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General Category => Boot Managers => Topic started by: fernand on June 01, 2012, 15:54:22 PM

Title: bootloader
Post by: fernand on June 01, 2012, 15:54:22 PM
Helo, I'm new on this site. I'd registered for some questions about a bootloader. On my Pc I've 2 operating systems. On the one side windows xp and on the other Linux(Debian). By the end of the installation of Debian, the installer asked me where can I put the bootloader? It propose two places, in the MBR of the harddisc. But this possibility I didn't like because afterwards I can't boot windows xp anymore. Important to know that I've two OS on a same harddisc. My first partition belong to windows xp ntfs. On the other partitions I've Debian ext3, two swap partitions and a FAT partition. On the other place I might to give an address like sda(0.1) for installing the bootloader. My question is which address I can put to boot windows xp and debian. For example sda (0.1) 0 represented
the harddisc where windows is located and the number 1 the ohter partition where Debian is on. The menu indicate that debian is on the sda 7 but this is is illogic because I've only 5 partitions. Please can someone tell me the number to put in parenthis to indicate the exact address that the bootloader will be installed on the debian partition in the way that I can afterwards choose between windows xp and debian. I were happy for a solution. Greetings Fernand   
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 01, 2012, 16:47:26 PM
hi,

when you install debian, then it should automatically create a grub entry to boot windows. so its no problem when you install grub to the mbr. you will be still able to boot windows.

Quote from: fernand on June 01, 2012, 15:54:22 PM
... The menu indicate that debian is on the sda 7 but this is is illogic because I've only 5 partitions.

sda1-4 is reserved for primary and extended partitions. the first logical partition is sda5. sda7 is the 3rd logical partition.

best regards
elmar

EDIT: added "and extended" to the answer
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: fernand on June 01, 2012, 18:02:51 PM
hi,
thx for the prompt answer, but when the installer asked me to put the bootloader in the MBR, first I
agreed, but the result were that the bootloader of windows were overwritten and I couldn't start windows.
So what can I do or exist an alternative to boot from Debian in a way that I can choose to boot one of my
two Os. Thank you in advance for an answer.
Fernand
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 01, 2012, 18:50:02 PM
windows is started by the boot sector of the windows partition. it doesn't matter what program is in the mbr. so there is only a configuration problem in the grub config.

what happened exactly and what message did you see when you tried to start windows?
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: fernand on June 01, 2012, 19:34:36 PM
Hi, the debian installer asked me if I want to put the mbr, it offers two options
yes o no, if I push yes I can see only 3 entries after booting: Debian and Debian rescue and Acronis a save program, but windows xp didn't appear. If I push no in the last question of the debian-installer, a window at the bottom open and nothing is write inside, in this line I must put the address like sda (0,1) I don't know what I can
write in this window to boot Debian in their own partition,
I hope that I've described my problem so that you can find a solution,
Fernand     
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 01, 2012, 19:51:06 PM
then you have to create the entry for windows

when debian is up then open an editor as root and add to file /etc/grub.d/40_custom the following


menuentry "Windows" {
insmod chain
set root=(hd0,1)
chainloader +1
}


personally i would use my boot manager, but i am sure there will be some troubles with the linux installation on the logical partition (because of the way how the logical partition is created). i always prefer primary partitions.

regards
elmar

EDIT: run "update-grub" to apply the new menu entry
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: fernand on June 01, 2012, 20:14:52 PM
Hi , I'm newbie on Linux. You can help me by putting your file. On my Pc in debian
I'm now in the file /etc/grub.d/40_custom, but this file is write protected, I can't
write your code inside...
   
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 01, 2012, 20:33:45 PM
Quote from: fernand on June 01, 2012, 20:14:52 PM
Hi , I'm newbie on Linux. You can help me by putting your file. On my Pc in debian
I'm now in the file /etc/grub.d/40_custom, but this file is write protected, I can't
write your code inside...   

i dont know what you installed, so maybe the following does not work

open a terminal. when you installed the gnome desktop then press ALT-F2 and enter "gnome-terminal"
then try "sudo gedit /etc/grub.d/40_custom"
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: fernand on June 01, 2012, 20:42:26 PM
hi, so I put your code in the 40_custom file
must I reboot now or what's the following to do
Fern
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 01, 2012, 20:44:03 PM
yes, reboot
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: fernand on June 01, 2012, 20:51:13 PM
Hi Elmar, I've reboot, but unfortunately windows xp don't appear in the bootmenu!
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 01, 2012, 21:20:21 PM
whats the content of the 40_custom file?
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: fernand on June 01, 2012, 21:34:53 PM
the content is the following:
#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
#This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
#menu entries you want to add after this command. Be careful not to change
#the 'exex tail' line above
menuentry "Windows" {
insmod chain
set root= (hd0,1)
chainloader +1
}
that's all..
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 01, 2012, 21:51:05 PM
i dont know if it makes a difference, but you posted a "space" after the "set root="
try it without the space

i dont have grub installed to test that.
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: fernand on June 01, 2012, 22:00:12 PM
I've in the file no space, but indeed by copying the file to your post I've do
a space.... 
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: fernand on June 01, 2012, 22:13:40 PM
Hi, I remember me years before I try to install an OS on the harddisc where
windows xp was yet installed. The consecuence were that after I couldn't start anymore windows. So I visit your website and installed your plop, In this way
I could again start windows. I don't know if this information is relevant for my boot-problem, so you are informed about...   
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 02, 2012, 06:40:23 AM
Quote from: fernand on June 01, 2012, 22:13:40 PM
Hi, I remember me years before I try to install an OS on the harddisc where
windows xp was yet installed. The consecuence were that after I couldn't start anymore windows. So I visit your website and installed your plop, In this way
I could again start windows. I don't know if this information is relevant for my boot-problem, so you are informed about...   

thanks for the info, but thats not important for the grub.

i know now what i forgot to say. run "sudo update-grub" in a terminal. then it should work.

Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: fernand on June 02, 2012, 08:50:39 AM
Hi Elmar, it works!!
Thank you very much for your patience and help.
By the way is it possible to ask your help also by other problems
than bootloader what concerns linux-features
greetings
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 02, 2012, 10:33:16 AM
Quote from: fernand on June 02, 2012, 08:50:39 AM
Hi Elmar, it works!!

:)


Quote from: fernand on June 02, 2012, 08:50:39 AM
By the way is it possible to ask your help also by other problems
than bootloader what concerns linux-features
greetings

normally i give only linux support for my plop linux. when you have a problem and find no solution in the web, then its better to ask the community of the linux distribution that you use.

best regards
elmar
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: fernand on June 02, 2012, 11:29:10 AM
Thank you again.
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: manbearpig on June 04, 2012, 02:17:17 AM
Quote from: Elmar on June 01, 2012, 16:47:26 PM
hi,

when you install debian, then it should automatically create a grub entry to boot windows. so its no problem when you install grub to the mbr. you will be still able to boot windows.

Quote from: fernand on June 01, 2012, 15:54:22 PM
... The menu indicate that debian is on the sda 7 but this is is illogic because I've only 5 partitions.

sda1-4 is reserved for primary partitons. the first logical partition is sda5. sda7 is the 3rd logical partition.

best regards
elmar

actually , sda 1 thru 4 can been logical partitions , if so created that way by a partitioning utility like G-parted ...
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 04, 2012, 06:24:08 AM
Quote from: manbearpig on June 04, 2012, 02:17:17 AM
actually , sda 1 thru 4 can been logical partitions , if so created that way by a partitioning utility like G-parted ...

no, a logical partition can't be sda1-4. a logical partition resists in an extended partition. an extended partition is a partition that has an own partition table in the first sector and can have 4 partition records. a record can be a logical partition or again an extended partition.
sda1-4 represents the 4 partition records in the partition table of the mbr. the 4 records can be primary partitions and extended partitions (an extended partition is not a logical partition). to not confuse fernand i simplified my answer and didn't say that it also can be an extended partition. ok, fully correct is sda1-4 is reserved for primary and extended partitions. but logical partitions is definitely wrong. they can't be sda1-4, because the definition of a logical partition is, that it is inside of an extended partition.

Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 08:02:25 AM
Quote from: Elmar on June 04, 2012, 06:24:08 AM



no, a logical partition can't be sda1-4.


actually yes it/they can , if the partitions in question were so named sda1 , sda2 , sda3 etc...  if they are placed on the hard drive "that way"  and named as such , then they can be...  i've done it....





Quotea logical partition resists in an extended partition. an extended partition is a partition that has an own partition table in the first sector and can have 4 partition records. a record can be a logical partition or again an extended partition.

um, what????  i don't quite follow your meaning here....


Quotesda1-4 represents the 4 partition records in the partition table of the mbr.

of "the mbr" ????  (master boot record) are you sure on that one???

yeah sure , sda/hda 1-4 would represent "4 partition records" , but i would have to think that out of the whole hard disk...

QuoteThe MBR may contain one or more of:

    A partition table describing the partitions of a storage device. In this context the boot sector may also be called a partition sector.
    Bootstrap code: instructions to identify the configured bootable partition then load and execute its volume boot record

Quotethe 4 records can be primary partitions and extended partitions (an extended partition is not a logical partition).

well , let's start from square one there , you have four logical partitions , then because of partitioning constraints/rules after four logicals , one is required to create extended partitions if extras are needed...

Quotefully correct is sda1-4 is reserved for primary and extended partitions. but logical partitions is definitely wrong. they can't be sda1-4, because the definition of a logical partition is, that it is inside of an extended partition.

see previous reply , oh they can be...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_partitioning#PC_partition_types (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_partitioning#PC_partition_types)

Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 05, 2012, 08:08:05 AM
i think you dont understand the meaning of primary, extended and logical partition, however believe what you want. you are wrong.

the only (silly) ways that sda1-4 could be used to access logical partitions are
1) change the dev nodes of sda1-4
or
2) change the node numbers in the kernel

but both would not represent whats really on the hard disk sectors.
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 08:47:39 AM

Quotei think you dont understand the meaning of primary, extended and logical partition, however believe what you want. you are wrong.

i do understand , but you believe what?

no i am not wrong , but i do think that possibly there is a misunderstanding of the terminology here ... lol

Quotethe only (silly) ways that sda1-4 could be used to access logical partitions are

"silly ways"???   aren't you going against your own words now???  an extended partition can be named (sda1 , 2 , 3 , ) i've done it before with gparted... true!! it was a little suprising to me that things ended up that way , which i later changed because of too much confusion with installation and what not... but still...
Quote
1) change the dev nodes of sda1-4
or
2) change the node numbers in the kernel


ok , wait what??  change the nodes or alter the kernel ??  what kernel???  for kernel , isn't that a more system/distro specific  ???

Quotebut both would not represent whats really on the hard disk sectors


well it's really not hard for one to read/write to a hard drive with something like Gparted or even Windows installer, so ....... what not to see????
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:01:51 AM
(http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg33/scaled.php?server=33&filename=feh001752000001gparted.jpg&res=landing)

(http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/62f54d0cb36a097f66c3454a58224b9d64f06bcf411c5bf8e0d4687245c540bb6g.jpg)

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1667915 (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1667915)


clearly , "sda2" is shown in the screenshots...  so am I still wrong???
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 05, 2012, 09:02:31 AM
Quote from: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 08:47:39 AM

Quotei think you dont understand the meaning of primary, extended and logical partition, however believe what you want. you are wrong.

i do understand , but you believe what?

no i am not wrong , but i do think that possibly there is a misunderstanding of the terminology here ... lol

i think you interchange the meaning of extended and logical partition.


Quote from: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 08:47:39 AM
Quotethe only (silly) ways that sda1-4 could be used to access logical partitions are

"silly ways"???   aren't you going against your own words now???  an extended partition can be named (sda1 , 2 , 3 , ) i've done it before with gparted... true!! it was a little suprising to me that things ended up that way

in which way i am against my own words? sda1-4 can be only a  primary or an extended partition


Quote from: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 08:47:39 AM
Quote
1) change the dev nodes of sda1-4
or
2) change the node numbers in the kernel


ok , wait what??  change the nodes or alter the kernel ??  what kernel???  for kernel , isn't that a more system/distro specific  ???

the thread was started with linux. so from what kernel do you think i am talking about? you can change the kernel of every linux distro.

Quote from: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 08:47:39 AM
Quotebut both would not represent whats really on the hard disk sectors
well it's really not hard for one to read/write to a hard drive with something like Gparted or even Windows installer, so ....... what not to see????

i dont understand what you want to say. when you want to know whats really on the hard disk, then you have to look with a hexeditor on the hard disk and not gparted.
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 05, 2012, 09:05:52 AM
Quote from: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:01:51 AM

clearly , "sda2" is shown in the screenshots...  so am I still wrong???

sda2 is an EXTENDED partition!!! and not a LOGICAL partition
sda5 and sda6 are logical partitions
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:11:44 AM
Quote
i think you interchange the meaning of extended and logical partition.

i know that i didn't...


Quote

in which way i am against my own words? sda1-4 can be only a  primary or an extended partition

in reply ...

Quoteno, a logical partition can't be sda1-4. a logical partition resists in an extended partition. an extended partition is a partition that has an own partition table in the first sector and can have 4 partition records. a record can be a logical partition or again an extended partition.
sda1-4 represents the 4 partition records in the partition table of the mbr. the 4 records can be primary partitions and extended partitions (an extended partition is not a logical partition). to not confuse fernand i simplified my answer and didn't say that it also can be an extended partition. ok, fully correct is sda1-4 is reserved for primary and extended partitions. but logical partitions is definitely wrong. they can't be sda1-4, because the definition of a logical partition is, that it is inside of an extended partition.


Quote
the thread was started with linux. so from what kernel do you think i am talking about? you can change the kernel of every linux distro.

i don't know , what kernel are you talking about??? 


Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:14:40 AM




Quotesda2 is an EXTENDED partition!!! and not a LOGICAL partition


um No Elmar , I have "sda2 " on my machine that i am posting from now , and it is Not an extended partition , It is logical...


Quote
sda5 and sda6 are logical partitions


how do you (with respect) figure that????
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 05, 2012, 09:22:07 AM
Quote from: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:14:40 AM
Quotesda2 is an EXTENDED partition!!! and not a LOGICAL partition
um No Elmar , I have "sda2 " on my machine that i am posting from now , and it is Not an extended partition , It is logical...

on your images, what word do you see beside sda2? extended or logical? do you still think sda2 is a logical partition?

check the partition id of sda2 it will be
05h = Extended
or
0Fh = Extended LBA


Quote from: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:14:40 AM
Quote
sda5 and sda6 are logical partitions

how do you (with respect) figure that????

because a partition is a logical partition when it is defined with the partition table of an extended partition.
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:37:26 AM
Quoteon your images, what word do you see beside sda2? extended or logical? do you still think sda2 is a logical partition?


http://shareimage.ro/images/hacdc309kuivthqb65f9.png

Quotecheck the partition id of sda2 it will be
05h = Extended
or
0Fh = Extended LBA

where exactly is that found in gparted????
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 05, 2012, 09:48:49 AM
previous post: the image gives an 403 forbidden http error

Quote from: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:37:26 AM
where exactly is that found in gparted????

i dont know if gparted is able to show the partition id.

either you use "fdisk /dev/sda -l"  or you check the id with a hex editor.
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:52:56 AM
<a href="http://shareimage.ro/viewer.php?file=91tktr6s3t808ymgn63k.png"><img src="http://shareimage.ro/images/91tktr6s3t808ymgn63k_thumb.png" border="0" alt="91tktr6s3t808ymgn63k.png" /></a>
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:54:06 AM
Quote from: Elmar on June 05, 2012, 09:48:49 AM
previous post: the image gives an 403 forbidden http error

Quote from: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:37:26 AM
where exactly is that found in gparted????

i dont know if gparted is able to show the partition id.

either you use "fdisk /dev/sda -l"  or you check the id with a hex editor.


what "hex editor" in linux????


my links should work , i can see them fine on my end....
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 05, 2012, 09:57:19 AM
the image works now.

sda2 is there a primary partition. do you want to waste my time?
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:59:08 AM
Quote from: Elmar on June 05, 2012, 09:57:19 AM
the image works now.

sda2 is there a primary partition. do you want to waste my time?


what are you talking about????   primary , sda2 , logical!!!!!
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 10:01:41 AM
look man , I've already proven you wrong ! , now not that i want to gloat or say hahahaha , but just accept the fact that i did , or at the least that i know what i'm talking about ...

i'm not trying to be insulting here , just saying.... :)   
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 05, 2012, 10:02:21 AM
Quote from: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:59:08 AM
Quote from: Elmar on June 05, 2012, 09:57:19 AM
the image works now.

sda2 is there a primary partition. do you want to waste my time?


what are you talking about????   primary , sda2 , logical!!!!!

i do no longer feed the troll
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: Elmar on June 05, 2012, 10:04:37 AM
Quote from: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 10:01:41 AM
look man , I've already proven you wrong ! , now not that i want to gloat or say hahahaha , but just accept the fact that i did , or at the least that i know what i'm talking about ...

i'm not trying to be insulting here , just saying.... :)

the only thing you proved is that you dont know much about partitions
Title: Re: bootloader
Post by: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 10:12:27 AM
Quote from: Elmar on June 05, 2012, 10:02:21 AM
Quote from: manbearpig on June 05, 2012, 09:59:08 AM
Quote from: Elmar on June 05, 2012, 09:57:19 AM
the image works now.

sda2 is there a primary partition. do you want to waste my time?


what are you talking about????   primary , sda2 , logical!!!!!

i do no longer feed the troll

why do you call me a "troll"???


Quotethe only thing you proved is that you dont know much about partitions

well now , let's not be insulting??? , ok?  i'm just simply trying to have a conversation about disk partitioning and such....  not to start a flame war...


if i may ask , where are you from anyway...??