How to Multi-boot (Maintain more then 2 OS)

**unutbu** · July 16th, 2008

Well, I'm flummoxed why configfile did not work, but I'm glad you got the system to work anyway!

**Browser_ice** · November 2nd, 2008

In wanting to change my current existing multi-boot, I have encountered a grub error 13.

What I currently have:
Windows XP on sda0
Ubuntu 8.04 for personnal usages on sda5
Ubuntu 8.04 for office remote sages on sda6
Fedora 9 on sda7

The main grub being used for booting is on sda6. I was able to boot to anyone before.

/boot/grub>sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 81.9 GB, 81964302336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x28842883

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 1305 10482381 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 1306 9963 69545385 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 1306 3916 20972826 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 3917 6940 24290248+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 6941 9963 24282216 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sdb: 251.0 GB, 251000193024 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30515 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000782bb

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 522 4192933+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb2 523 4439 31457280+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb3 4440 10965 52420095 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sdb4 10966 30515 157035375 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sdb5 10966 14098 25165791 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb6 14099 17231 25165791 83 Linux
/dev/sdb7 17232 20491 26185918+ 83 Linux
/dev/sdb8 27012 30271 26185918+ 83 Linux
/dev/sdb9 30272 30515 1959898+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

What I did was change the sda6 grub to :

title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (on /dev/sda6)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=01d6cb68-7d80-4bb1-aec0-687034dc8569 ro quiet splash xforcevesa
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic
quiet

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda5.
title Personnal Ubuntu 8.04.1 (on /dev/sda5)
root (hd0,4)
chainloader +1

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda7.
title Fedora (on /dev/sda7)
root (hd0,6)
chainloader +1

title Ubuntu 8.04.1, memtest86+
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (recovery mode, /dev/sda6)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=01d6cb68-7d80-4bb1-aec0-687034dc8569 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic

Change the sda5 grub to :

title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=1c02cec2-58d0-4451-a145-111e40fb2129 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=1c02cec2-58d0-4451-a145-111e40fb2129 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.1, memtest86+
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root

And change the sda7 grub to :

default=0
timeout=2
splashimage=(hd0,8)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Open Client Fedora 2.20 (Daily) (2.6.25.14-108.fc9.i686)
root (hd0,8)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25.14-108.fc9.i686 ro root=UUID=a1a770f9-dfee-4f20-9ef3-432c7da42de6 rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.25.14-108.fc9.i686.img

title Open Client Fedora 2.20 (Daily) (2.6.25.11-97.fc9.i686)
root (hd0,8)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25.11-97.fc9.i686 ro root=UUID=a1a770f9-dfee-4f20-9ef3-432c7da42de6 rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.25.11-97.fc9.i686.img

Now what is happening is that I am able to boot to Windows and my sda6 Ubuntu, but when I choose my sda5 ubuntu or sda7 fedora, I get an error 13.

Do I have to write those grub to my sda5 & sda7 ?

==>> I updated the grubs on those sda5 & sda7 and it now works.

**constantinos1987** · December 15th, 2008

Just a question from an inexperienced linux user. I hope it isn't already answered, but I searched and found nothing.

Can one create a dedicated grub partition right from the install? I mean, when you enter the partitioning options, can you create a partition ( something like 10MB of ext2/3 ) with a mount point /boot/grub and install grub there? I think that this way, this partition could be overwritten -if we are sure that the distribution to be installed recognizes all the other operating systems on the hard drives, else we just edit the menu.conf- when you install another distribution because /boot/grub (for all I know) doesn't contain any kernel images, but /boot does.

I am aware of the tutorial to make a dedicated grub partition. But it instructs to do this after the install. But I would like an XFS filesystem and installing first means that I will need a filesystem compatible with grub and XFS is not.

Is there any way to do this? It could prove helpful to me

**unutbu** · December 15th, 2008

Yes, it is possible to create a dedicated grub partition right from the install:

When you get to step 4 of the install (entitled "Prepare partitions"), select "Manual" instead of "Guided".
Use the partition editor to create a 10MB partition at the beginning of your hard disk.
(A grub partition at the beginning of the HD avoids any BIOS address limitations.)
With the 10MB partition selected, click the "Edit" button.
Select "ext3" for the type of filesystem.
Below that you will be asked to select a mount point. There is a pull-down menu. But instead of selecting something from the pull-down menu, simply type in /boot/grub.

I am aware of the tutorial to make a dedicated grub partition. But it instructs to do this after the install.

It is also possible to partition your hard drive before you install: Boot from the LiveCD, go to the Live desktop, click System>Admin>Partition Editor (GParted).

**bodhi.zazen** · December 15th, 2008

Originally Posted by constantinos1987

Just a question from an inexperienced linux user. I hope it isn't already answered, but I searched and found nothing.

Can one create a dedicated grub partition right from the install? I mean, when you enter the partitioning options, can you create a partition ( something like 10MB of ext2/3 ) with a mount point /boot/grub and install grub there? I think that this way, this partition could be overwritten -if we are sure that the distribution to be installed recognizes all the other operating systems on the hard drives, else we just edit the menu.conf- when you install another distribution because /boot/grub (for all I know) doesn't contain any kernel images, but /boot does.

I am aware of the tutorial to make a dedicated grub partition. But it instructs to do this after the install. But I would like an XFS filesystem and installing first means that I will need a filesystem compatible with grub and XFS is not.

Is there any way to do this? It could prove helpful to me

Well, you need a dedicated boot partition if you wish to use XFS. The grub directory is part of the boot directory, so I seriously doubt you can not split the /boot/grub into xfs with /boot on ext2.

Most people use ext2 for /boot which is likely just fine.

My last warning, you need to take great care with your /boot partition. If you install a new OS and mount this partition at /boot , the new installation will over write everything in /boot

**undoIT** · December 31st, 2008

I have a laptop hard drive and have installed seven different distros. The first primary partition is for grub and I am able to boot to all the distros. The second partition is swap. The third partition is an extended partition and each of the distros is installed into their own logical partitions.

There seems to be a problem with the swap partition. The swap is not on when I boot into Ubuntu / Kubuntu and thus I'm not able to hibernate. I tried turning the swap on and it acts like it is going to hibernate but when I power on, it does not resume, just loads like cold boot. I got the UUID for the swap partition using this command:

Code:

sudo blkid

Then I edited /etc/fstab to the correct UUID. I'm still not able to hibernate.

Can you think of anything else I could do to get hibernation working?

**xavier0912** · August 24th, 2009

From me also a question:
setup is as followed:
sda1 -> Win7
sdb1 -> GRUB
sdb2 -> Ubuntu 9.04

When I install grub on it's own partition on sdb, I can boot windows from it, but for Ubuntu I get an error 13 ...

The dedicated grub looks like:
title Windows 7
root (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

title Ubuntu
root (hd1,1)
chainloader +1

Should I map hd1 hd0 to be able to boot Ubuntu or is mapping only for Windows based OS's ?

Any help much appreciated !
Greetz
Xavier

forgot to mention:
Installed Win7 first, than Ubuntu with it's grub on it's own disk (sdb). This worked without a problem, but when activating the dedicated grug, things gone wrong. I made the Ubuntu grub leading again, and it works agian.
I want the dedicated grub to be able to add other Linux distro's without having to "trouble my wife" too much

**unutbu** · August 24th, 2009

xavier0912, please run boot_info_script and post the RESULTS.txt file so we can better understand your boot setup.

**bodhi.zazen** · August 24th, 2009

What do you mean by a "grub partition". A grub partition is a bit more complex then a boot partition.

A boot partition contains things such as your kernel I grub stage 1. A grub partition is then mounted at /boot/grub.

At any rate, take a look at what chainloading is, it passes the booting process off. So if you want to chainload to partition (hd1,1) grub must be installed in partition (hd1,1).

You should probably just specify where the kernel and initrd are.

root (hd1,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-xyz root=/dev/sdb2 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd-xyz
boot

etc. The stanza will depend on your geometry and you shouldl mount /dev/sdb1 at /boot/grub (assuming it is a grub partition).

**xavier0912** · August 24th, 2009

Hi all,
Thanks for the replies !
Well, I attached the result.txt file. Hope this helps!
hat I meant with "grub partition" is a dedicated Grub Partition. I know ... I should learn to walk before I run, but when I buy a new PC, I want it clean from the beginning. It will hold Win7 (blame it on the misses) and at least 2 linux distro's. I want to be ablel to play around with them so it looks like the better option ... .
I think I (kind of) understand chainloading but I find it difficult seeing what is where ... beginners problem I guess.

Thanks for the help anyway !
Xavier