Dear experts,

I have succeed at this before, but I am really stumped
now, so I hope that someone will be able to tell me
the secret to fix this.


Computer:
Dell 4550. XP Professional.
Dual hard drives.
Primary, C: XP only 80 gigs.
Secondary. For Redhat 2.1 120 gigs
First partition is extended, then logical /boot


Now here is something important. When I bought this
machine, the primary/only hard drive had two
partitions in it. The first partition had no drive
letter assigned and was about 30 megs. It had hardware
diagnosis software, etc on it. The second partition was
the C: drive. 80 gigs. I was able to get this to
dual boot with grub, by overwriting the MBR. That
actually worked quite well.

However, since then, the main hard drive self-destructed.
I had this replaced, and have since installed windows
on this drive. The interesting thing was that it
was not possible to create the 30 meg partition, and
still get Windows to ignore it. If I put the Windows
install on the large partition, it was labelled d:\

NOw, I have tried a number of things to get Redhat to
install and dual boot. And still no luck.


MBR:
Using the previously successful MBR method:
- when booting, produced the word: GRUB in the top
left hand corner and the machine completely hung.
This happened for both Suse, and for Redhat installations.


Using the boot.ini method:
- used this command:
dd if=/dev/hdb5 of=/mnt/floppy/linux.bin bs=512 count=1

copied the file linux.bin to c:\

- when the machine boots, it gives me the choice of
XP, or Linux.
- when I choose linux, the machine then reboots from
scratch, and then gives me the same choice.
- an infinite loop.
- it should go into the grub menu.




Does anyone know how to get the dual boot to work?
What is the secret please?



I'll include some files and output here:

boot.ini:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect
c:\linux.bin="Redhat Linux"



df -k

Filesystem 1k-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/hdb6 5162796 135664 4764876 3% /
/dev/hdb5 101089 13364 82506 14% /boot
/dev/hdb8 5162796 32828 4867712 1% /home
/dev/hdb9 5162796 164200 4736340 4% /opt
/dev/hdb13 10325748 32828 9768400 1% /oracle
/dev/hdb14 11266328 32828 10661188 1% /oradata
none 385024 0 385024 0% /dev/shm
/dev/hdb12 5162796 33536 4867004 1% /tmp
/dev/hdb10 10325748 1358136 8443092 14% /usr
/dev/hdb11 5162796 60248 4840292 2% /var
/dev/fd0 1423 10 1414 1% /mnt/floppy



file LIsting of /boot

total 9007
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5824 Jun 24 2001 boot.b
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Nov 30 22:50 boot.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 612 Jun 24 2001 chain.b
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1024 Nov 30 17:30 grub
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 125307 Nov 30 17:03
initrd-2.4.9-e.3.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 123149 Nov 30 17:02
initrd-2.4.9-e.3smp.img
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 14 Nov 30 17:02 kernel.h ->
kernel.h-2.4.9
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 405 Nov 30 17:02 kernel.h-2.4.9
drwx------ 2 root root 12288 Nov 30 16:54 lost+found
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 23108 Jun 24 2001 message
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 21 Nov 30 17:03 module-info ->
module-info-2.4.9-e.3
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 13599 May 3 2002
module-info-2.4.9-e.3
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 13599 May 3 2002
module-info-2.4.9-e.3smp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 640 Jun 24 2001 os2_d.b
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 20 Nov 30 17:03 System.map ->
System.map-2.4.9-e.3
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 444721 May 3 2002
System.map-2.4.9-e.3
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 466091 May 3 2002
System.map-2.4.9-e.3smp
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 2767809 May 3 2002
vmlinux-2.4.9-e.3
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 3097034 May 3 2002
vmlinux-2.4.9-e.3smp
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 17 Nov 30 17:03 vmlinuz ->
vmlinuz-2.4.9-e.3
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 997736 May 3 2002
vmlinuz-2.4.9-e.3
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1073371 May 3 2002
vmlinuz-2.4.9-e.3smp



file listing of /boot/grub

total 239
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 82 Nov 30 17:30 device.map
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 10848 Nov 30 17:30 e2fs_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 9744 Nov 30 17:30 fat_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8864 Nov 30 17:30 ffs_stage1_5
-rw------- 1 root root 738 Nov 30 17:30 grub.conf
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 11 Nov 30 17:30 menu.lst ->
../grub.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 9248 Nov 30 17:30 minix_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 12512 Nov 30 17:30
reiserfs_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 54044 Sep 5 2001 splash.xpm.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 512 Nov 30 17:30 stage1
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 120000 Nov 30 17:30 stage2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8512 Nov 30 17:30
vstafs_stage1_5




grub.conf: (- although, it ever gets this far)

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this
file
# NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
# root (hd1,4)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hdb6
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hdb5
default=0
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd1,4)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
title Red Hat Linux Advanced Server (2.4.9-e.3smp)
root (hd1,4)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.9-e.3smp ro root=/dev/hdb6 hdd=ide-scsi
initrd /initrd-2.4.9-e.3smp.img
title Red Hat Linux Advanced Server-up (2.4.9-e.3)
root (hd1,4)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.9-e.3 ro root=/dev/hdb6 hdd=ide-scsi
initrd /initrd-2.4.9-e.3.img

Ok, here's an update.

Turns out that there is a difference between:
- reboot
- shut down / power down and power up.

If I reboot, I get the symptoms described at the bottom.

If I shut (power) down completely, and restart, in the top left
hand corner, I get:
GRUB
and a flashing cursor.

Machine is hung. No activity from keyboard. Of course no mouse.

In each case, I still get the choice of Windows, or Linux. I'm
choosing Linux each time.

Any ideas? What is the secret?




linuxquestion@yahoo.com wrote in message news:<672ceaed.0411302033.274a5e88@posting.google. com>...
> Dear experts,
>
> I have succeed at this before, but I am really stumped
> now, so I hope that someone will be able to tell me
> the secret to fix this.
>
>
> Computer:
> Dell 4550. XP Professional.
> Dual hard drives.
> Primary, C: XP only 80 gigs.
> Secondary. For Redhat 2.1 120 gigs
> First partition is extended, then logical /boot
>
>
> Now here is something important. When I bought this
> machine, the primary/only hard drive had two
> partitions in it. The first partition had no drive
> letter assigned and was about 30 megs. It had hardware
> diagnosis software, etc on it. The second partition was
> the C: drive. 80 gigs. I was able to get this to
> dual boot with grub, by overwriting the MBR. That
> actually worked quite well.
>
> However, since then, the main hard drive self-destructed.
> I had this replaced, and have since installed windows
> on this drive. The interesting thing was that it
> was not possible to create the 30 meg partition, and
> still get Windows to ignore it. If I put the Windows
> install on the large partition, it was labelled d:\
>
> NOw, I have tried a number of things to get Redhat to
> install and dual boot. And still no luck.
>
>
> MBR:
> Using the previously successful MBR method:
> - when booting, produced the word: GRUB in the top
> left hand corner and the machine completely hung.
> This happened for both Suse, and for Redhat installations.
>
>
> Using the boot.ini method:
> - used this command:
> dd if=/dev/hdb5 of=/mnt/floppy/linux.bin bs=512 count=1
>
> copied the file linux.bin to c:\
>
> - when the machine boots, it gives me the choice of
> XP, or Linux.
> - when I choose linux, the machine then reboots from
> scratch, and then gives me the same choice.
> - an infinite loop.
> - it should go into the grub menu.
>
>
>
>
> Does anyone know how to get the dual boot to work?
> What is the secret please?
>
>
>
> I'll include some files and output here:
>
> boot.ini:
>
> [boot loader]
> timeout=30
> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
> [operating systems]
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP
> Professional" /fastdetect
> c:\linux.bin="Redhat Linux"
>
>
>
> df -k
>
> Filesystem 1k-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
> /dev/hdb6 5162796 135664 4764876 3% /
> /dev/hdb5 101089 13364 82506 14% /boot
> /dev/hdb8 5162796 32828 4867712 1% /home
> /dev/hdb9 5162796 164200 4736340 4% /opt
> /dev/hdb13 10325748 32828 9768400 1% /oracle
> /dev/hdb14 11266328 32828 10661188 1% /oradata
> none 385024 0 385024 0% /dev/shm
> /dev/hdb12 5162796 33536 4867004 1% /tmp
> /dev/hdb10 10325748 1358136 8443092 14% /usr
> /dev/hdb11 5162796 60248 4840292 2% /var
> /dev/fd0 1423 10 1414 1% /mnt/floppy
>
>
>
> file LIsting of /boot
>
> total 9007
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5824 Jun 24 2001 boot.b
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Nov 30 22:50 boot.txt
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 612 Jun 24 2001 chain.b
> drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1024 Nov 30 17:30 grub
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 125307 Nov 30 17:03
> initrd-2.4.9-e.3.img
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 123149 Nov 30 17:02
> initrd-2.4.9-e.3smp.img
> lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 14 Nov 30 17:02 kernel.h ->
> kernel.h-2.4.9
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 405 Nov 30 17:02 kernel.h-2.4.9
> drwx------ 2 root root 12288 Nov 30 16:54 lost+found
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 23108 Jun 24 2001 message
> lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 21 Nov 30 17:03 module-info ->
> module-info-2.4.9-e.3
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 13599 May 3 2002
> module-info-2.4.9-e.3
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 13599 May 3 2002
> module-info-2.4.9-e.3smp
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 640 Jun 24 2001 os2_d.b
> lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 20 Nov 30 17:03 System.map ->
> System.map-2.4.9-e.3
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 444721 May 3 2002
> System.map-2.4.9-e.3
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 466091 May 3 2002
> System.map-2.4.9-e.3smp
> -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 2767809 May 3 2002
> vmlinux-2.4.9-e.3
> -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 3097034 May 3 2002
> vmlinux-2.4.9-e.3smp
> lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 17 Nov 30 17:03 vmlinuz ->
> vmlinuz-2.4.9-e.3
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 997736 May 3 2002
> vmlinuz-2.4.9-e.3
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1073371 May 3 2002
> vmlinuz-2.4.9-e.3smp
>
>
>
> file listing of /boot/grub
>
> total 239
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 82 Nov 30 17:30 device.map
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 10848 Nov 30 17:30 e2fs_stage1_5
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 9744 Nov 30 17:30 fat_stage1_5
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8864 Nov 30 17:30 ffs_stage1_5
> -rw------- 1 root root 738 Nov 30 17:30 grub.conf
> lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 11 Nov 30 17:30 menu.lst ->
> ./grub.conf
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 9248 Nov 30 17:30 minix_stage1_5
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 12512 Nov 30 17:30
> reiserfs_stage1_5
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 54044 Sep 5 2001 splash.xpm.gz
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 512 Nov 30 17:30 stage1
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 120000 Nov 30 17:30 stage2
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8512 Nov 30 17:30
> vstafs_stage1_5
>
>
>
>
> grub.conf: (- although, it ever gets this far)
>
> # grub.conf generated by anaconda
> #
> # Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this
> file
> # NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
> # all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
> # root (hd1,4)
> # kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hdb6
> # initrd /initrd-version.img
> #boot=/dev/hdb5
> default=0
> timeout=10
> splashimage=(hd1,4)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
> title Red Hat Linux Advanced Server (2.4.9-e.3smp)
> root (hd1,4)
> kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.9-e.3smp ro root=/dev/hdb6 hdd=ide-scsi
> initrd /initrd-2.4.9-e.3smp.img
> title Red Hat Linux Advanced Server-up (2.4.9-e.3)
> root (hd1,4)
> kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.9-e.3 ro root=/dev/hdb6 hdd=ide-scsi
> initrd /initrd-2.4.9-e.3.img

On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 07:20:05 -0800, linuxquestion wrote:

> Ok, here's an update.
>
> Turns out that there is a difference between:
> - reboot
> - shut down / power down and power up.
>
> If I reboot, I get the symptoms described at the bottom.
>
> If I shut (power) down completely, and restart, in the top left
> hand corner, I get:
> GRUB
> and a flashing cursor.
>
> Machine is hung. No activity from keyboard. Of course no mouse.
>
> In each case, I still get the choice of Windows, or Linux. I'm
> choosing Linux each time.
>
> Any ideas? What is the secret?
>

This may be an issue with two using two seperate HDDs. Ideally, you should
be able to put them on seperate devices, but I've seen issues with it in
the past. LILO may be worth a go here, although I would have expected GRUB
to give decent results.

One question - is the Linux partition on the secondary HDD bootable? It
also sounds like your using a rather out-dated RedHat Install -> hit
http://fedora.redhat.com for the more up to date version of things! This
may indeed just work out of the box!

My last resort suggestion:

hda: 60GB Windows (NTFS or FAT), 20GB Linux /
hdb: either make a number of FAT partitions (which you can use as Unified
Linux/Windows storage) or some FAT/NTFS and some EXT3/XFS for Linux.

Oh, and you won't really need the 30MB partition with the DELL software in
it. Just have your diagnostic tools handy on a recovery CD, etc. And
they're marked with a special partition flag, no an ordinary filesystem -
which is why you couldn't create it and not have it recognised by Windows.

Out of curiosity, what are you using to partition drives - if you're using
some dodgey windows app (in my experience, partition magic is included
under the dodgey heading) then you'll likely be doing more damage than
good. Consider getting Knoppix (http://www.knoppix.org) and do it from
there using QTParted.

--
"Linux... because rebooting is for adding new hardware!"

http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~tmccoy
MSN: timsy_01@hotmail.com
ICQ: 160341067

Error log for Tue, 30 Nov 2004 20:33:23 -0800: linuxquestion caused a
Page Fault at address <672ceaed.0411302033.274a5e88@posting.google.com >,
details...

> boot.ini:
>
> [boot loader]
> timeout=30
> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S [operating systems]
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP
> Professional" /fastdetect
> c:\linux.bin="Redhat Linux"

There seem to sometimes be issues when using an NTFS boot partition to
load the Linux boot config.

You had mentioned that there was a small FAT partition originally, I am
unsure whether you re-created it or not by the info in your post.

You could try copying the linux.bin file to the FAT partition and
modifying the boot.ini appropriately.

--
rapskat - 02:34:37 up 14 days, 8:54, 3 users, load average: 1.23, 1.03, 0.83
Even the clearest and most perfect circumstantial evidence is likely to be at
fault, after all, and therefore ought to be received with great caution. Take
the case of any pencil, sharpened by any woman; if you have witnesses, you will
find she did it with a knife; but if you take simply the aspect of the pencil,
you will say that she did it with her teeth.
-- Mark Twain, "Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar"

Maybe I don't understand what you're trying to do... why don't you just make
your linux partition bootable and use LILO?

"rapskat" <rapskat@yahoo.com> wrote in message
newsan.2004.12.06.07.50.32.317369@rapskat.com...
> Error log for Tue, 30 Nov 2004 20:33:23 -0800: linuxquestion caused a
> Page Fault at address <672ceaed.0411302033.274a5e88@posting.google.com >,
> details...
>
> > boot.ini:
> >
> > [boot loader]
> > timeout=30
> > default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S [operating systems]
> > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP
> > Professional" /fastdetect
> > c:\linux.bin="Redhat Linux"
>
> There seem to sometimes be issues when using an NTFS boot partition to
> load the Linux boot config.
>
> You had mentioned that there was a small FAT partition originally, I am
> unsure whether you re-created it or not by the info in your post.
>
> You could try copying the linux.bin file to the FAT partition and
> modifying the boot.ini appropriately.
>
> --
> rapskat - 02:34:37 up 14 days, 8:54, 3 users, load average: 1.23,
1.03, 0.83
> Even the clearest and most perfect circumstantial evidence is likely to be
at
> fault, after all, and therefore ought to be received with great caution.
Take
> the case of any pencil, sharpened by any woman; if you have witnesses, you
will
> find she did it with a knife; but if you take simply the aspect of the
pencil,
> you will say that she did it with her teeth.
> -- Mark Twain, "Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar"
>