Cannot boot windows and Fedora dual boot

miros84 · #1 24th August 2009, 04:16 PM

Hello
I have installed windows xp on my PC.
Later I installed Fedora, and now I can only boot fedora. I cannot boot XP anymore.
I added windows Xp in menu.lst but no results.

Code:

# 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/sda2
#          initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=0
timeout=0
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora (2.6.29.6-217.2.8.fc11.i586)
	root (hd0,0)
	kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.29.6-217.2.8.fc11.i586 ro root=UUID=e732e9d7-0b83-4c6b-8f72-201c97b5ce2f rhgb quiet
	initrd /initrd-2.6.29.6-217.2.8.fc11.i586.img
title Fedora (2.6.29.6-217.2.7.fc11.i586)
	root (hd0,0)
	kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.29.6-217.2.7.fc11.i586 ro root=UUID=e732e9d7-0b83-4c6b-8f72-201c97b5ce2f rhgb quiet
	initrd /initrd-2.6.29.6-217.2.7.fc11.i586.img
title Fedora (2.6.29.6-217.2.3.fc11.i586)
	root (hd0,0)
	kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.29.6-217.2.3.fc11.i586 ro root=UUID=e732e9d7-0b83-4c6b-8f72-201c97b5ce2f rhgb quiet
	initrd /initrd-2.6.29.6-217.2.3.fc11.i586.img

title Microsoft Windows xp
root (hd0,2)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

Any advice?

stoat · #2 24th August 2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miros84

title Microsoft Windows xp
root (hd0,2)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

Hello miros84,

My best guess is the (hd0,2) is the wrong partition. Maybe posting your fdisk report would be helpful.

P.S.: The root command makes GRUB attempt to mount the partition, but it cannot mount an NTFS partition which is likely the Windows partition type in your case. It will work as you have it, but the rootnoverify command is traditionally used instead when GRUB cannot mount the partition. No use making GRUB attempt to mount a partition that it cannot mount. The savedefault command only works when the default=0 command is set to saved. It's a neat idea that makes the last chosen OS the new default, but it's doing nothing at the moment. So you can remove that. And the makeactive command is an archaic command that was only needed by ancient operating systems like DOS. It's never needed by a modern Windows system. You should remove it, too.

miros84 · #3 24th August 2009, 04:56 PM

The problem I have is when I run my computer, I dont see any menu to can choose.
In ubuntu, when I add some OS to menu.lst if it is wrong, at least I see the menu.
I will write the menu as you said.

title Microsoft Windows xp
rootnoverify (hd0,2)
chainloader +1

stoat · #4 24th August 2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miros84

The problem I have is when I run my computer, I dont see any menu to can choose

That is being caused by this...

Code:

timeout=0

Change that value to a number (in seconds) to give you time to press a key to see the menu.

If you want to see the menu automatically without having to press a key, then comment out (with the # character) the hidddenmenu command. Like this...

Code:

#hiddenmenu

stoat · #5 24th August 2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miros84

I will write the menu as you said.

title Microsoft Windows xp
rootnoverify (hd0,2)
chainloader +1

That looks right to me now. So I misunderstood, and (hd0,2) may be the correct partition after all. Booting now?

miros84 · #6 24th August 2009, 05:11 PM

Oo, STOAT, thank you again
I can boot now

Fedora like me every day more and more

060456F · #7 24th August 2009, 06:01 PM

Hi micro84

I wonder how the timeout became 0, When you install Fedora to a machine containing Windows, the timeout period is set t0 5s by default. Did you changed it? Rebooting immediately after Fedora installation takes you to the Grub menu list. Isn't it?

miros84 · #8 24th August 2009, 06:14 PM

No, I didnot change it.
Now I remember first I installed Fedora and later Windows XP, but I recover fedora grub menu by SGD.