Multi-Boot DOS, WinXP & Ubuntu 12.10 on 2 Hard Drives

[chux.junk]

Okay, Fred. Let's take this from the top. Please refer back to my original message which describes my partitioning and note that sda1 contains my DOS files while sda5 contains my WinXP files. My boot.ini file on sda1 contained (before messing around with Ubuntu):

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\ = "MS-DOS 7.10"

This configuration allowed me to boot my system and brought up a menu allowing me to choose between WinXP or DOS. If I chose WinXP, WinXP would boot properly. If I chose DOS, another menu came up asking me if I wanted to boot with or without CD-ROM support. After making a selection, DOS would boot properly.

Then, after reading many, many threads on this and other Linux forums and websites, I decided to install Ubuntu in a multi-boot environment. From my reading, I decided, like you, that I wanted to keep everything separate so I installed Ubuntu 12.10 from a LiveCD on my second hard drive (sdb). Both hard drives are IDE drives, jumpered for CS and are attached with the correct Ultra ATA/100 ribbon cable. My BIOS provides the capability to boot from multiple devices but only one HDD (the first partition of the first hard drive). During the installation of Ubuntu, I purposely partitioned sdb into 5 partitions; 4 for Ubuntu (sdb1 as /boot, sdb5 as /, sdb6 as /home, and sdb7 as swap) and 1 as fat32 for a common DOS/Windows/Ubuntu file repository (sdb8). The installation appeared to go smoothly with no error messages. At this time, my system was still dual-booting DOS and WinXP properly but there was no way to boot Ubuntu. It did not show up on the boot menu.

Then, based on the guidance contained in http://archive09.linux.com/articles/113945, I ran "dd if=/dev/sdb of=bootsect.lnx bs=512 count=1" and copied the resultant file to C:\ (my sda partition). I modified C:\boot.ini to include 'C:\bootsec.lnx = "Ubuntu 12.10"' at the end. Upon rebooting, Ubuntu was displayed in the boot menu but would not boot; going to a blank screen with a blinking cursor in the upper, left-hand corner. The DOS and WinXP options worked as they were previously.

This is where I started posting to this forum. Based on input from here, I downloaded and executed Boot-Repair but did not allow it to make any changes. The resultant BootInfo report is at http://paste.ubuntu.com/6947126. Since then, I have run Boot-Repair several times allowing it to make changes. The report files are at:

http://paste.ubuntu.com/6954443/
http://paste.ubuntu.com/6954657/
http://paste.ubuntu.com/6954725/
http://paste.ubuntu.com/6954851/

Please note that Boot-Repair never changed the boot.ini file on sda. It kept changing the boot.ini file on sdb, even when I pointed Boot-Repair to sda.

This is the contents of D:\boot.ini as created(?)/changed by Boot-Repair:

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Windo ws" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

It was only after I deleted the C:\bootsect.lnx file and pointed Boot-Repair to sda that I finally got a menu with Ubuntu on it. However, the windows option of that menu doesn't work. It gives the error message, "Invalid system disk. Replace the disk and press any key."

I hope this helps you understand my dilemma and can offer advice on how I can get DOS, WinXP, and Ubuntu to happily co-exist and boot. If necessary, I'm willing to repartition my hard drives and re-install my OS's. However, if I go that route, Ubuntu will not be a player!

[Bucky Ball]

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Windo ws" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

The gaps in the two I have bolded inspire my curiousity ...

[chux.junk]

Chalk it up to bad typing. There are no spaces between the letters. Sorry 'bout dat!

[oldfred]

Boot-Repair would not modify boot.ini.
I do not see how your Windows ever booted it that was the original boot.ini.
We have seen many XP installs and boot.ini has to call out the correct partitions.
And it just is better if Windows is in a primary partition. Since you have an available one, I would change it.

[chux.junk]

Thanks for you insight, Fred. If Boot-Repair did not create or change the boot.ini file on sdb then I don't know where it came from. DOS 7.10 was installed first on a clean disk partitioned into sda1 and sda5. WinXP was then installed to sda5. The instructions I referenced told me to create the bootsect.lnx file and copy it to my boot partition and then edit boot.ini. When I opened boot.ini, it showed the partition(2) entry and a line for C:\DOS. It wasn't until I was messing with Ubuntu that I noticed the boot.ini file on sdb (as you know, it is a hidden file). When I opened it for the first time, it showed the partition(3) entry which we know is not right.

I cannot now find the reference I was using to install WinXP into a logical partition but these references may shed some light as to why it can be done that way:

How to create a multiple-boot system in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp

(Note the second bullet under "Precautions":
"Each operating system must be installed on a separate volume."

(See the definition of volume at the bottom of the page):
"Volume - A volume is an area of storage on a hard disk that is either a primary or a logical drive in an extended partition."

How to run several Operating Systems on one computer
http://clubweb.interbaun.com/~mward/multiboot.html

Customize Multiboot Startup Options
http://oreilly.com/pub/h/591

So, at this point, I think I need to repair my Windows MBR with Recovery Console.

[Bucky Ball]

I can find no reference to installing XP to a logical partition on your links. In fact, one says 'Create a Primary partition of 5Gigs for Windows' and make the rest an extended partition. I have never heard of XP or any other Windows existing on a logical partition and, as oldfred advised, much less problematic to use a primary.

Logical partitions might be classed as 'volumes' but that doesn't mean Win was designed to install on a logical partition.

The rule of thumb for Win, and the path of least resistance, is primary partition, first partition, first hard drive (sda1).

[chux.junk]

First reference:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp

About half way down the page to the paragraph labeled, "Precautions".

Second bullet: "Each operating system must be installed on a separate volume."

Near the bottom of the page, in the glossary of terms: ""Volume - A volume is an area of storage on a hard disk that is either a primary or a logical drive in an extended partition."

I'm not going to argue what is the best or the path of least resistance because it sounds like you guys know a WHOLE not more than I do but I can attest to the fact that my setup (DOS on sda1 and WinXP on sda5) works.

I have now run fixmbr and bootcfg /rebuild from Recovery Console, restored c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com from my backups I had fortunately made, and re-booted. Everything is now back to the way it was yesterday and dual-booting DOS and WinXP perfectly. I have run Boot-Repair-Disk without making any changes and created the bootinfosummary file. It is located at http://paste.ubuntu.com/6958170/. If you would, please take a look and tell me what I need to do to be able to use Ubuntu without destroying my Windows MBR again.

[sudodus]

I suggest that you continue like this:

0. If you have two hard drives, keep the DOS + Windows drive as it is now, we know it will boot.

1. Then you can install Ubuntu into the other drive. And I would suggest that you disconnect the DOS + Windows drive during that process to avoid messing with it.

2. When Ubuntu is installed and works, you can re-connect the DOS + Windows drive and reboot.

3. If the computer boots from the DOS + Windows drive, change the boot order in the BIOS menu system and reboot.

4. When the computer boots from the Ubuntu drive, create a grub menu entry to chainload the DOS + Windows drive according to this link (with the 40_custom method)

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...k#Chainloading

[oldfred]

Was not original issue you cannot boot from sdb? If you cannot which some systems are set up that way, then you have to have grub in sda's MBR.

Windows only boots from the hard drive set in BIOS as boot, and the partition with the boot flag which must be a primary partition. Most now are NTFS, but like your old XP install FAT32 will work. All second installs of Windows will put boot files into the primary partition with the boot flag. With Windows you cannot put a boot flag on a logical partition and have the Windows boot loader boot it. There are some work arounds if you use lilo boot loader which boots with boot flag and can have boot code in a logical partitions boot sector.

And we have seen where Windows will not even run fixes on installs in extended partition really prefers to be in primary.

Since you really only have two partitions (extended is just container for sda5), you can easily convert sda to two primary partitions with fixparts (post #20) and edit boot.ini. Then from grub you can directly boot both DOS & Windows. Otherwise you will always have one entry in grub and from boot.ini choose which Windows or DOS to boot.

[chux.junk]

Sudodus,

That sounds interesting but I can't change the boot order in my BIOS to a second hard drive. It only has the option for one bootable hard drive and that is the first partition of the first drive.