[SOLVED] Problems with the WIndow MBR

**wmorri** · 10-11-2008, 05:55 AM

Hi,

I am having problems with the Vista MBR. I just installed Fedora 9 as a dualboot. Everything went well with the install. However when I try to boot into vista, I get a response of

Quote:

MBR is missing please press CTL + ALT + DELETE to restart the computer.

I know that windows looks for the bootloader on the first partition so I took a look at my menu.lst file and here is what I have.

Code:

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You do not have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /, eg.
#          root (hd0,3)
#          kernel /boot/vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/sda4
#          initrd /boot/initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=0
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,3)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora (2.6.26.5-45.fc9.i686)
        root (hd0,3)
        kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.26.5-45.fc9.i686 ro root=UUID=8a75584c-53f1-4a$
        initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.26.5-45.fc9.i686.img
title Fedora (2.6.25-14.fc9.i686)
        root (hd0,3)
        kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25-14.fc9.i686 ro root=UUID=8a75584c-53f1-4aec$
        initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.25-14.fc9.i686.img
title Windows Vista
        rootnoverify (hd0,0)
        chainloader +1

I need to know how to change the bootloader so that it reads the first partition and not the third.

Cheers!

sjb007 · 10-11-2008, 12:46 PM

Howdy there

Im no expert in the world of linux by far, but just as a suggestion have you tried re installing the vista bootloader then re-install the grub loader. Im using FC9 and Vista dualed without any probs here so not sure what went wrong for you!

How to restore the Vista bootloader from GRUB

**wmorri** · 10-11-2008, 02:16 PM

Thanks for that! Now i have vista back. But I now need to know how to re-install grub, so that I can have Fedora back.

Cheers!

**Bartender** · 10-11-2008, 04:25 PM

Easiest thing might be reinstalling Fedora from scratch, unless it does the exact same thing again. I googled "fedora fix bootloader"
http://www.bala-krishna.com/repair-l...om-rescue-disk

I'm sure there are a thousand more like this

**wmorri** · 10-12-2008, 04:03 PM

So here is where I am at with all of this boot loader stuff. I have been doing a lot of google searching, and getting noware.

Code:

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You do not have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /, eg.
#          root (hd0,3)
#          kernel /boot/vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/sda4
#          initrd /boot/initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=0
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,3)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora (2.6.26.5-45.fc9.i686)
        root (hd0,3)
        kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.26.5-45.fc9.i686 ro root=UUID=8a75584c-53f1-4a$
        initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.26.5-45.fc9.i686.img
title Fedora (2.6.25-14.fc9.i686)
        root (hd0,3)
        kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25-14.fc9.i686 ro root=UUID=8a75584c-53f1-4aec$
        initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.25-14.fc9.i686.img
title Windows Vista
        rootnoverify (hd0,0)
        map (hd0,0) (hd0,4)
        map (hd0,4) (hd0,0)
        chainloader +1
        makeactive

I don't know where else to go. I have tried re-installing and that didn't work. I was put back to where I began from.

Cheers!

**Bartender** · 10-12-2008, 05:16 PM

wmorri -
I'm running Ubuntu, but it's Debian-based and grub should be the same under both OS'es. Take a look at my "Auto-magic" divider. Your non-Linux OS should be under the Divider, but I don't see a divider in yours.

title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=ca90f62c-d27f-4f75-8283-46be9cae9fec ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=ca90f62c-d27f-4f75-8283-46be9cae9fec ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.1, memtest86+
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### 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/sda1
title Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

shuuhen · 10-12-2008, 11:58 PM

I'm not completely sure, but I think the problem lies in the order of makeactive and chainloader +1. Try switching those two lines.

qbawl · 10-13-2008, 01:03 AM

In the event shuuhen's suggestion doesn't work, the following may help. Unless I've misread your post, this seems to be the same general issue you're having and was resolved. Try here; note post #7.

**Bartender** · 10-13-2008, 07:52 AM

wmorri -
Is your heart set on Fedora? I'd be inclined to try installing Ubuntu and see if the problem goes away...

**wmorri** · 10-13-2008, 10:25 AM

For now i am thinking of giving up on Fedora for a little while. I have some other problems that need to be taken care of. As for Ubuntu. I already have an Ubuntu server box running at my house, so I was trying to work on a different distro. I will have to try again in a little while when I have some money to get a second hdd, and can try that route.

Cheers!

**wmorri** · 10-13-2008, 01:33 PM

UPDATE! I have know installed Fedora 8 on a different computer. The one that had the ubuntu server on it. I am very happy now I can start to learn a totally different distro.

Thanks for all the help.

Cheers!

10-11-2008, 12:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
sjb007 Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lincoln UK Posts: 2,258 OS: Windows 7 Premium x64 My System	Re: Problems with the WIndow MBR Howdy there Im no expert in the world of linux by far, but just as a suggestion have you tried re installing the vista bootloader then re-install the grub loader. Im using FC9 and Vista dualed without any probs here so not sure what went wrong for you! How to restore the Vista bootloader from GRUB __________________ If we have helped you then please consider donating Proud Member of ASAP & UNITE Since 2007

10-11-2008, 02:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,813 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Problems with the WIndow MBR Thanks for that! Now i have vista back. But I now need to know how to re-install grub, so that I can have Fedora back. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

10-11-2008, 04:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: Problems with the WIndow MBR Easiest thing might be reinstalling Fedora from scratch, unless it does the exact same thing again. I googled "fedora fix bootloader" http://www.bala-krishna.com/repair-l...om-rescue-disk I'm sure there are a thousand more like this

10-12-2008, 05:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: Problems with the WIndow MBR wmorri - I'm running Ubuntu, but it's Debian-based and grub should be the same under both OS'es. Take a look at my "Auto-magic" divider. Your non-Linux OS should be under the Divider, but I don't see a divider in yours. title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic root (hd0,4) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=ca90f62c-d27f-4f75-8283-46be9cae9fec ro quiet splash initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic quiet title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (recovery mode) root (hd0,4) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=ca90f62c-d27f-4f75-8283-46be9cae9fec ro single initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic title Ubuntu 8.04.1, memtest86+ root (hd0,4) kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin quiet ### 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/sda1 title Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader) root (hd0,0) savedefault makeactive chainloader +1

10-12-2008, 11:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
shuuhen Manager Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 981 OS: Mac OS 9.1, Mac OS X 10.5.8, WinXP Pro, FreeBSD 6.0, Gentoo Linux My System	Re: Problems with the WIndow MBR I'm not completely sure, but I think the problem lies in the order of makeactive and chainloader +1. Try switching those two lines. __________________ Has it been a few days since I replied to your thread? Don't panic! I'm a busy college student and may forget a post if I'm extra busy (or it might just take me a while to be able to do a decent reply). If you still need help and are awaiting my reply after a few days, PM me about it. When posting what errors you get, please give the full message. It makes helping you much easier.

10-13-2008, 01:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
qbawl Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 435 OS: OSX/Linux/XP	Re: Problems with the WIndow MBR In the event shuuhen's suggestion doesn't work, the following may help. Unless I've misread your post, this seems to be the same general issue you're having and was resolved. Try here; note post #7.

10-13-2008, 07:52 AM	#9 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: Problems with the WIndow MBR wmorri - Is your heart set on Fedora? I'd be inclined to try installing Ubuntu and see if the problem goes away...

10-13-2008, 10:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,813 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Problems with the WIndow MBR For now i am thinking of giving up on Fedora for a little while. I have some other problems that need to be taken care of. As for Ubuntu. I already have an Ubuntu server box running at my house, so I was trying to work on a different distro. I will have to try again in a little while when I have some money to get a second hdd, and can try that route. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

10-13-2008, 01:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,813 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Problems with the WIndow MBR UPDATE! I have know installed Fedora 8 on a different computer. The one that had the ubuntu server on it. I am very happy now I can start to learn a totally different distro. Thanks for all the help. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!