GRUB question

Ballistic · 04-06-2005, 01:38 PM

2-part question....

I had to reinstall XP the other day, anyways i screwed that up again....someone i have to fix later...anyways it looks like i lost GRUB in the process, because now i dont get that menu....Redhat's still there, but i cant boot into it.

Ive got a knoppix cd that im using right now, but it wont let me edit grub.conf....any way i can do that from knoppix? if i could get root access on the HDD, i think i would be able to, but im relatively new at this too....

is there somewhere i can download GRUB to get it working again, or maybe i can just create it again?

batty_professor · 04-06-2005, 04:00 PM

I'm sure there's other ways to do this, but if you'll boot from the Linux install disk you used the first time, and it finds your previous install, use the upgrade option. This will skip over additional package selections and such, and you should get to the summary page in short order. There you can configure/install GRUB, and set the graphical interface etc. as needed. The summary will indicate if anything isn't configured, giving opportunity to correct.

Ballistic · 04-06-2005, 05:25 PM

DOH!

**norin** · 04-06-2005, 05:45 PM

i have had this happen too... what happens is when Windows is installed it overwrits the Master Boot Record [or also known as MBR] completely you will need to install GRUB again or do a fresh install of Linux.

Ballistic · 04-06-2005, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batty_professor

I'm sure there's other ways to do this, but if you'll boot from the Linux install disk you used the first time, and it finds your previous install, use the upgrade option. This will skip over additional package selections and such, and you should get to the summary page in short order. There you can configure/install GRUB, and set the graphical interface etc. as needed. The summary will indicate if anything isn't configured, giving opportunity to correct.

hmmm....that works, to a point....right at the end i get a message saying i havent changed/added any kernel packages, and that it wont save the GRUB configuration....and it doesnt.

I dont really care to have to reinstall Linux too (it looks like thats whats going to be happening to winblows in the next day or so....), so if i can get everything to work without that, that would be great...

batty_professor · 04-06-2005, 07:58 PM

The next-best answer I've got is to select "install" and when prompted for which partition(s) to format, format only the / not the /home. the /home of course has your home folder and all your settings. if you format the / the installer will re-install Linux. But leave your home directory intact. This will take longer, but not as long as formatting both partitions. And you can then re-install GRUB. You mentioned re-installing windowz, and if that's going to happen again, do it first as it will not share with Linux, therefore it will take out GRUB again if you have restored GRUB first. Windoze has to be installed first, then Linux behind it.

Ballistic · 04-07-2005, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batty_professor

You mentioned re-installing windowz, and if that's going to happen again, do it first as it will not share with Linux, therefore it will take out GRUB again if you have restored GRUB first. Windoze has to be installed first, then Linux behind it.

okay, M$ is back up....now for linux...

I asked a friend of mine this morning if there was a way to get root access to my FC3 hdd from a Knoppix CD...He came back with this...

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddy

At the ISOLINUX boot prompt type:

boot knoppix lang=us

That will give you the us keymap and language, when booted you should be root. Simply mount your root drive in /mnt somewhere. After that your
grub.conf should be in <yourmountpoint>/etc/grub.conf

Simple enough, except I have no idea how to mount a drive...Then I found out/told him GRUB is gone...Here's what i got back:

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddy

Ohhh... well thats easy enough to fix, in knoppix mount your root drive into /mnt go into the /etc directory and cat grub.conf

look for something that looks like "root (hd0,0)"

Write down the two numbers then type "grub"

then when you get the grub prompt type: root(hdX,Y)

setup(hdX) where X is the first number of those two.

it should install grub to the MBR of the drive...

then you /should/ be able to reboot and select your OS again

Of course this is all gibberish to me, as I haven't gotten deep enough into Linux to understand what he's telling me yet...So if anyone can translate this for me...

'Case ya hadn't noticed, the guy has a tendency to skip usefull steps...

batty_professor · 04-07-2005, 07:31 PM

I'm running Knoppix as I post this. I like KDE so I booted using the option (F2) knoppix kde (typed at the prompt). I've found no grub in Knoppix, but there is LILO. You can get to LILO by clicking the Gear-n-K on the panel, system, admin, and LILO config. LILO will not dual-boot with windows, but it should get FC3 up for you, (when you reboot) and you can install GRUB easily from FC3.

Ballistic · 04-07-2005, 08:34 PM

Good to know...I'll remember that for next time... of course, i got tired of everything being messed up, and shortly after getting winblows working, i went and did what you had suggested, format only part of the linux installation...and i must admit, i like that idea...anyways, im all back to normal, and didnt notice the time too much because i started it, then went and made supper...its a good distraction sometimes... anyway, as it is, im writing this from FC3..thanks muchly....and now i see what you mean by your signature...

batty_professor · 04-07-2005, 09:20 PM

I'm glad this is worked out. And you might clue your "buddy" in on the results. We like to share when these things fall together.I'll admit, I hunted for a little while this eve in Knoppix before I found the LILO tool.I figure GRUB configuring is a bit much to ask of the live CD.

And thanks for the compliment.

04-06-2005, 01:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ballistic Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 117 OS: Currently Ubuntu, XP Pro...Various flavors of *Nix	GRUB question 2-part question.... I had to reinstall XP the other day, anyways i screwed that up again....someone i have to fix later...anyways it looks like i lost GRUB in the process, because now i dont get that menu....Redhat's still there, but i cant boot into it. Ive got a knoppix cd that im using right now, but it wont let me edit grub.conf....any way i can do that from knoppix? if i could get root access on the HDD, i think i would be able to, but im relatively new at this too.... is there somewhere i can download GRUB to get it working again, or maybe i can just create it again?

04-06-2005, 04:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
batty_professor Asst. Manager, Alternative Computing Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hooterville Il 45 mi. east of St. Louis mo Posts: 2,609 OS: Fedora Core 5 for now	I'm sure there's other ways to do this, but if you'll boot from the Linux install disk you used the first time, and it finds your previous install, use the upgrade option. This will skip over additional package selections and such, and you should get to the summary page in short order. There you can configure/install GRUB, and set the graphical interface etc. as needed. The summary will indicate if anything isn't configured, giving opportunity to correct. __________________ It's better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me. B. While users are never under any obligation, if you feel the urge please feel free to visit our donation page. Every little bit helps. And we thank you for your support. Microsoft free Registered Linux user 397458

04-06-2005, 07:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
batty_professor Asst. Manager, Alternative Computing Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hooterville Il 45 mi. east of St. Louis mo Posts: 2,609 OS: Fedora Core 5 for now	The next-best answer I've got is to select "install" and when prompted for which partition(s) to format, format only the / not the /home. the /home of course has your home folder and all your settings. if you format the / the installer will re-install Linux. But leave your home directory intact. This will take longer, but not as long as formatting both partitions. And you can then re-install GRUB. You mentioned re-installing windowz, and if that's going to happen again, do it first as it will not share with Linux, therefore it will take out GRUB again if you have restored GRUB first. Windoze has to be installed first, then Linux behind it. __________________ It's better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me. B. While users are never under any obligation, if you feel the urge please feel free to visit our donation page. Every little bit helps. And we thank you for your support. Microsoft free Registered Linux user 397458

04-07-2005, 07:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
batty_professor Asst. Manager, Alternative Computing Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hooterville Il 45 mi. east of St. Louis mo Posts: 2,609 OS: Fedora Core 5 for now	I'm running Knoppix as I post this. I like KDE so I booted using the option (F2) knoppix kde (typed at the prompt). I've found no grub in Knoppix, but there is LILO. You can get to LILO by clicking the Gear-n-K on the panel, system, admin, and LILO config. LILO will not dual-boot with windows, but it should get FC3 up for you, (when you reboot) and you can install GRUB easily from FC3. __________________ It's better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me. B. While users are never under any obligation, if you feel the urge please feel free to visit our donation page. Every little bit helps. And we thank you for your support. Microsoft free Registered Linux user 397458

04-07-2005, 09:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
batty_professor Asst. Manager, Alternative Computing Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hooterville Il 45 mi. east of St. Louis mo Posts: 2,609 OS: Fedora Core 5 for now	I'm glad this is worked out. And you might clue your "buddy" in on the results. We like to share when these things fall together.I'll admit, I hunted for a little while this eve in Knoppix before I found the LILO tool.I figure GRUB configuring is a bit much to ask of the live CD. And thanks for the compliment. __________________ It's better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me. B. While users are never under any obligation, if you feel the urge please feel free to visit our donation page. Every little bit helps. And we thank you for your support. Microsoft free Registered Linux user 397458

04-06-2005, 05:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ballistic Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 117 OS: Currently Ubuntu, XP Pro...Various flavors of *Nix	DOH!

04-07-2005, 08:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ballistic Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 117 OS: Currently Ubuntu, XP Pro...Various flavors of *Nix	Good to know...I'll remember that for next time... of course, i got tired of everything being messed up, and shortly after getting winblows working, i went and did what you had suggested, format only part of the linux installation...and i must admit, i like that idea...anyways, im all back to normal, and didnt notice the time too much because i started it, then went and made supper...its a good distraction sometimes... anyway, as it is, im writing this from FC3..thanks muchly....and now i see what you mean by your signature...