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I wrote GRUB to my MBR (by mistake). GRUB was not correctly configured.

I get a GRUB prompt and I am stuck when dual boot to XP; Gentoo
choice is OK.

What to I do to fix my MBR?

----
Bob---

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 00:32:04 +0000, bob wrote:

> I wrote GRUB to my MBR (by mistake). GRUB was not correctly configured.
>
> I get a GRUB prompt and I am stuck when dual boot to XP; Gentoo
> choice is OK.
>
> What to I do to fix my MBR?

Your MBR is probably fine. You probably just need to edit your grub.conf...

Have you read about how to use the chainloader?

What is in your grub.conf re the Windows boot?

--
Lenroc

It is written on the MBR; That's why I get the GRUB
prompt when it should boot to XP. The behavior is
the same after another Linux install: Lnux goes to
Linux and "other OS" gets a grub prompt.

I did something that warned me that I would write to the
MBR if I hit OK and (of course) I did. I have no grub.conf
because of the second Linux install.

Once the MBR is fixed I will put Gentoo where it belongs!


----
Bob--


On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 17:42:40 -0700, Lenroc wrote:

> On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 00:32:04 +0000, bob wrote:
>
>> I wrote GRUB to my MBR (by mistake). GRUB was not correctly configured.
>>
>> I get a GRUB prompt and I am stuck when dual boot to XP; Gentoo
>> choice is OK.
>>
>> What to I do to fix my MBR?
>
> Your MBR is probably fine. You probably just need to edit your grub.conf...
>
> Have you read about how to use the chainloader?
>
> What is in your grub.conf re the Windows boot?

Grub on the MBR is fine for dual boot (usually). Post your
/boot/grub/grub.conf here and I'll take a look at it.

If you still aren't keen on Grub being there, you can do the following:
1.) Make a Grub boot floppy (and test it!!!)
2.) Pop the WindowsXP CD in the drive and boot from it.

That should restore the MBR. You can then:
3.) Reboot from the floppy and reinstall grub not on the MBR.

However, that's more risky. Try posting the grub.conf first.

bob wrote:
> I wrote GRUB to my MBR (by mistake). GRUB was not correctly configured.
>
> I get a GRUB prompt and I am stuck when dual boot to XP; Gentoo
> choice is OK.
>
> What to I do to fix my MBR?
>
> ----
> Bob---
>

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 01:00:42 +0000, bob wrote:

> It is written on the MBR; That's why I get the GRUB
> prompt when it should boot to XP. The behavior is
> the same after another Linux install: Lnux goes to
> Linux and "other OS" gets a grub prompt.
>
> I did something that warned me that I would write to the
> MBR if I hit OK and (of course) I did. I have no grub.conf
> because of the second Linux install.

AFAIK, when Grub is written to the MBR, you still need a grub.conf (the
MBR doesn't replace grub.conf).

When I was installing Gentoo, I allowed Grub to be installed to the MBR,
and I still have a /boot/grub/grub.conf... (OTOH, I'm not dual booting on
this particular machine...)

--
Lenroc

Lenroc wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 01:00:42 +0000, bob wrote:
>
>
>>It is written on the MBR; That's why I get the GRUB
>>prompt when it should boot to XP. The behavior is
>>the same after another Linux install: Lnux goes to
>>Linux and "other OS" gets a grub prompt.
>>
>>I did something that warned me that I would write to the
>>MBR if I hit OK and (of course) I did. I have no grub.conf
>>because of the second Linux install.
>
>
> AFAIK, when Grub is written to the MBR, you still need a grub.conf (the
> MBR doesn't replace grub.conf).
>
> When I was installing Gentoo, I allowed Grub to be installed to the MBR,
> and I still have a /boot/grub/grub.conf... (OTOH, I'm not dual booting on
> this particular machine...)
>

Yes, you *need* a grub.conf . There should be a sample conf at
/boot/grub/grub.conf.sample
Look at it, understand, edit for your needs, then post if it still
doesn't work.

bob <bob-barth@comcast.net> writes:

> I wrote GRUB to my MBR (by mistake). GRUB was not correctly configured.
>
> I get a GRUB prompt and I am stuck when dual boot to XP; Gentoo
> choice is OK.
>
> What to I do to fix my MBR?

I agree with the other posters that installing grub to the MBR is
the best way -- I always do it that way.

In your /boot/grub/grub.conf you need to add some lines like this:
title Windows
root (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

The correct value for 'root' will depend on where your WinXP is
installed. I happen to have an old-style FAT32 partition at
(hd0,0) because I multiboot several versions of Windows and that
is the easiest way to do it. But your WinXP may be installed on
a different partition, I don't know.

You can learn a lot about how grub works by using its interactive
interpreter mode: when the grub prompt appears just hit 'c' for
(c)ommand-line interpreter and then type 'root' and hit the TAB
key for a list of all the partitions. In general if you don't
know what to type next just hit TAB and grub will show you a list
of choices. It's really great once you know how to do it.

On 16 Jan 2004 09:49:52 -0800, walt <wa1ter@hotmail.com> wrote:

>bob <bob-barth@comcast.net> writes:
>
>> I wrote GRUB to my MBR (by mistake). GRUB was not correctly configured.
>>
>> I get a GRUB prompt and I am stuck when dual boot to XP; Gentoo
>> choice is OK.
>>
>> What to I do to fix my MBR?
>
>I agree with the other posters that installing grub to the MBR is
>the best way -- I always do it that way.
>
>In your /boot/grub/grub.conf you need to add some lines like this:
>title Windows
>root (hd0,0)
>chainloader +1
>
>The correct value for 'root' will depend on where your WinXP is
>installed. I happen to have an old-style FAT32 partition at
>(hd0,0) because I multiboot several versions of Windows and that
>is the easiest way to do it. But your WinXP may be installed on
>a different partition, I don't know.
>
>You can learn a lot about how grub works by using its interactive
>interpreter mode: when the grub prompt appears just hit 'c' for
>(c)ommand-line interpreter and then type 'root' and hit the TAB
>key for a list of all the partitions. In general if you don't
>know what to type next just hit TAB and grub will show you a list
>of choices. It's really great once you know how to do it.


Actually, from memory I think you can fix Grub from the Grub login
screen. When it comes up, try pressing "e" and it should deliver you
to a command line where you can edit the content of your grub.conf

I would recommend Googling for a decent grub.conf example if you
cannot find any elsewhere.