Dual Boot With A Difference...

[Niloc]

The difference is that I have a Linux (Gutsy Gibbon 64 bit) working perfectly but I want to add a bootable XP to grub.

I can see the drive on the desktop as hda1 but how do I get it to boot??

[bkkguy1970]

try adding the following to the grub menu.lst

title Microsoft Windows

root (hd0,0)

makeactive

chainloader +1

bkkguy

[Niloc]

That was my first try but root(1,0) is the one that works.. all I get when I select XP on the grub menu is some junk characters then it is back to the windows 'DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER'.

Could it be something with the Windows Boot loader, it is currently :

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

I can edit this on the XP drive....

[RKASA]

Most livecd like PClinuxOS just run the MBR (Make Boot Record) from the desktop, a few clicks and it writes the menu and everything. Even can chose order  in which they are listed as well as which will be defaut,  Even a place to change the time out before default boot.  If you re partition and install yet another Linux just run it again.

[dave_boo]

FWIW, grub lables your disks as such:

hda1 (hd0,0)

hda2 (hd0,1)

hdb1 (hd1,0)

hdb2 (hd1,1)

etc.....

I assume you can boot into your Linux partition since you have that listed. Can you post your current grub menu? I honestly don't think that's the problem.... I think that your boot.ini line like this: "multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect" should be like this: "multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect". However, if you can boot into safe mode, try and do a repair. another option is to break out a bootable disk and do a /fixmbr. Just make sure you pull your linux drive.

[Niloc]

Well I have re-installed WinXP on the 80g drive. I tried to start it, it booted OK but then after about 5 seconds it went into 'the blue screen of death'. All I can do is report it to Microsoft, I am sure they will be pleased!!

[dave_boo]

Well I have re-installed WinXP on the 80g drive. I tried to start it, it booted OK but then after about 5 seconds it went into 'the blue screen of death'. All I can do is report it to Microsoft, I am sure they will be pleased!!

Hmm, if even on a new install you're having problems, either that controller channel is bad or the harddrive (or cable) is bad. I'd have those checked out. You can also boot Ubuntu and do this:

smartctl -A /dev/hda

from a cli should give you a good idea of what's going on.

[Niloc]

Well I gave up on WinXP. I managed to get Windows 2000 installed. The 80 gig drive boots and works perfectly on one of my computers but steadfastly refuses to fire up on the one I want it to live on.

I have Delphi 7 and all my code installed, now I have taken the whole thing back to the computer man, see if he can fix it.

If all else fails it is down to CM to buy a brand new one, with a guarantee!!