Joe wrote:
> RHG wrote:
>> ray wrote:
>>> On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:04:58 -0600, RHG wrote:
>>>
>>>> I now have grub with debian linux as the primary os and Windows XP as
>>>> the secondary. linux is installed on a usb 2nd HD. I also keep a
>>>> backup of my XP files on the 2nd HD. I would like to be able to remove
>>>> the dual boot feature and boot each os independently. Can someone
>>>> please
>>>> tell me how to go about this. For one thing, I cannot find
>>>> instructions
>>>> on how to remove grub. Help please.
>>>
>>> You don't 'remove' grub - you overwrite it with whatever else you're
>>> doing. I don't understand your request - you want to be able to 'boot
>>> each os independently' - how? Seems to me like if you want to have
>>> two systems installed and be able to boot them both then you need
>>> either a boot manager or else to be able to select which disk to boot
>>> from BIOS - do you have that capability?
>>
>> Sorry about the reply to the wrong address. Must have pushed the
>> wrong button.
>> =============
>>
>> I don't think I do have that capability, but then that's why I'm here
>> asking questions.
>>
>> Until I get all the software working on Linux I need to be able to
>> access XP as my primary OS. Right now, if my system is updated by MS
>> it will reboot and, because of the way grub is set up, it boots into
>> Linux. Furthermore, if I go away and I take my backup (on hd1) to
>> another physical location [for security], then I cannot boot my
>> machine and get to my XP programs. I would LIKE to be able to remove
>> the second (usb) drive off the system and still operate. Is there any
>> way to do this, and if not, how do I restore the original BIOS? If I
>> cannot have both systems boot independently, then I'll have to have a
>> separate machine for Linux, in which case, how do I overwrite grub?
>> Thanks for your patience.
>
> Why not set grub to boot XP by default?
This sounds great. I've been reading all afternoon trying to become
more familiar with grub, but I can't find a "cookbook" approach to
modifying the code to change the boot order. Also, I get the impression
that the grub program remains on the hd that carries the linux software.
The consequence of this is that when you remove the second hd, for
backup safety, you can no longer boot the system at all, which is the
problem I have right now. What I want is a stand alone machine running
XP off of hd0; when I plug in hd1 I would then be able to boot from linux.

If this isn't possible, how do I get back to an XP machine booting off
of the regular BIOS. I would then put linux on another machine.