help with dual boot windows Xp two physical Hard Disks

[jonathantalisman]

Hi,
I'll try to give as much information and still be brief...
I have an (AMD 64bit) machine with two hard disks and had windows XP 64 bit on the one drive and ubuntu 9.04 on the second . I wanted to start a clean install to replace the ubuntu 9.04 with 10.10 . Booted from CD and I think I pressed the erase and use entire disk for the ubuntu one.
After that I could not login into my windows Xp.[Grub loaded without the windows]
I then booted with windows CD and fixed the MBR.
I am guessing that the Grub was installed on the second disk and did not see the windows disk.

What I want is to use the second disk for Ubuntu and for grub to control the boot, I can then set the windows to be the default [my girlfriend/better half gets upset if she needs to call me to ask for assistance.]



The questions are:
1. should I use the specify partitions manually
2. if so - what would be the recommended ratio/sizes for swap '/' and /home ?
3. where and how do I set the grub to be installed?

Thanks , Jonathan


Here is the output from sudo fdisk -lu



Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000edba6

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 63 488375999 244187968+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00011195

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 2048 469968895 234983424 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 469970942 488396799 9212929 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 469970944 488396799 9212928 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdc: 300.1 GB, 300090728448 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 36483 cylinders, total 586114704 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x57b4fd21

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 * 63 586083329 293041633+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

[YesWeCan]

It looks to me like you have 3 disks, 2x 250GB and 300GB. Do you have two Windows installations?

Anyhow, it doesn't matter.

What you probably want is for your Windows disks to be untouched. You want to boot off the Ubuntu disk and have the Windows installation(s) appear on the Grub menu, and to default to booting Windows.

The safe any easy way I use is to:
1. Disconnect the Windows disks. Only have the Ubuntu disk plugged in.
2. Install 10.10. Use the whole disk, do automatic partitioning.
3. After Ubuntu is intalled and you can reboot it ok (you wont see a grub menu this time), shut the PC down and reconnect the other 2 disks.
4. Configure the bios to boot the Ubuntu disk first and boot it (you won't see a grub menu this time either).
5. In a Ubuntu console type 'sudo update-grub'. This will cause grub to scan all your disks and add the Windows OSes to its menu.
6. Reboot. This time you should get a grub menu. Select Windows and make sure it boots it.

To tell grub which OS to boot as default you need to change the entry "GRUB_DEFAULT=" in the file /etc/default/grub.
I believe the default is the number of the OS in the grub boot menu list minus 1. So the first OS listed will be number 0, the next 1 and so on. When you reboot, count the entries in the menu. Then boot into ubuntu and edit the /etc/default/grub file and add the appropriate GRUB_DEFAULT= number. Then run 'sudo update-grub' again to activate the change. The next time you reboot it should default to the chosen OS.

Note, you should still be able to boot Windows directly by telling the bios to boot the Windows disk. So your original Windows installation(s) remain unchanged.

[sikander3786]

Welcome to the forums jonathantalisman :-)

Yes there seem to be 3 hard disk present in the PC.

I will agree with YesWeCan. For safety purposes, you can disconnect the XP HDD and install Ubuntu or if you feel confident, you can leave them plugged in but a little mistake might make you lose all the data unless you are doing a manual/advanced partitioning as there is a bug in 10.10 installer. I will recommend reading this page also. It will tell your about the bugs, partition sizes, mount points and all that stuff.

http://ubuntu4beginners.blogspot.com/2011/02/manual-advanced-partitioning-in-ubuntu.html

Grub needs to be installed to the MBR of the Ubuntu HDD. I say drive and not the partition. There is a section for Grub at the bottom of page I linked above.

And secondly, in order to give us a better overview of your system, you can boot an Ubuntu Live CD and post the output of bootinfoscript as per instructions here.

http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net

It is not absolutely necessary but will help us understand your XP install and all that stuff. No problem if you decide not to post that output.

Feel free to ask if you've any doubts :-)

[jonathantalisman]

Thanks sikander3786 & YesWeCan,
of course you are right I do have 3 disks - one is a Usb external HD [the 300Gb one].
I would rather not disconnect the Windows disk if possible.
I have looked at the ubuntu4beginners.blogspot.com post - which is great.
So if I am comfortable with doing a manual/advanced partition I should go with that, install Grub on the same disk [I think it's sdb as you'll see below ] , switch in the bios to boot in from the ubuntu HD and then [sudo] update-grub in order to add the windows entry to the grub menu ?
Any reccomendations regarding /home swap and / partitions ?
Below is the results from boot_info script . btw - all of this from the live CD.
Thanks Jonathan.

Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda
=> No boot loader 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

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 10.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 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 * 63 488,375,999 488,375,937 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 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 2,048 469,968,895 469,966,848 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 469,970,942 488,396,799 18,425,858 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 469,970,944 488,396,799 18,425,856 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 FA8C24C38C247BEF ntfs Local Disk
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c ext4
/dev/sdb2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb5 46daa6bd-dd14-4384-bac0-fc8e610c4767 swap
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos"

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

aufs / aufs (rw)
/dev/sr1 /cdrom iso9660 (ro,noatime)
/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (ro,noatime)


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

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional x64 Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition()\Windows="Windows XP" /fastdetect


=========================== sdb1/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

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

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

function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd3,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd3,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ "${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 2.6.35-25-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd3,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd3,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-25-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd3,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd3,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd3,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd3,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### 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 ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

=============================== sdb1/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/sdb1 during installation
UUID=25d82dbc-58cd-40df-b247-8a59ecde995c / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdb5 during installation
UUID=46daa6bd-dd14-4384-bac0-fc8e610c4767 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sdb1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


118.2GB: boot/grub/core.img
137.8GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
1.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
1.7GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
118.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
118.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
1.7GB: initrd.img
1.6GB: initrd.img.old
118.2GB: vmlinuz
118.2GB: vmlinuz.old

[YesWeCan]

I see what you did now. You installed 10.10 to sdb and it put the grub MBR on sda. You then reinstalled the Windows MBR on sda. So now you cannot boot sdb.

What you are proposing seems good to me. I don't think you have to do manual partitioning though. I think you can do automatic but on the partitioning window I think there is an "advanced" button you can click and it then gives you a choice of where the grub MBR is put.

Or, if someone else can instruct you, you don't need to reinstall 10.10, instead you can use the live CD to boot sdb. Once running 10.10 on sdb you can do a grub-install /dev/sdb.

[sikander3786]

Yes you just need to install the Grub loader and not the whole OS. Follow these commands from a Live CD.


sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt


sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sdb

Note, for the second one it is just sdb without an integer.

Then reboot, choose your Ubuntu HDD as the first boot device and run this command from inside your Ubuntu install.


sudo update-grub

If you want to re-install the whole Operating System, let us know so we can guide you there.

[YesWeCan]

That's nice sikander. Simpler than I thought.

[oldfred]

You also asked for some advice on partitions. Each of us have different ideas and none is wrong. Even my own "best" partitioning scheme changes every couple of years. More data, different desires (test other systems) or other changes. I like to keep system partitions small (slight performance improvement) & keep data separate (easier to backup).

For the Total space you want for Ubuntu:
Ubuntu's standard install is just / (root) & swap, but it is better to add another partition for /home:
1. 10-20 GB Mountpoint / primary or logical beginning ext4(or ext3)
2. all but 2 GB Mountpoint /home logical beginning ext3(or ext4)
3. 2 GB Mountpoint swap logical

Depending on how much memory you have you may not absolutely need swap but having some is still recommended. I do not hibernate (boots fast enough for me) but if hibernating then you need swap equal to RAM. And if dual booting with windows a shared NTFS partition is also recommended. But you usually cannot create that as part of the install, just leave some space. Or partition in advance (recommended).
One advantage of partitioning in advance is that the installer will use the swap space to speed up the install. Thanks Herman for the tip.
But, I like to have several 25GB roots if hard drive is large enough, I prefer separate /data over /home but that requires a little more configuration after the install to set up.

Herman on advantages/disadvantages of separate system partitions post#3
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1410392

While you have already done it, this site has lots of info so you can understand what is going on.
Installing Ubuntu in Hard Disk Two (or more) internal or external
http://members.iinet.net.au/~herman546/p24.html (http://members.iinet.net.au/%7Eherman546/p24.html)

[jonathantalisman]

Thank you all for your assistance ! Much appreciated.
I ended up re-installing- I wanted to set a different partition for my /home.
I guess my mistake in the previous install was to set grub in the first disk [sda] ... you learn something new every day.
Grub2 identified my windows with no problem.
I then found grub-customizer (https://launchpad.net/~danielrichter2007) by Daniel Richter and used that.
Many thanks again. Jonathan.