multi boot linux problem

[roelof]

Hello,

I have a system with 2 disk.
One Win7 disk and one for playingh with linux.
I have installed easybcd so I can boot in Win or Linux.

But when I choose for linux the only thing I see is boot error.

I have asked in the easybcd and in the forum of the linux distro but on easybcd I got no answer and the linux guy's don't know what is going wrong.

I hope anyone who can help me figure this out

Roelof

 

[Tews]

This tutorial is a simple guide that will explain the two easiest ways to setup and install Ubuntu to dual-boot with your current installation of Windows. One option describes how to do this via WUBI. Another describes how to do this as a native dual-boot.

How to Dual Boot Windows 7 and Ubuntu

Hope this helps ..

 

[roelof]

Thanks fort the help but it don't answered my question.

I use pc-bsd and that one don't come with Grub so I had to install another bootloader.
So I decided to use the Win7 boot loader.

Roelof

 

[Coram Daes]

I never heard of any Windows based boot loader that worked with Linux.
There are 3d party applications that may help you restore the MBR, like System Commander. A reinstall/repair of your BSD might also help. I would however make sure to make a backup of the Windows partition/files, before attempting this.

You also have a LOT of tips on related issues at the PC-BSD forums, so I am a bit puzzled about why you ask here? Bootloader can't boot Windows after installing PC-BSD 8.2 - PC-BSD Forums

 

[sgage]

Thanks fort the help but it don't answered my question.

I use pc-bsd and that one don't come with Grub so I had to install another bootloader.
So I decided to use the Win7 boot loader.

Roelof

You can use the Win7 bootloader, but then you need to have Grub or something similar installed in the root partition of your *nix. The Win7 bootloader simply chains off to whatever bootloader you have on you *nix system.

EasyBCD has options in the "Add New Entry" dialog for Grub (Legacy), Grub 2, Lilo/eLilo, FreeBSD, and Wubi. I don't know much about *BSD - perhaps the FreeBSD option would work?

 

[roelof]

Hello,

Like i said I use Easybcd.
But when I want to start up BSD I see a boot error.

I posted here because I wonder if some protection thing is messing this up.

Roelof

 

[Arc]

I am also having two OSs, essentially windows7 and ubuntu . But not in a dual boot set up . I use single time boot menu to select which disk is to boot up , and the key is F10 for my intel motherboard .

It is the better way to handle multiple OSs when they are installed in separate disks . So what is your motherboard ? your System specs is silent about it

 

[roelof]

Hoi,

I filled in my system specs and I hope i did it right.
Can you help me now ?

Roelof

 

[Arc]

Hi roelof ...
As yours a MSI board, the F11 key should be the boot menu key for you .

During startup, just when the MSI screen appears, hold and tap F11 key (or you may tap it after power on , but hold it until the list appears).... it should show a list of your existing disks . Using the scroll key, select the disk that contains the ubuntu installation and hit enter ....

Ubuntu should boot up .

 

[boyans]

The chain loading of *nix based systems over Windows 7 boot environment is like this:

1. Create an entry in BCD of type BootSectorLoader.
2. Give it a file to be loaded which has the contents of the MBR(master) or PBR(partition) boot record of the installed *nix system.

On my system I am very happy with chainloading the file boot.img from grub2 environment.

In Windows 7 you can use Ext2fsd version 0.50 to gain access to ext3,4 file system.

If the *nix loader is grub legacy you can first repair the *nix boot environment.
Then copy the MBR and PBR to two separate files with dd utility.
Examine with a hex editor if the last two bytes of the PBR (512 bytes long) are 55AA.
If not use the saved MBR-file for chainloading. Check here: Visual BCD Editor - How To , Section 8. Create new Boot-Sector Loader (Linux, Mac OS X)

If you destroy Windows MBR you have to repair it using the Windows Recovery CD or installation DVD - Startup repair or "bootrec /fixmbr" from command prompt

 

[roelof]

Hello Arc,

On that menu the second disk don't show up.
I can only choose floppy., first hard disk, dvd and network startup.

Boyans,

I use a mbr file to start up linux.


Roelof

 

[boyans]

This is a "good" *nix boot entry (bcdedit output):

Real-mode Boot Sector
---------------------
identifier {d63df79f-bbda-4319-ae91-9bd67f12b3da}
device partition=D:
path \Boot\boot.img
description Kubuntu over boot.img

If your *nix system does not start properly you have to fix it first then try chainloading with Windows 7.

 

[roelof]

Oke,

I see the difference.
The drive which contains pc-bsd has no drive name. Can I do that or do I have to make the partition on the second disk again to give it a drive name.

Roelof

 

[boyans]

In my post obove drive D: is a Windows drive and a NTFS drive and happens to be my boot and system drive !

The file boot.img can be placed anywhere on a Windows mapped drive.
The real important thing is the CONTENTS of this file.

It must have the contents (be an exact copy) of the first sector loaded by the *nix system. It is also called - first stage boot loader and is usually placed in the MBR when you install a *nix system - it does not matter what kind of loader used grub legacy or grub2 or other boot loader - first stage is always 512 bytes in size and last two bytes are always 55AA(hex).

 

[roelof]

Hello,

The mbr file is 512 bytes and ends with 55 AA.
So that can't be the problem.

I can't check if it's a exact copy because I can't boot into pc-bsd.

Roelof

 

[Arc]

Hello Arc,

On that menu the second disk don't show up.
I can only choose floppy., first hard disk, dvd and network startup.
Roelof

Please dont take me otherwise, but IMO, you should check it for another time that the sata and power cables are properly connected to the second drive .

And, Can you post a full screen snip of your disk management window , just to make it sure that it is deleted by the bios ? here's mine .....


EDIT : and a photograph of boot menu .... all the windows and ubuntu drives are listed


EDIT again .... if you try to update GRUB, both the OSs will be included in GRUB . But adding linux entry in MBR is a rare situation , as I seen .

 

[roelof]

Oke,

Here a screenshot of the disk management.

 

[Arc]

As the second disk is detected by the disk management, it should be listed in the boot menu , whether or not it contains a bootable media . As for my case, the disk1 have nothing bootable there, and it is listed in the boot menu .

This is the only situation that makes me confused . I can guess that we may get some more help in this issue .

 

[roelof]

Hello,

I looked in the BIOS and at some place I can see all the drives.
There I have to choose which drive is the first drive and which one is the second drive.
The drive which is choosen first drive appears in the boot menu.

So maybe it's a bios limitation because my computer seems to be about 10 years old.

Roelof

 

[Arc]

Hello,

I looked in the BIOS and at some place I can see all the drives.
There I have to choose which drive is the first drive and which one is the second drive.
The drive which is choosen first drive appears in the boot menu.

So maybe it's a bios limitation because my computer seems to be about 10 years old.

Roelof

Maybe... I am not sure . I dont have such a long experience of serious computing
But found some tutorials and discussions in neosmart .... about adding linux to MBR .
Ubuntu - EasyBCD - NeoSmart Technologies Wiki
Ubuntu_Win7 Dual Boot Adding Ubuntu to MBR - The NeoSmart Forums