboard and i have also experienced this error when having a multi-card reader installed either in a drive bay or on a printer. Windows, go figure!!!

***glennzo*** · #12 11th January 2008, 01:14 AM

Yeah, but if you look at the lower part of what he posted it's there on /dev/sdb1

Code:

[root@localhost ~]# mount | grep sd
/dev/sdb1 on /media/disk-1 type fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096)
[root@localhost ~]# ls /media/disk-1/
AUTOEXEC.BAT            IO.SYS        ntldr_backup   Program Files (x86)
boot.ini                MSDOS.SYS     NVIDIA         RECYCLER
CONFIG.SYS              NTDETECT.COM  pagefile.sys   System Volume Information
Documents and Settings  ntldr         Program Files  WINDOWS

fakie_flip · #13 11th January 2008, 03:27 AM

Here's my grub.conf now.

Code:

[chris@localhost ~]$ su -c "cat /boot/grub/grub.conf "
Password: 
# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
#          root (hd0,1)
#          kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/md2
#          initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/md0
default=2
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,1)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora (2.6.23.9-85.fc8)
        root (hd0,1)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.23.9-85.fc8 ro root=/dev/md2 rhgb quiet
        initrd /initrd-2.6.23.9-85.fc8.img
title Fedora (2.6.23.1-42.fc8)
        root (hd0,1)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.23.1-42.fc8 ro root=/dev/md2 rhgb quiet
        initrd /initrd-2.6.23.1-42.fc8.img
title Other
        rootnoverify (hd0,0)
        chainloader +1
title Other2
        rootnoverify (hd0,0)
        map (hd0) (hd1)
        map (hd1) (hd0)
        chainloader +1
title Other3
        rootnoverify (hd1,0)
        map (hd0) (hd1)
        map (hd1) (hd0)
        chainloader +1
[chris@localhost ~]$

Other2 and Other3 both cause this error.

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
Please re-install a copy of the above copy.

Why does not using map not cause this error? Other used to work just fine. I'm trying to get that file and replace it, but it is not easy to find because people with 64 bit xp are hard to find. By re-install, does it mean to just replace the corrupt or missing file and how am I expected to be able to obtain a copy of that file?

fakie_flip · #14 11th January 2008, 03:30 AM

[chris@localhost ~]$ cat /media/disk-1/boot.ini
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windo ws XP Professional x64 Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
[chris@localhost ~]$

Is this wrong?

Heimer · #15 11th January 2008, 04:11 AM

there are a few NTLDR fixing programs that are free for downloading, google them, but if its an issue whit windows not booting at all, they are pointless. When it wont boot unplug any USB connections to other hardware (except external hard drives) and or media card readers, whether they are ide/ata/usb/firewire. If you google NTLDR, it will give you a few different descriptions as to why this file is corrupted. my most recent run ins with this problem where with a HP usb printer and a bad PCCHIPS M848A motherboard.