mopepom

I have been aided by moderator linderman in getting to the point where:

(a) I have a 2 hard drive system, with a full Windows XP on one drive and an empty drive, on which I intend to install ubuntu 7.04

(b) I have successfuly used Forefox 2.0.0.3 under ubuntu 7.04 desktop to sign-on to this forum.

I am now trying to sort out by BIOS settings to permit booting of my XP system. Then I hope to set up the BIOS to permit selection of either XP or ubuntu.

The link, HELP needed: ASUS P4S533-MX ACPI BIOS Revision 1006

gives a "blow by blow" account of what has happened thus far.

I now need help to understand the BIOS settings and what configuration will give me what is needed.

Advice would be appreciated.

Many thanks.

bkubes

You can boot into linux just fine then? Also does it by default boot to Ubuntu?
If so, while in ubuntu, get the menu.lst (.Lst) from /boot/grub/menu.lst and post the section after ## ## End Default Options ## which should be near the end of the file.

bkubes

Also to open the file graphically so you can just copy/paste, open up a console and type

gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

mopepom

Thank you BKUBES:

This is my first attempt to do anything in Linux, so my apology if I seem not to understand.

I have booted ubuntu 7.04 from the cd. I have not yet installed ubuntu 7.04 on my hard drive.

I seem to be operating in linux - ubuntu.

i.e. I have an orange screen with the Bar across the top that reads:

"Applications, Places, System, ......"

I selected "Applications" "Accessories" "Terminal" and got a screen that has the following prompt:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

I pasted in "gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst"

I pressed [Enter] and
a new screen opened:

This shows what appears to be an empty text file.

Now I am stuck. I can't find any content.

Can you help?

Please give me precise steps to follow, since I do not yet understand.

Many thanks

mopepom

My reply is:

I think I can boot into Linux. and by default boot to ubuntu.
I get an orange screen with many options to pick from.

I do not know how to get the menu.lst (.Lst) from /boot/grub/menu.lst and post the section after [b]## ## End Default Options ##[/B

See my other post on using the GUI.

Hope you can help.

mopepom

BKUBES:

I think I found what you wanted. Here is the menu.lst file after ## ## End Default Options ## -------

## ## End Default Options ##

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-3-386
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.27-3-386 root=/dev/hdb1 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.4.27-3-386
savedefault
boot

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-3-386 (recovery mode)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.27-3-386 root=/dev/hdb1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.4.27-3-386
savedefault
boot

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/hda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

PureEvilDan

(This is based of me reading this thread and also the other thread).

Everything bkubes said is wrong. All your doing is reading the CD's MBR.

You need to make sure that:

(1) Leave your Windows drive with out power for now.
(2) In bios check if you set the Linux Drive to be booted first, if not we can edit the boot.ini for Win32 later.
(3) Boot in to the LiveCD for Ubuntu
(4) Your going to be installing Ubuntu
(5) To help you along with your install, there is this "unofficial" guide, it looks (and is) very long, so take your time to read it and understand every step.

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Feisty#General_Notes

Bartender

You won't get a return on the "menu.lst" command until you've actually installed Linux. Running that command from the LiveCD environment is pointless.

What you're doing at this point is taking advantage of the "LiveCD" function. You're taking Linux out for a test drive by running the operating system from the CD and RAM rather than your HDD. LiveCD's are a foreign concept for those of us who only know Windows, so if that seems a bit confusing it's understandable.

Let's get back to installing Linux. Unless something goes wrong, it is pretty simple to install Linux to the second drive, and ask the Linux installer to tweak the Windows MBR so that you have the typical dual-boot setup. The actual mechanics of this are a little different with two drives, but the end result is the same as with one drive.

There is another way to dual-boot if your BIOS has that feature where you can tap the F8 key (or whichever key your BIOS uses) during startup and you get a choice of which HDD to boot from. I'll call that method the F8 method.

If you want to use the F8 method, then unplug your Windows HDD so that nothing can happen to it by mistake (just data cable if you want, or data and power) and install Linux to the second drive. Let Linux have the entire drive and install it as if it's the only HDD on the computer. In other words, use the "Install Linux to entire drive" choice, the easiest option when going thru the installation procedure. If you have a PC with PATA HDD's instead of SATA, and you haven't got both of them set up as "Cable Select", you may have to screw around with the little jumpers on the back of the 2nd HDD to make it Master for the purpose of installing Linux, then set it back to Slave. That depends on whether the second drive is on the #1 IDE bus as Slave or it's on the #2 IDE bus as Master.

Then hook up the Windows HDD.

Once you've done the above, you'll have two HDD's, both of which are bootable on their own. You start the PC, tap on the F8 key, and tell it to boot from #1 HDD (Windows) or #2 HDD (Linux).

Some guys do it this way just to make absolutely sure they don't mess up their Windows HDD during the course of trying to install Linux in the more typical dual-boot fashion, where GRUB modifies the Windows MBR and you get the "Which OS do you want to boot?" screen at startup.

EDIT: Once you have Ubuntu up and running, PureEvilDan's link is an excellent starting point for further exploration.

Bartender

I thought of something else but it was too late to edit the above. I've read several times that PATA PC's won't boot from the #2 IDE bus. I don't know if that's absolutely true or not.
But I did want to make sure that was mentioned. If you use the F8 method, and the #2 HDD is presently connected to the #2 IDE bus, you may have to move it to the Slave position on the #1 IDE bus.
If you have SATA, never mind

EDIT:
I re-read your post and noticed you mentioned something about setting up the BIOS to boot either OS. If you're talking about going into the BIOS and manually setting BIOS to boot from the second HDD, then getting out of BIOS and restarting, that's probly the most tedious way to choose which OS to start. if you're going to be using Ubuntu infrequently I guess it's not a big deal.

Do you know if your BIOS supports the F8 method?

Bartender

Jeepers, mopes -
I oughta read everything that's gone beforehand. Joe already described physically disconnecting the HDD's. Well, I guess it doesn't hurt to hear it again from someone else.

Perhaps it would be best to ask you where you're at with this project. I get the impression that there's some confusion about BIOS settings.

You asked about "maintaining" your BIOS in the original thread. There's really not much to be done as far as maintaining it. Pop in a fresh CMOS battery every 4 or 5 years (doing so may change the settings back to default so write down any that you've changed) and leave the BIOS alone.

Unless you think newer versions of the BIOS are going to solve a problem. Flashing the BIOS is not a project to be taken lightly.

Changing BIOS settings is a whole different deal. It's easy to do once you get the hang of using the right keys. Do you have the original manual? If not I'd go to the ASUS website and see if you can find a copy. Should be a .pdf. That'll explain the basics of each setting in BIOS. If your settings were working for Windows then the Boot Device Priority is probly the only setting you'll need to change, and it sounds like you already know how to do that.

So, your BIOS either has the F8 option or it doesn't.

If yes, then you can use it to boot either the Windows HDD or the Linux HDD.

If not, then you can still install Linux entirely to the second drive, and use the tedious method of going into BIOS and asking the PC to boot from the other drive, then restarting.

Or just go ahead and install Linux as a dual-boot, dual-drive configuration. Linux tweaks the Windows drive MBR, and when you fire up the PC you'll get a DOS-looking screen asking which OS you want to start up. No BIOS tweaking required.

If you decide to dual-boot then you should back up your personal Windows data and think about how hard it'd be to re-install Windows. The Linux installers are pretty good these days but there are no guarantees.

Here's a good dual boot dual drive thread I saved...
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=275728

A lot of that thread may be confusing to you but it gives several views on the subject.

If you don't have the F8 option you may decide to do it the tedious but safer way for now, then decide to do a more typical dual-boot later as you gain some confidence.

thepit56

ubuntu installs easily with XP, it automatically sets up a GRUB load screen once you install linux and you can then you can switch the boot mode to boot to either windows or linux automatically, otherwise you just use the arrow keys when the boot mode comes up.

bkubes

Excuse me. I had thought you had already had Ubuntu installed on the second hard drive and XP on the first.

While that is true, the standard practice around here seems to be to disable the windows HD while installing linux. Without the windows HD there I doubt it would automatically set it up to boot windows also.

mopepom

Now I am getting confused. I will have to take some time out to chart my path from here, in the light of the various suggestions.

In the meantime, I have powered off my Windows drive, since I can't access it anyway.

I will continue to operate with the ubuntu livecd, until I decide on my next step. This way I can keep in touch with this forum.

I am, of course, a bit nervous about proceeding down a path "where no man has gone before". http://www.techsupportforum.com/imag...s/1-normal.gif

I am, nonetheless, appreciative of the messages being sent and I will read all new ones with interest.

Many thanks to one and all.

bkubes

The nice thing about the Ubuntu installer is that it's run right within the live CD, so if needed you could just keep firefox open while installing and have us walk you through it.

mopepom

I think I am digging the hole deeper.

After reading much material, I opted for an install of ubuntu 7.04 from the CD, and with my Windows drive powered off. (I also powered off an external HDD and a jump stick).

Then I followed the instructions on the CD to install. Of note: I selecete "GUIDED use entire disk", IDE1 master (hda) 80.0 GB (WDC WD900JB-00JJC0)

The machine seemed to format the HDD appropriately.

Then I tried to boot from the HDD. No Luck.

Then I tried to revert to the LiveCD - the boot sequence does some odd things with masters and slaves (that I cant understand).

Eventually, I get the familiar orange/brown screen with the cvarious options.

I chose "SAFE GRAPHICAL INTERFACE".

Then the screen goes black and I end up with a command prompt:

(inittramfs)


STUCK AGAIN.


P.S. to communicate with this forum I have resorted to using another Windows XP machine, which I have close at hand. (Thanks be).

Help would be appreciated.

Many thanks.

Bartender

How come? What happened to Windows?

bkubes

Just a thought, try plugging the ribbon thats in your XP hard drive into the ubuntu one and see if it will boot ( In BIOS it would be the first IDE HD ) .

Edit: Unless I'm an idiot and that already is the case!

thepit56

EVERY BODY HOLD ON JUST A SECOND!!! If you were just using ubuntu from the cd then booting to windows should have been as easy as taking out the ubuntu cd. if you tried this and it didn't work then you are in some deep s*#t.

since you already took the plunge into linux and your recieving master and slave problems then just reninstall the ribbon cable like bkubes said (which I reccomend) or swithc the ubuntu drive to primary drive.

and to tell you the truth I don't see why you would disconnect the windows drive in the first place, I am linuxlly challenged in that I can't even install an app unless it's spelled out for me, but even I could install ubuntu with little help, just make sure that your second drive is set to auto or on in the bios menu

bkubes

I'm under the impression that his Windows drive isn't even connected

Bartender

Pit, I gotta agree with you on the first part, at least until we hear from the OP with an update.

As to the second part, installing Linux to a 2nd drive with the Windows drive disconnected is a valid option. I'm glad that the typical dual-boot process worked for you (did for me too), but too many folks have had trouble. Disconnecting the Windows drive means there's no chance of wiping it out.

To the OP: it's infrequent that the LiveCD works but the install doesn't. But apparently it's not unheard of.
I want to hear about your Windows HDD before going further, and why you said it's inaccessible.
I'm wondering if you're losing track of where the jumpers are on the HDD's. Before going any further, make sure you know which IDE bus is #1. It's identified on the motherboard. There should be a tiny #1 or "Pri" or some sort of identifier silk-screened onto the motherboard right next to the plug. Google it and you'll find guides with pictures. Here's one
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/id...rollers-c.html

Make sure you understand which clip on the IDE ribbon cable is master and which is slave (the one on the end should be master). Take a close look at the little jumper on the back of the HDD, look closely at the little tiny map on the HDD that identifies where the jumper is supposed to be for master, slave, cable select and single. Write down where they are now.
You've got to keep track of all this or things are going to get worse before they get better.

If you're not familiar with any of these things, I'd remove the Windows HDD entirely and practice connecting the Linux HDD as primary master. Start the PC. Go into BIOS and see if the HDD is identified in BIOS. If it's not you probly have the jumper wrong or the HDD isn't on the master clip. Install Linux to the HDD. See if it works OK. That will give you a little bit of confidence to try setting up the Windows HDD as master on the #1 IDE bus, and the Linux HDD as slave on the #1 IDE bus.