DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Help with GRUB

18 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/help-with-grub.100615/

J
Jack Carvar Original post #1
Oct 25, 2008 at 9:37 PM
I had installed Ubuntu 8.04 and then installed XP so XP's bootloader replaced Ubuntu's and Ubuntu wasnt showing up on the list. I got GRUB up and working again but now XP is not shown as a boot option and Ubuntu 8.04 directly starts...please help me get XP and Ubuntu working together.
QwertyManiac
Oct 25, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Append these lines to /boot/grub/menu.lst :

Code:
# (1) Windows
title Microsoft Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
makeactive
chainloader +1
Assuming your Windows exists on the first partition.
Rahim
Rahim #3
Oct 25, 2008 at 9:47 PM
^Calm Down. You just have to create some entries in /boot/grub/menu.lst file for Win XP.
1. Open a Terminal and enter sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst and enter your password when prompted.
2. Navigate below and enter this as XP entry
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
chainloader +1
I hope you installed XP in the 1st partition. You wanna post /boot/grub/menu.lst file's contents here using the command in step 1.

EDIT: Both the entries mentioned by Querty and me will work.
J
Oct 25, 2008 at 10:19 PM
how to find out which partition is XP installed on ? And if its not 1 then what should I type ? (excpet of hd0,0)
Rahim
Rahim #5
Oct 25, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Open a terminal in Ubuntu and enter sudo fdisk -l and it will show ntfs and ext3 partitions and you can make out. the numbering in Grub starts with 0 and not 1. So 1st partition will be (hd0,0) and 2nd partition will be (hd0,1) and so on.
You tried the above steps yet?
J
Oct 25, 2008 at 10:36 PM
ya..but when I restarted with (hd0.1).....it showed XP as an option but when I tried to select it, gave me an error saying "Unexecutable File Format" or sumthing so back on Ubuntu trying to make this work.
Rahim
Rahim #7
Oct 25, 2008 at 10:40 PM
I think you have installed XP on the 2nd partition and this will create a problem as it is too moody.Try (hd0,0) It can be done with some masking commands. But if there is no trouble you might start afresh. Install XP and then Ubuntu. Make sure XP is installed in the 1st partition. I know it is not the solution you are looking for but following this practice will save you from buying Crocin!!
J
Oct 25, 2008 at 10:45 PM
THANKS! THANKS A LOOOOT!! I worked. (hd0,2) as (hd0,0) is Ubuntu an (hd0,1) is Swap lolz.

Why isnt there a reputation system on this forum !! i would have repped you :D. THANKS ONCE AGAIN.
Rahim
Rahim #9
Oct 25, 2008 at 10:46 PM
^No reputation system here as most of us believe in equality :)
Just wait till you get help from big fish like NucleusKore, praka123(banned permanently), T159 etc.
NucleusKore
Oct 25, 2008 at 10:55 PM
We are all equal, no fish here

*s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj44/visio159/Unismilies/38large.png

Good going rahimveron et al
J
Oct 25, 2008 at 10:55 PM
I know all of them. T159 even knows who I am :D.
NucleusKore
Oct 25, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Jack Carvar, please refer this article, it pays to understand the GRUB bootloader

*www.dedoimedo.com/computers/grub.html
Rahim
Rahim #13
Oct 25, 2008 at 10:58 PM
@Jack: So he must have brainwashed you to watch content-rich Korean Movies just like me :)) and good to be back here NucleusKore and as for fish, i just ate fish for dinner...burp.....
Faun
Faun #15
Oct 25, 2008 at 11:44 PM
So you are still hanging onto Ubuntu :p
Well then it will be nice to read a beginner book on Linux, you are smart enough to download that stuff.

GRUB is really good and naming scheme is a bit confusing at first but once you get hang of it, you can boot many OS thru it.
J
Oct 26, 2008 at 12:17 AM
Yup....the best bootloader I have come across in my 13yrs of life :D. Vista's bootloader is also good. XP has the worst. Dosent recongnize other OSes and takes over their bootloader :|.
QwertyManiac
Oct 26, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Vista's bootloader is WHAT?
vamsi360
vamsi360 #18
Oct 26, 2008 at 11:42 AM
@querty mechanic

did you forget the programming contests thread.
Please update it
Which question are you now answering in project euler