set up windows on a seperate hdd help how to

[F.User_4_Life]

plain and simple i have installed on a 40 gig hdd windows xp and need to know how to make the grub from linux the master mbr. theres 2 mbr one on the linux drive and one on the windows and i need to know how to remove or dissable the windows one and add the other drive to the start up list in grub so i may select the windows. im trying to set up my pc for school use and need help on fixing this problem.

im a bit confused because i read how to's on seting up the grub and when i do the fdisk commands fdisk does not exhist on my pc dont ask i dont know where to find it. i dont care to use fdisk but what ever i just need to edit the grub to be root mbr and add the windows to the boot order.

[stoat]

Hello F.User_4_Life,

That's a very common predicament. It usually can be made to work. But the answer is hard to say without some more information from your computer. It's also not clear (to me, anyway) what is booting right now (XP?, Fedora?, neither?). So I recommend that you make it clearer to your readers exactly what happens when you boot your computer now. Then, if Fedora is booting, post some information from it.

I know you have had some trouble getting the partition list with fdisk. But I assure you that fdisk exists in Fedora. If this is Fedora 9 that you're talking about (your signature is the only clue), then it matters to fdisk how you are logged in to the terminal or how you type the command.

The results of these terminal commands will be helpful to anyone who wants to help you. In Fedora 9, open a terminal and...

su
/sbin/fdisk -l
cat /boot/grub/grub.conf

It's hard to tell in some fonts, but that fdisk option is a lower-case letter L and not a number one.

[F.User_4_Life]

[root@Hydroponikz KDE]# /sbin/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: 0x2850284f

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 25 200781 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 26 38913 312367860 8e Linux LVM

Disk /dev/dm-0: 317.7 GB, 317726916608 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38628 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/dm-0 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/dm-1: 2080 MB, 2080374784 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 252 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x30307800

Disk /dev/dm-1 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/sdg: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xfc9a426e

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdg1 * 1 30401 244196001 7 HPFS/NTFS
[root@Hydroponikz KDE]# 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 (hd0,0)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=0
timeout=1
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora (2.6.27.21-78.2.41.fc9.x86_64)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27.21-78.2.41.fc9.x86_64 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.27.21-78.2.41.fc9.x86_64.img
title Fedora (2.6.27.19-78.2.30.fc9.x86_64)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27.19-78.2.30.fc9.x86_64 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.27.19-78.2.30.fc9.x86_64.img
title Fedora (2.6.25-14.fc9.x86_64)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.25-14.fc9.x86_64 ro root=UUID=6ea483cf-b6b2-4c19-8206-b6aa9f5533fb rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.25-


ok now what happens when i have the drive with the xp on it plugged in is that xp boots up the mbr for that drive is dominant over the other. i dont have hot swap support i disabled it.

hope this helps

[stoat]

Originally Posted by F.User_4_Life

ok now what happens when i have the drive with the xp on it plugged in is that xp boots up the mbr for that drive is dominant over the other.

To me, there are two issues here. One is to make the Fedora drive boot when the XP drive is plugged in (I guess that means its an external USB drive). And the other unrelated issue is to make GRUB boot XP.

First I don't think you are describing the sequence of events during booting accurately. It may help you to understand that better. See, XP does not "boot up the mbr" for its drive. What actually happens is that one of your drives is set to be first in the boot order in your computer's BIOS setup. At boot time, the BIOS finds that drive and loads the boot code of its master boot record into memory to be executed. After that happens, the booting sequence continues on. If the BIOS does not find that drive, it generally moves on to the next drive in the boot order. That may explain why XP boots when the XP drive is plugged in, and Fedora boots when the XP drive is not plugged in. Maybe you should get into your computer's BIOS setup and study the drive boot order. You might find that changing the Fedora drive to first will consistently boot Fedora regardless of the state of the XP drive.

Next, if what I just said was correct, then adding a section to the grub.conf should allow GRUB to boot XP. Check the fdisk again after any BIOS changes. If, for example, the XP partition remains /dev/sdg1, then try this for XP in the grub.conf. Add it at the end.

title Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd6,0)
map (hd0) (hd6)
map (hd6) (hd0)
chainloader +1

If after changes to the BIOS, the XP drive is no longer /dev/sdg, then change my example appropriately. If, just for example, the XP drive where to be /dev/sdb making the XP partition /dev/sdb1, then the grub.conf section for XP might be like this...

title Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

See what I mean? You change it to whatever it needs to be. It's even okay to guess at the XP partition in the grub.conf. It does no harm to guess wrongly. But when you change it for the drive, change the drive number in all three places in the example like I did. Don't change the partition because according to the fdisk, the XP partition will be the first (and only) partition on the drive.

[F.User_4_Life]

ok i checked my bios its not the problem it now boots for no reason into the linux

[root@Hydroponikz KDE]# 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 (hd0,0)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=0
timeout=1
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora (2.6.27.21-78.2.41.fc9.x86_64)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27.21-78.2.41.fc9.x86_64 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.27.21-78.2.41.fc9.x86_64.img
title Fedora (2.6.27.19-78.2.30.fc9.x86_64)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27.19-78.2.30.fc9.x86_64 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.27.19-78.2.30.fc9.x86_64.img
title Fedora (2.6.25-14.fc9.x86_64)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.25-14.fc9.x86_64 ro root=UUID=6ea483cf-b6b2-4c19-8206-b6aa9f5533fb rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.25-14.fc9.x86_64.img
[root@Hydroponikz KDE]# /sbin/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: 0x2850284f

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 25 200781 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 26 38913 312367860 8e Linux LVM

Disk /dev/dm-0: 317.7 GB, 317726916608 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38628 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/dm-0 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/dm-1: 2080 MB, 2080374784 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 252 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x30307800

Disk /dev/dm-1 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/sdb: 40.0 GB, 40020664320 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4865 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xf84ef84e

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 4865 39078081 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdh: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xfc9a426e

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdh1 * 1 30401 244196001 7 HPFS/NTFS
Note: sector size is 2048 (not 512)

Disk /dev/sdi: 30.0 GB, 30005821440 bytes
255 heads, 62 sectors/track, 926 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 15810 * 2048 = 32378880 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x20202020

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdi1 1 4 96264 0 Empty
Partition 1 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
phys=(0, 1, 1) logical=(0, 1, 2)
Partition 1 has different physical/logical endings:
phys=(2, 254, 63) logical=(3, 12, 21)
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdi2 4 927 29206168 b W95 FAT32
Partition 2 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
phys=(3, 0, 1) logical=(3, 12, 22)
Partition 2 has different physical/logical endings:
phys=(911, 254, 62) logical=(926, 180, 59)
[root@Hydroponikz KDE]#


so i did the commands again and i dont know if theres a difference but it booted up in the linux no problem and both the drives were installed.

my guess is that i just need to edit the grub.

[stoat]

Originally Posted by F.User_4_Life

my guess is that i just need to edit the grub.

I guess so, too. Figure out which partition in the fdisk partition list has the Windows boot loader files. Edit the grub.conf file and type in the lines for Windows at the end. Remember to include the appropriate map command lines since the partition with the Windows boot loader files will now be on a non-first drive.

[F.User_4_Life]

sorry for not posting but i just installed vista extreame ed r2 on a 80 gig and there is the info i can boot into fedora no problem but here is the info i just want to know what u think i should do and exactly what do i type in the grub edit according to the info here below


[KDE@Hydroponikz ~]$ su
Password:
[root@Hydroponikz KDE]# 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 (hd0,0)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=0
timeout=1
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora (2.6.27.21-78.2.41.fc9.x86_64)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27.21-78.2.41.fc9.x86_64 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.27.21-78.2.41.fc9.x86_64.img
title Fedora (2.6.27.19-78.2.30.fc9.x86_64)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27.19-78.2.30.fc9.x86_64 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.27.19-78.2.30.fc9.x86_64.img
title Fedora (2.6.25-14.fc9.x86_64)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.25-14.fc9.x86_64 ro root=UUID=6ea483cf-b6b2-4c19-8206-b6aa9f5533fb rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.25-14.fc9.x86_64.img
[root@Hydroponikz KDE]# /sbin/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: 0x2850284f

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 25 200781 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 26 38913 312367860 8e Linux LVM

Disk /dev/dm-0: 317.7 GB, 317726916608 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38628 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/dm-0 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/dm-1: 2080 MB, 2080374784 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 252 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x30307800

Disk /dev/dm-1 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/sdb: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00005437

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 9730 78148608 7 HPFS/NTFS
[root@Hydroponikz KDE]#

[F.User_4_Life]

thanks for the help i got it to work