How to Make Multiple Boot Loader Show Up

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Hello,

I just got a new Dell Inspiron laptop, with no Operating System installed in it. I was planning to install both Linux and Windows in it and I already prepared a partition for both Linux and Windows.

At first I installed Ubuntu Linux  and there's no glitch whatsoever, with the installation. I've checked, all the devices can be recognized and no unknown hardware.

The second step would be installing Windows XP. The problem occurs when my laptop restarts.  It goes directly to Windows XP. There's no menu to select which operating system to choose and inside Windows XP also all the devices are recognized perfectly too.

I have no idea what went wrong, and I do really need the bootloader working. I want the bootloader from Ubuntu to show first after booting.  Then I can choose whether to use Ubuntu or Windows XP. I use Windows XP mostly for work related, but I use Ubuntu for fun, entertainment and sometimes for developing small applications.

I saw a bootloader installed in my friend's laptop and it has more than 2 Operating Systems to choose and I was thinking, it must be complicated.  But I only needed 2 Operating Systems to show up. Please help me. Thanks.

Jonas

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Answered By 0 points N/A #112519

How to Make Multiple Boot Loader Show Up

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Hello Jonas,

You haven’t specified which version of Ubuntu you have used. Due to the varieties of GRAB i. e if you installed  a newer  version (Ubuntu Karmic 9.10), then you are running Grab2 or Ubuntu Jaunty or Intrepid; then you running Grab legacy, which is the oldest version. Since it boots directly to Windows you need to do the following steps:

– Download the easy BCD software.

– Insert your live CD, which can be Ubuntu Desktop CD or Knoppix Live CD and reboot -follow boot procedure until presented with an interface -go to application, accessories then to terminal -Type sudo-i

Under Knoppix following command will come, hence not asking for a password. -Type  mkdir /mnt/work/boot

– Enter the following information grab needs;

mount /dev/sda4 /mnt/work

mount -o bind /dev /mnt/work/dev

mount -o bind /proc /mnt/work/proc

cp /proc/mounts /mnt/work/etc/mtab

– Type chroot /mnt/work/ /bin/bash

This is where you are to be cautious, as you have left live CD safety -Type sudo mount /dev/sda3 /boot/ command if you have a  separate boot partition

– Type sudo /sbin/grub-install /dev/sda command if done you’ll See configuring grab menu.

If not recover Grab manually by:

-Type sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst command.

Certain instructions will appear, telling where different Operating Systems reside(assume Windows resides at /dev/sda1).  Close and Reboot your machine, to check out the entries. Hope it helps.

Glory

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