Noob Linux DualBoot

[flarkit]

Good job on sticking through the hassles, hj2k_x.

It's very odd that the 32-bit version of 7.10 wouldn't install on your 5200+. Hopefully you'll be fine with the 64-bit release though. Usually the only issue is limited availability of 64-bit applications.

On to your bootup issues. As stated, the BIOS really should be allowing you to choose which specific drive to boot from (and not simply "hard disk"). You'd actually stated previously that

Currently the BIOS boot sequence is CD-ROM > HDD1>HDD2 iirc.

Assuming that you absolutely can't set it in the BIOS, you can always enable Vista's own boot-menu, and add Linux to that. This is simply an alternative to booting with Grub's menu. You'd need to do a little reading to figure out how to set it up.

In fact, it seems that Grub was not placed in your Vista disk's MBR, which is a good thing IMO. I prefer to have the Windows disk left intact. Then install Linux on it's own disk, with Grub there and the BIOS set to boot from this. Then add an entry in the menu for my Windows disk.

If you aren't able to force your BIOS to boot from the IDE disk, then you'd do the reverse, by adding an entry for Ubuntu in Windows' boot menu

 

[hj2k_x]

Hi guys, just woke up after a nap.
Good article here:http://apcmag.com/5045/how_to_dual_boot_vista_with_linux
They have a little vista app it seems, http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1
http://neosmart.net/downloads/software/EasyBCD/EasyBCD 1.7.1.exe
This will help you get an entry for Ubuntu in your MBR. It seems to be endorsed by pc mags and stuff. From there you can choose at boot. I'm staying here so let me know!

Ok, I have downloaded the app and added Linux smartstart...Gonna reboot now, hopefully into Linux

 

[hj2k_x]

Well using EasyBCD as per the article above does give me the option of Linux in the boot menu. When I select it, it shows me a new screen very quickly which says some stuff and something along the lines of 'loading new partition' then it just jumps back to the original boot menu again. Only clicking on Vista allows me to actually boot into Vista...

 

[Beta]

Unlucky, dood. My last suggestion is to create a thread detailing your issue on ubuntuforums.org. That should work.

 

[hj2k_x]

Unlucky, dood. My last suggestion is to create a thread detailing your issue on ubuntuforums.org. That should work.

Hehe. Indeed. That seems to be all that remains

I have checked my BIOS again and the boot options are only CD or HDD not HDD1, HDD2 etc. So currently it is set to CD>HDD>HDD.

I saw a thread like this kinda problem on the Ubuntu forums..I will try to find that again...

 

[hj2k_x]

Changing the drive in the dropdown box in EasyBCD or selecting the 'GRUB isn't installed to the boot sector' option gets me to another boot type screen where I can select
-Ubuntu 7.10 generic
-Ubuntu 7.10 safe mode (or something along those lines)
-something else here
-something else here

and
-Vista over here


Clicking on the Ubuntu one gets me another screen with "Error 17: file not found" described on the Ubuntu forums without a solution: http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-437927.html

This thread here discusses the exact problem I have, but the solution is not applicable in my case.

This is another suggestion I found:http://www.3till7.net/2007/10/25/grub-error-17/

How to fix this:

* Using a live CD (I recommend Damn Small Linux because it’s great for quick fixes), you can edit your Linux partition. Download the live CD image (hopefully you have access to another computer with a disc burner) and burn it.
* Boot your messed-up computer with the live CD and open a terminal when it’s booted.
* You need to know which partition is your Linux partition. In the terminal, do the command fdisk -l. If that doesn’t work, you might try sudo fdisk -l to act as the root superuser in order to use the Fdisk tool. You’re looking for, haha, a partition that claims to be ‘Amoeba’. You want the information that looks like ‘/dev/hda1′.
* Once you know where the lying partition is, do fdisk /dev/hda (or sudo fdisk /dev/hda) if your Linux was on /dev/hda1. You need to leave off the number at the end, so if your Linux was on /dev/hdb2, you would issue the command fdisk /dev/hdb. This will allow you to work with that drive.
* All we need to do is change the partition’s type from 93 to 83 so that it knows it’s Linux again. Fdisk’s commands are all one character long. You can use m to get a command list if you need it. I would recommend issuing the command p to list the partition table, so you can better see what you’re doing.
* Now you can use the t command to tell Fdisk you want to adjust the type of one of the partitions. It will ask you which partition you want to edit, and you should give it a number. My Linux partition is /dev/hda1, so I entered 1.
* Now Fdisk will ask for a hex code. Here is where you need to enter 83 to represent a Linux device. If you’re unsure about this, you can type L to list all the operating system types it recognizes and their codes.
* Once you’ve entered the hex type number, you’ll be returned to Fdisk’s command prompt. You should issue the command w to write the partition table and exit.

That’s it! That should tell the Linux partition that it is indeed Linux and not Amoeba, so next time you reboot, things should work.

Wonder if that might work?

 

[PostmanPot]

hj2k_x, you should definately ask ubuntuforums.org

Well done for persisting!

 

[hj2k_x]

hj2k_x, you should definately ask ubuntuforums.org

Well done for persisting!

So determined to get this thing to work now. I've been trying now for like three days!

Seems that the method I just quoted might work but it is all from the Linux command prompt, with which I am not too familiar.

Think it might come down to the fact that Linux is on an IDE drive while Vista is on a SATA drive.

 

[Beta]

Think it might come down to the fact that Linux is on an IDE drive while Vista is on a SATA drive.

That is the problem. It's confused me straight up, and I've had a 5boot configuration configured before, nevermind dual-boot. It's almost a fight for the mbr, not only between vista and ubuntu but between the SATA and the IDE drive.
Well, make sure your thread on ubuntuforums.org states clearly the SATA IDE factor. If reinstaling vista is not an issue, reinstall vista then ubuntu on top all on the same disk, best way to go.

 

[hj2k_x]

Found the exact thread here :http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=46003&highlight=dual+boot+sata

Seems that to fix it, all I need to do is somehow get my BIOS to boot from the IDE HDD first, not just HDD, which is the only option it gives me...

Maybe i need to try upgrading my BIOS...or waiting a while and getting a new SATA drive which should hopefully solve the problem altogether...

 

[Beta]

Oh, that looks promising infact seems it might be the solution, basically a mirror of your problem.

 

[hj2k_x]

That is the problem. It's confused me straight up, and I've had a 5boot configuration configured before, nevermind dual-boot. It's almost a fight for the mbr, not only between vista and ubuntu but between the SATA and the IDE drive.
Well, make sure your thread on ubuntuforums.org states clearly the SATA IDE factor. If reinstaling vista is not an issue, reinstall vista then ubuntu on top all on the same disk, best way to go.

This is also an option I suppose...Happy with the way my Vista install is currently so I wouldn't want to do this unless I have to. It might be my only option though.

The BIOS updates for my motherboard don't seem to address the issue at all

 

[Beta]

There is one other way. Unplug the sata hard drive when you want to boot ubuntu and unplug the other when you want vista. <lmao>Obviously</lmao> that sucks though and is not nearly a practical long term solution.
For the option you have highlighted in my post above, you would set a fixed partition size for each OS, that way you would not have to use the resizing guided tool, you would use set partitions. For example 150 gig NTFS partition for Vista, and then use the rest of the disk for Ubuntu, no resizing.

 

[HavocXphere]

Thing is, in the BIOS it just says 'hard drive' under boot sequence. I don't think there is an option that allows me to choose which hdd I want to boot from first.

It is unlikely that a PC capable of running vista does not give you that option. My 5 year old gigabyte board did so I'd be surprised if the remove features.

With the asus boards, there is a second place in the bios where you get to specify which hdd is meant by "harddrive".

 

[hj2k_x]

It is unlikely that a PC capable of running vista does not give you that option. My 5 year old gigabyte board did so I'd be surprised if the remove features.

With the asus boards, there is a second place in the bios where you get to specify which hdd is meant by "harddrive".

I thought it odd as well. Let me check all the lists in the BIOS and see what I can come up with.

 

[hj2k_x]

There is one other way. Unplug the sata hard drive when you want to boot ubuntu and unplug the other when you want vista. <lmao>Obviously</lmao> that sucks though and is not nearly a practical long term solution.
For the option you have highlighted in my post above, you would set a fixed partition size for each OS, that way you would not have to use the resizing guided tool, you would use set partitions. For example 150 gig NTFS partition for Vista, and then use the rest of the disk for Ubuntu, no resizing.

Unplugging the drives is indeed poo as you say.

I will look into the BIOS thing, consider my finances RE purchasing another SATA drive and then think about reinstalling both OSs again. Problem is, the 250GB HDD with Vista on it is partitioned in two, one with only data on and one with the OS on(50GB). The one with data on is basically full,so I'd have to put this somewhere whilst resizing the partitions and stuff...

 

[hj2k_x]

YESSSSSSS! It is working!!!

It was as simple as actually finding the right entry in the BIOS and changing the boot sequence. It was hidden in a sub-menu that I had not checked out before!

I don't even think that I needed to fiddle around with Vista Boot Menu either. When restarting now I am presented with a screen with the various Linux options on top and Vista at the bottom. Clicking the Linux one takes me straight into the Ubuntu desktop, whilst clicking on Vista still takes me to the Vista boot menu where I have to click on Vista again to get through to the desktop of Vista.

I am so happy it finally worked. Thought I would never get there!

Big thanks to all for the help and input

I will be back sometime soon with more noob questions about finding nice apps and a better GUI for this 64 bit version of Ubuntu, as well as things like accessing files on other hdds once in Ubuntu and the like.

For now, i am just happy it finally worked!

 

[Beta]

Ah man, good for you.
I know you're gonna love it. Any questions just ask me, I feel especially happy that you got this sorted.I know you can benefit hugely from this OS, not only because of your inquisitiveness but the fact that the OS is free, South African, and will teach you so much more about computers as no doubt it already has.

 

[milomak]

I admire your perserverence. It will stand you in good stead as you learn that things are different in Linux.

EDIT: Let me also add that while the people here wll be more than willing to help (as you have already witnessed), I would strongly urge that you frequently visit UbuntuForums. You will find that many have walked down the path that is causing you problems at any time.

 

[hj2k_x]

Ah man, good for you.
I know you're gonna love it. Any questions just ask me, I feel especially happy that you got this sorted.I know you can benefit hugely from this OS, not only because of your inquisitiveness but the fact that the OS is free, South African, and will teach you so much more about computers as no doubt it already has.

Indeed, I hope so too.

Very keen to not have to reply on Micro$oft at all and try and push Linux on my mates and get them to convert, if possible.

My ultimate goal is not to dual boot but just to run Ubuntu. I am sure there will be compatibility issues - all the PCs at Varsity run XP only, but I am willing to play around to see what I can achieve.

At my year at CTI doing a rather intensive Computer Science Diploma, all the PC's in the Java Lab, which is where I was almost all the time, ran RedHat 7 Linux, which I HATED. I never really got into it, hated that you had to mount each drive before you used it and unmount it afterwards and never really got to grips with all the command prompt stuff.

But now I have a genuine will NOT to have to either pay through my arse for genuine M$ software or 'break the law' and 'pirate'.