Triple Boot

**xinam** · September 5th, 2010

Hmmm... maybe I should start a new thread as this one is [Solved]...
Even though the question stays the same?

Triple booting Win 7, Win XP, Ubuntu
Win 7 and Win Xp on 2 drives
one boot menu

**xinam** · September 5th, 2010

Ok I see from Live CD that my /boot/grub folder in my 1GB filesystem is empty...
Following this thread to reinstall it :
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr...0from%20LiveCD

**xinam** · September 5th, 2010

Can there be a problem because my partition [sda3] mount=/boot isn't big enough? (1024MB)
What's the recommended size for the /boot partition?

(I'll google that, and comeback to tell if that was the case)

**presence1960** · September 5th, 2010

Originally Posted by xinam

Can there be a problem because my partition [sda3] mount=/boot isn't big enough? (1024MB)
What's the recommended size for the /boot partition?

(I'll google that, and comeback to tell if that was the case)

There is no need for a separate boot partition unless you have an older BIOS which is limited to how far on your hard disk it can look for files needed to boot. I would advise against a separate boot partition except in that case- it really is totally unnecessary.

Let's get a better look at your setup & boot process. Boot the Ubuntu Live CD/USB. Choose "try ubuntu without any changes", when the desktop loads come back here and do the following:

1. Download the boot info script. There is a link in my signature.
2. Once downloaded move the boot info script to the desktop.
3. Open a terminal and run the command

Code:

sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh

This will create a RESULTS.txt file on the desktop. Paste the entire contents of that file back here. Once pasted highlight all text and click the # sign on the toolbar to place code tags around the text.

See here for more info on the boot info script.

**xinam** · September 5th, 2010

Code:

                Boot Info Script 0.55    dated February 15th, 2010                    

============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

 => Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector 84157536 of 
    the same hard drive for core.img, but core.img can not be found at this 
    location.
 => Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb

sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows XP
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  Windows XP
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

sda2: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       Extended Partition
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  

sda5: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

sda6: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

sda7: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

sda8: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

sda9: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       vfat
    Boot sector type:  Fat32
    Boot sector info:  According to the info in the boot sector, sda9 starts 
                       at sector 0. But according to the info from fdisk, 
                       sda9 starts at sector 1784676634.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

sda10: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu 10.04 LTS
    Boot files/dirs:   /etc/fstab

sda11: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

sda12: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       swap
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  

sda3: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   /grub/grub.cfg /grub/core.img

sdb1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  Windows 7
    Boot files/dirs:   /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe

=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
22 heads, 26 sectors/track, 3415253 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sda1    *             26    83,886,087    83,886,062   7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2          85,983,064 1,953,523,711 1,867,540,648   5 Extended
/dev/sda5          85,983,066   169,869,127    83,886,062   7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda6         169,869,154   295,698,259   125,829,106   7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda7         295,698,286   505,413,479   209,715,194   7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda8         505,413,506 1,784,676,607 1,279,263,102   7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda9       1,784,676,634 1,851,785,363    67,108,730   b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda10      1,851,787,264 1,875,785,727    23,998,464  83 Linux
/dev/sda11      1,875,787,776 1,931,786,239    55,998,464  83 Linux
/dev/sda12      1,943,525,376 1,953,523,711     9,998,336  82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3          83,888,128    85,981,183     2,093,056  83 Linux


Drive: sdb ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 74.4 GB, 74355769344 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9039 cylinders, total 145226112 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sdb1    *          2,048   145,223,679   145,221,632   7 HPFS/NTFS


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL                         

/dev/sda10       f73aba87-3d50-4a5d-83c3-42ebfd5cb5d4   ext4                                     
/dev/sda11       0c6bf05b-f8af-42d4-a9b0-a7c7aa701978   ext4                                     
/dev/sda12       3e2a89f6-1ec8-4e2c-9d28-a62e84b68f67   swap                                     
/dev/sda1        7E7C0CDF7C0C9455                       ntfs                                     
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos" 
/dev/sda3        f286f153-08ec-4481-9132-fab1946040eb   ext4                                     
/dev/sda5        294D407D765559A9                       ntfs       Data                          
/dev/sda6        44C58FD85F96F150                       ntfs       Download                      
/dev/sda7        204B0B2D0936CDA8                       ntfs       Game                          
/dev/sda8        7BE1626072B96881                       ntfs       Media                         
/dev/sda9        CDD8-896E                              vfat       Share                         
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos" 
/dev/sdb1        1E52F2EB52F2C695                       ntfs       Win7                          
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos" 

============================ "mount | grep ^/dev  output: ===========================

Device           Mount_Point              Type       Options

/dev/sda10       /                        ext4       (rw,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sda11       /home                    ext4       (rw)
/dev/sda3        /boot                    ext4       (rw)


================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professionnel" /fastdetect

=============================== sda10/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s UUID' to print the universally unique identifier
# for a device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name
# devices that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
proc            /proc           proc    nodev,noexec,nosuid 0       0
# / was on /dev/sda10 during installation
UUID=f73aba87-3d50-4a5d-83c3-42ebfd5cb5d4 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /boot was on /dev/sda3 during installation
UUID=f286f153-08ec-4481-9132-fab1946040eb /boot           ext4    defaults        0       2
# /home was on /dev/sda11 during installation
UUID=0c6bf05b-f8af-42d4-a9b0-a7c7aa701978 /home           ext4    defaults        0       2
# swap was on /dev/sda12 during installation
UUID=3e2a89f6-1ec8-4e2c-9d28-a62e84b68f67 none            swap    sw              0       0
/dev/fd0        /media/floppy0  auto    rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0       0

=================== sda10: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


 948.2GB: initrd.img
 948.2GB: vmlinuz

============================= sda3/grub/grub.cfg: =============================

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
  set saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z ${boot_once} ]; then
    saved_entry=${chosen}
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function recordfail {
  set recordfail=1
  if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then if [ -z ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,10)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f73aba87-3d50-4a5d-83c3-42ebfd5cb5d4
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
  if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
    # For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
    # understand terminal_output
    terminal gfxterm
  fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f286f153-08ec-4481-9132-fab1946040eb
set locale_dir=($root)/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ ${recordfail} = 1 ]; then
  set timeout=-1
else
  set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,3)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f286f153-08ec-4481-9132-fab1946040eb
    linux    /vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=f73aba87-3d50-4a5d-83c3-42ebfd5cb5d4 ro   quiet splash
    initrd    /initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,3)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f286f153-08ec-4481-9132-fab1946040eb
    echo    'Loading Linux 2.6.32-21-generic ...'
    linux    /vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=f73aba87-3d50-4a5d-83c3-42ebfd5cb5d4 ro single 
    echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    initrd    /initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,3)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f286f153-08ec-4481-9132-fab1946040eb
    linux16    /memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,3)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f286f153-08ec-4481-9132-fab1946040eb
    linux16    /memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professionnel (on /dev/sda1)" {
    insmod ntfs
    set root='(hd0,1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7e7c0cdf7c0c9455
    drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
    chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sdb1)" {
    insmod ntfs
    set root='(hd1,1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 1e52f2eb52f2c695
    chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

=================== sda3: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


  43.0GB: grub/core.img
  43.1GB: grub/grub.cfg
  43.1GB: initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
  43.0GB: vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic

**xinam** · September 5th, 2010

With the last boot info, I got Ubuntu to install fine.

Problem seemed to be because I was partitioning the entire disk, leaving no non-allocated space before the install of Ubuntu Desktop 10.04.
At the end of Ubuntu install the error I was getting were:

Sorry the program gdu_notification_daemon closed unexpectedly
Sorry the program ubiquity closed unexpectedly

But now when I reboot, I see Grub menu containing the 3 OS.
Win7 boots no problem
Ubuntu Desktop 10.04 boots no problem
WinXP boots, but produce a blue sceen UNMOUNTABLE_VOLUME or something...

When I first installed Windows XP Pro:
At the install I was only seeing 132GB of available space for the install, when there really was 1TB.
(Seems to be a well known problem for WinXP Pro, maybe got to update before partitioning with GParted to get LBA 48 support?)
But Booted fine on the 40GB created partition

Problems come after partitioning the rest of the space with GParted

Windows XP gets Blue Screen while booting...

Thanks for taking the time to help me with this presence1960

**oldfred** · September 5th, 2010

Check BIOS settings:

When I got a new motherboard I tried using AHCI mode. Ubuntu booted but XP did not. I changed back to Disabled in BIOS on AHCI and XP booted again. I think I saw some say you could add drivers for SATA something but I never have.

**xinam** · September 7th, 2010

Ok, I've managed to get everything working:

To fix Windows XP Blue Screen at boot, I had to update Windows XP Pro.
Slipstreamed a new Windows XP Pro CD with SP3 preinstalled. (even though SP1 or SP2 should do)

I reinstalled Windows XP
Partitioned the disk with GParted (except for the ext4 for Ubuntu, which I did from the Ubuntu CD. Heard that GParted had trouble with Ext4 format)
I reinstalled Ubuntu Desktop 10.04 without individual /boot partition as presence1960 suggested.

partition mount=/ as Primary
partition mount=/home as Logical in Extended

Thank You all