Hi people,
RE: UBUNTU/DEBIAN MULTI-BOOT SATA SYSTEMS - ISSUE FIX
For anyone who is interested here is a great way of being able to
multi-boot Ubuntu Gutsy/Debian Etch with Windows/Linux as often and as
many times as you need. No more changing cables!
This works with Linux acting as a master O/S for any Linux Distribution
or Windows operating system. This is because we are going to modify GRUB.
The windows boot manager is not very flexible!
This method or approach can work for unlimited SATA disk drives
containing unlimited O/S systems and storage drives - you could even use
an ESATA disk - without the risk of killing your windows MBR without the
risk of disk failure killing your system - pretty much risk free as long
as you follow the how to carefully; but mistakes can happen. S yes, this
guide is without warranty and works on a SATA based hard disk system
only :-)
Note: For multiple IDE disks you need to reconfigure the master/slave
drive settings, whereas for a single disk multi-boot system it is simple
enough to simply install XP first then add Ubuntu using a manual
partition setup [there is a guide in Ubuntu's community docs for this].
For this how-to i am NOT using a RAID ARRAY and treating each disk as a
separate disk drive for a distinct O/S. If you did use RAID, then you
need to treat your disk like a rather large EIDE setup with partitions.
These instructions will create 3 separate operating systems and a single
hard disk for additional shared storage. Linux will always be disk
number 1 and for simplicity - my cross-O/S storage drive is formatted to
FAT32 - if you want to use NTFS then get the relevant disk tools for
your linux distro!
Let's begin:
1] If you need to install your O/S jump to point 1, otherwise skip to
point 2.
1a] If you need to install an operating system, unplug all your disk
drives. Add a single drie to header/channel 1 and install on a
one-at-a-time.
2a] Repeat the above for each and every O/S
2] Back-up your data - The Windows MBR is very touchy.
Then take your existing operating system disks and attach them in the
following order to your sata headers on your motherboard:
HEADER/Channel
1 UBUNTU
2 WINXP
3 WINXP
4 STORAGE DRIVE
I find it easier to add the storage drive at the end, but you may want
to run it as disk 2.
All windows computers will see each others hard-disk whilst linux can
see them all.
All operating systems are standalone and fully functional.
3] Verify your BIOS can see all the disks and ensure you have them
booting in the correct order
4] Boot to UBUNTU, open terminal and either:
$ sudo vi /boot/grub/menu.lst
or
$ sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
Create a back-up of this file immediately then start editing.
4] Scroll down to the bottom of this file and look for the final line - i.e.
### END DEBIAN AUTOMATIC KERNELS LIST
Below that line type the following [use a tab to separate the command
word and the statement]:
title Other operating systems:
root
5] Now lets add your O/S. Your file should now look like this:
### END DEBIAN AUTOMATIC KERNELS LIST
title Other operating systems:
root
Below this type the following replacing XXX with your O/S descriptions
[use a tab to separate the command word and the statement]:
title XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
root (hd1,0)
makeactive
chainloader +1
map (hd0) (hd1) (hd2)
map (hd1) (hd0) (hd2)
title XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
root (hd2,0)
makeactive
chainloader +1
map (hd0) (hd1) (hd2)
map (hd2) (hd1) (hd2)
Now, let's adjust the timeout for something more human. Look for the
following line at the top of the menu.lst file:
timeout 3
Change the number to something suitable - i.e. 9 to give you a 9 second
breaker.
Jone done.
Save the file and reboot. Jump to point 6 below.
===============================
Notes:
Your edited file could look like this:
### END DEBIAN AUTOMATIC KERNELS LIST
title Other operating systems:
root
title Windows XP, Games
root (hd1,0)
makeactive
chainloader +1
map (hd0) (hd1) (hd2)
map (hd1) (hd0) (hd2)
title Windows 2000 Server
root (hd2,0)
makeactive
chainloader +1
map (hd0) (hd1) (hd2)
map (hd2) (hd1) (hd2)
What we did:
root (hd2,0) - This line simply references the disk number and the
correct partition.
In what we have done, the important part is here:
map (hd0) (hd1) (hd2)
map (hd2) (hd1) (hd2)
To fool XP we have created a map of the disks starting with disk drive 0
[where your first disk is disk 0]
So fo you need to add more disks, replicate the above template as many
times as required by following the implied logic and adding a new map -
i.e. (hd3), (hd4) etc....
===============================
6] If all goes well, simply watch GRUB. Hit the escape key when asked
and choose the relevant O/S to use.
If you have any issues - i.e. a stalled boot [flashing cursor or a grub
error] it is either [a] you made a typo or [b] check your cables.
If you really get stuck, don't force things. Simply switch off,
disconnect all drives except for Ubuntu/Debian
open terminal and try this command:
$ sudo fdisk -l
This should confirm if Linux can see all the hard disk on your system.
If the above is correct then re-check your work with
$ sudo vi /boot/grub/menu.lst
mistakes can often happen in GEDIT - so use VI [VIM] or NANO etc...
I like VI myself.
If nothing works at all and you are fed up - then something else must be
at issue, so simply restore your backup menu.lst file , disconnect the
relevant drives and continue as before [no harm done].
===============================
As i said, this how-to is without warranty - as the Windows MBR is very
touchy!.
Be careful and have fun!
J.
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