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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.

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?

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.

On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:05:58 -0600, 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.

Last question first - that's not really a Linux issue, but an MS one. MS
is very good at rewriting the MBR - does it without asking everytime you
install. I think your MS 'rescue disk' or whatever it's called should be
able to do that.

Several alternatives exist - a CD with 'super grub' would be one way. If
it's in the CD and you're set to boot from CD before hard drive, it will
assist you in booting from where ever. You can also easily change the
default system to boot - simply edit the /boot/grub/menu.lst file - near
the top is a variable to set to indicate the default system (remember to
count boot stanzas from zero rather than one) - of course that assumes
that you retain grub.

I believe it is possible to have your xp handle the dual boot. I'm not
familiar with the technique myself, but a web search should turn it up.
There are several documents at www.tldp.org about setting up dual or multi
boots; one of them may help. I also know that folks talk about dual
booting vista and xp on microsoft.public.windows.vista.general - I don't
know if that would help or not; I think they generally have vista in
control and it's method may differ from what xp does, but it might be
worth a look.

On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:05:58 -0600, 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.

BTW - another option might be for you to run Linux in a virtual machine on
your MS box. I'm learning about VirtualBox from VirtualBox.org right now -
you could run either one from the other.

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?

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.

On 03/27/2008 06:32 PM, RHG wrote:
> 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.

Neither Linux nor Grub make any changes to the BIOS. You're asking "how
to restore the original Windows MBR?" Unfortunately, this I do not know,
but Google does.

Google search: restore Windows XP MBR

There are probably multiple solutions to your problem, but the simplest
is probably to adjust the 'default' option in /boot/grub/menu.lst.
However, the fact that the system does not boot with hd1 removed is a
point of concern. We need to see your /boot/grub/menu.lst and /etc/fstab.

There are two avenues to a solution: (1) fix Grub, and (2) restore
Window's MBR and configure the NT-loader.

So long as Grub is installed into the MBR of hd0, and it does not depend
upon anything on hd1 to boot Windows (on hd0), avenue 1 should be a
viable option. However, if that does not work, you can follow avenue 2,
and a document which is in the package 'doc-linux-text' can help you:

/usr/share/doc/HOWTO/en-txt/Linux+NT-Loader.gz

I also advise installing 'grub-doc' and issuing the command 'info grub'.
Good luck.

On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:32:29 -0600,
RHG <dickgb@comcast.net> wrote:
> 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.

Look for the line that starts with "default" in /boot/grub/menu.lst.
"menu.lst" is very well documented on my machine. default is 0 by
default, which will select the first selection, 1 would be the second,
etc. It may also be "saved" which will reboot your previous choice.

> 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.

I believe the latter stages of the grub bootloader are usally
installed on the linux partition, but don't have to be. Unfortunately
I'm barely capable with grub. If you have a fat partition on the
Windows disk, grub can be installed there, I'm not sure about NTFS.

"info grub-install" may yield useful information, or much info can be
found at http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/grub.html .

You could also opt for another bootloader such as LILO which will
install all required info in the MBR.

> 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.

I believe the command from the recovery console is "fixmbr" to rewrite
the master boot record.

HTH,

Michael C.
--
mjchappell@verizon.net http://mcsuper5.freeshell.org/

Any job done reluctantly is a difficult one.

On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:09:30 GMT, "Michael C."
<mjchappell@verizon.net> wrote:

>On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:32:29 -0600,
>RHG <dickgb@comcast.net> wrote:
>> 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.
>
>Look for the line that starts with "default" in /boot/grub/menu.lst.
>"menu.lst" is very well documented on my machine. default is 0 by
>default, which will select the first selection, 1 would be the second,
>etc. It may also be "saved" which will reboot your previous choice.
>
>> 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.
>
>I believe the latter stages of the grub bootloader are usally
>installed on the linux partition, but don't have to be. Unfortunately
>I'm barely capable with grub. If you have a fat partition on the
>Windows disk, grub can be installed there, I'm not sure about NTFS.
>
>"info grub-install" may yield useful information, or much info can be
>found at http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/grub.html .
>
>You could also opt for another bootloader such as LILO which will
>install all required info in the MBR.
>
>> 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.
>
>I believe the command from the recovery console is "fixmbr" to rewrite
>the master boot record.
>
>HTH,
>
>Michael C.

If you don't mind another approach here, I use a removable hard drive
rack installed in the computer, and several hard drive holders. Each
one holds a different operating system, or data for an operating
system. They lock in place. The only disavantage I find is that the
computer needs shut down, the drive unlocked, and replaced with the
selected operating system or data disk. I currently use 15 hard drive
inserts in 7 hard drive racks installed in different computers.