Chrisname
July 25th, 2009, 02:30 PM
I just installed Ubuntu alongisde Windows Vista, which I'm running now.
I have a few issues on installation, though.
Firstly that GRUB is now the default boot loader. I would rather not use GRUB. I prefer the simple bootloader which defaults with Windows. Probably just because it's familiar. I don't mind switching, really (I'd rather not though); but I also share this machine with three other people who would stare at you blankly at the mere mention of an operating system other than Windows.
What is worse, however, is that upon booting my machine; I'm confronted with eight different boot options. Three for Ubuntu (ubuntu, memtest, etc.), three for "Vista Loader" and two for Vista that I added to menu.lst after reading something on these forums. I'm on Vista at the moment, because I was going to play around in EasyBCD and see what I could do; but it can't edit GRUB, unfortunately. The rest of the people who are going to be using this machine are unlikely to enjoy the prospect of having to pick an option out of eight in ten seconds, or be booted into an unfamiliar OS on which they do not have accounts, and cannot gain access to. When I try to boot Vista (which I'm on right now), I'm asked to run CHKDSK. I allowed it to run once (it took about ten minutes); and rebooted, however it's asking me to run it again. I ignored it, and that's how I came to be on Vista now.
Sorry for the wall of text; in short:
I just installed Ubuntu on a seperate partition with Windows running. I don't want to use GRUB because it's unfamiliar and because my parents, both over the age of fifty, have never used anything other than Windows and it's bootloader. Then there's the issue that there are simply too many options. I know which one to pick, but there are eight; and only ten seconds to pick one in. If I choose Ubuntu it loads fine, if I choose Vista, I've got to cancel CHKDSK before I can boot.
So, can I use Ubuntu without GRUB; and how can I do so? Also how can I sort out this issue with Vista and CHKDSK (I know this is an Ubuntu forum, but it's related to Ubuntu as it occurred after I installed it. I'm not blaming Ubuntu though; it was almost certainly my fault), I will probably have to reinstall Windows, but I'd rather not. Is there a fix for these issues?
Also, strangely, the last time I booted Ubuntu; when I shut the system down, the speaker (the speaker built-in to the motherboard) went crazy, emitting loud beeps. The only knowledge I have of the system speaker is that it's usually used for a POST failure; so why it would be used when the system is shutting down doesn't make any sense to me.
Thanks, and apologies if I haven't worded my question very well.
Other than the above, I love Ubuntu. I've been using Mint for the last couple of weeks; but on a recommendation from a friend, I switched to Ubuntu. Needless to say I'm quite annoyed, but as I say, it's most probably my own fault. I'd rather continue to use Ubuntu if I can get these issues fixed; as opposed to format the partition again.
I have used the "Check if Already Posted" button and none of the results seemed relevant, sorry if this has already been resolved, but I have checked...
Thanks again.
I'm on Ubuntu now; so if there are any terminal commands I need to run, I'll be able to run them.
Hopefully without the lovely motherboard screaming at me.
Update:
I just discovered that it wasn't a very good idea to format the partition with Ubuntu on it. Now I can't even load windows. I'm using the live CD; but hopefully I can fix this. I guess that's a lesson learned...
I have a few issues on installation, though.
Firstly that GRUB is now the default boot loader. I would rather not use GRUB. I prefer the simple bootloader which defaults with Windows. Probably just because it's familiar. I don't mind switching, really (I'd rather not though); but I also share this machine with three other people who would stare at you blankly at the mere mention of an operating system other than Windows.
What is worse, however, is that upon booting my machine; I'm confronted with eight different boot options. Three for Ubuntu (ubuntu, memtest, etc.), three for "Vista Loader" and two for Vista that I added to menu.lst after reading something on these forums. I'm on Vista at the moment, because I was going to play around in EasyBCD and see what I could do; but it can't edit GRUB, unfortunately. The rest of the people who are going to be using this machine are unlikely to enjoy the prospect of having to pick an option out of eight in ten seconds, or be booted into an unfamiliar OS on which they do not have accounts, and cannot gain access to. When I try to boot Vista (which I'm on right now), I'm asked to run CHKDSK. I allowed it to run once (it took about ten minutes); and rebooted, however it's asking me to run it again. I ignored it, and that's how I came to be on Vista now.
Sorry for the wall of text; in short:
I just installed Ubuntu on a seperate partition with Windows running. I don't want to use GRUB because it's unfamiliar and because my parents, both over the age of fifty, have never used anything other than Windows and it's bootloader. Then there's the issue that there are simply too many options. I know which one to pick, but there are eight; and only ten seconds to pick one in. If I choose Ubuntu it loads fine, if I choose Vista, I've got to cancel CHKDSK before I can boot.
So, can I use Ubuntu without GRUB; and how can I do so? Also how can I sort out this issue with Vista and CHKDSK (I know this is an Ubuntu forum, but it's related to Ubuntu as it occurred after I installed it. I'm not blaming Ubuntu though; it was almost certainly my fault), I will probably have to reinstall Windows, but I'd rather not. Is there a fix for these issues?
Also, strangely, the last time I booted Ubuntu; when I shut the system down, the speaker (the speaker built-in to the motherboard) went crazy, emitting loud beeps. The only knowledge I have of the system speaker is that it's usually used for a POST failure; so why it would be used when the system is shutting down doesn't make any sense to me.
Thanks, and apologies if I haven't worded my question very well.
Other than the above, I love Ubuntu. I've been using Mint for the last couple of weeks; but on a recommendation from a friend, I switched to Ubuntu. Needless to say I'm quite annoyed, but as I say, it's most probably my own fault. I'd rather continue to use Ubuntu if I can get these issues fixed; as opposed to format the partition again.
I have used the "Check if Already Posted" button and none of the results seemed relevant, sorry if this has already been resolved, but I have checked...
Thanks again.
I'm on Ubuntu now; so if there are any terminal commands I need to run, I'll be able to run them.
Hopefully without the lovely motherboard screaming at me.
Update:
I just discovered that it wasn't a very good idea to format the partition with Ubuntu on it. Now I can't even load windows. I'm using the live CD; but hopefully I can fix this. I guess that's a lesson learned...