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/\_/\ section:
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/~____ =ø= / Linux Bootloaders and Dual Boot Handling
(______)__m_m) v0.48
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grub - grub is a bootloader for x86 arch linux
lilo - lilo is a bootloader for x86 arch linux
redboot - for ARM, MIPS, MN10300, PowerPC, Hitachi SHx, v850, and x86
isolinux - linux bootloader that operates off ISO 9660/El Torito CD-ROMs
osl2000 - commercial bootloader + menu for windows, linux, others
bootpart - WinNT add partitions to boot menu, windows, os/2, or linux
loadlin - Boots Linux from within DOS, comes with many distributions
chos - graphical boot manager appearing in some distributions
bootmagic - a commercial boot manager by PowerQuest
system comman - a commercial boot manger 'system commander'
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Bootloaders / boot managers may be installed to the following:
(1) MBR - The Master Boot Record
(2) The First Sector of the Boot Partition
The master boot record is a reserved area on your hard drive that is
automatically loaded by your computer's BIOS. It is the first place that a
bootloader can take control of the boot process.
Use the First Sector of the Boot Partition for a second bootloader. For
example, you may have GRUB or LILO on your MBR, and BOOTPART on your First
Boot Secotor since GRUB and LILO are unable to directly launch Windows NT.
Information about the filesystem as a whole is contained on the Superblock.
The Superblock of the First Boot Partition is where the bootloader is
installed to when another bootloader is on the MBR.
.oOo. boot loader support and frequently asked questions .oOo.
Q. After installing or reinstalling Windows XP, grub no longer appears on boot
so I can't get to my Linux operating system on my dual boot system.
A. (1) Using a boot floppy:
There are more than one way to approach this issue. If you created a boot
floppy (such as with Redhat) simply boot from the floppy and execute the
command: 'grub-install /dev/hda' (hda or appropriate drive).
(2) Using Fedora Core 1.0 Installation CD Disc 1
Boot off Fedora CD #1 in rescue mode. When prompted, select the
appropriate keyboard layout. When asked to set up network, just skip.
Lastly, you will be asked how to mount your Fedora install, choose the
default option (OK) which mounts it read-write. Then you should be taken
to the rescue shell. At the shell type the following commands:
chroot /mnt/sysimage
This makes grub think that your system booted normally by giving you a
chrooted shell.
/sbin/grub-install /dev/hda
Assuming that your installation was to harddrive A, this installs grub onto
the MBR.
Press CNTRL-D twice or type 'exit' + Enter twice.
Your system will reboot. Remove the Fedora installation CDROM and grub
should take it from there.
Q. My Windows 98 installation is now showing up in the GRUB boot menu after I
had to install grub into the MBR again.
A. Open the grub.conf file in a text editor. For example:
vi /boot/grub/grub.conf
Edit the boot entries to ensure that the correct partition is assigned to
Windows 98. Multiple Windows operating systems are not handled by lilo and
grub without chain-loading. I've used BootPart 2.20 (not on the MBR) to
handle more than one Micro$oft OS on a single harddrive. BootPart is
available at www.winimage.com to download.
BootPart is an easy tool for adding additional partitions to the Windows NT
multi boot menu. You can use it to add the OS/2 boot manager or a Linux
partition. Bootpart 2.50 is free and also compatible with Windows NT,
Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
Q. How do I get Linux to work with Bootpart 2.50 using the lilo boot loader?
A. Method 1: Install Lilo on the MBR and BootPart on the First Sector
Method 2: Install BootPart on the MBR and Lilo on the First Sector
For Linux, you can install Lilo at the beginning of the Linux partition
and then add the Linux partition with BootPart:
When you install Linux or run liloconfig, select "Superblock of the root
linux partition" as the location for Lilo. On the Linux box, this added
the line "boot=/dev/sdb4" into the file /etc/lilo.conf
This method puts Bootpart on the MBR and lilo on the First Sector. It is
possible to have lilo on the MBR and Bootpart on the First Sector also.
Q. How do I get Linux to work with Bootpart using Grub (linux + winNT/XP)?
A. Method 1: Install GRUB on the MBR and BootPart on the First Sector
Method 2: Install BootPart on the MBR and GRUB on the First Sector
There is more information on using Method 2, however, I prefer Method 1.
Method 1 will cause the PC to boot to the GRUB menu first, offering the
options of Linux or Microsoft. When Microsoft is selected the 'NTLDR'
bootloader or BootPart displays a menu with two Microsoft Operating
systems.
(this information shall be revised, it is designed for 3 os's)
(proceed at your own risk!)
[[added to wiki.robotz.com 5/22/2007]]
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