Hi OLDFRED and others,
OK, while all posts have been helpfull, it looks like OLDFRED really knows his kit, as I tried the custom entry idea but it kept saying that there were no boot files in the partitions so wouldn't boot to them. That makes sense with what you said, pity M$ has to **** around with things so much.
Moving the boot files each time you boot? What The hell were they smoking THAT day?
Here is the output from the BootInfoScript
Boot Info Script 0.60 from 17 May 2011
============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================
=> Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector 1 of
the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks
for (,msdos6)/boot/grub on this drive.
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: /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM
sda2: __________________________________________________ ________________________
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:
sda3: __________________________________________________ ________________________
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:
sda4: __________________________________________________ ________________________
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:
sda6: __________________________________________________ ________________________
File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 11.04
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img
sda7: __________________________________________________ ________________________
File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================
Drive: sda __________________________________________________ ___________________
Disk /dev/sda: 2000.4 GB, 2000398934016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 243201 cylinders, total 3907029168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2,048 307,202,047 307,200,000 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda2 307,210,995 768,003,389 460,792,395 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda3 768,003,390 1,228,795,784 460,792,395 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda4 1,228,795,902 3,907,028,991 2,678,233,090 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 1,843,206,144 3,907,028,991 2,063,822,848 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda6 1,228,795,904 1,815,861,247 587,065,344 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 1,815,863,296 1,843,202,047 27,338,752 82 Linux swap / Solaris
"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________
Device UUID TYPE LABEL
/dev/sda1 00F43D1CF43D157E ntfs Kids
/dev/sda2 EE88E74588E70AC3 ntfs Marni
/dev/sda3 ACBCE78EBCE7517E ntfs Daddy
/dev/sda5 2A408E554A089176 ntfs Data
/dev/sda6 a2eea2b9-5e1f-417f-8a1b-fa8733ab8959 ext4
/dev/sda7 15a60e94-4171-42e5-9172-8c131cf6678e swap
================================ Mount points: =================================
Device Mount_Point Type Options
/dev/sda6 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)
================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=========================== sda6/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 $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="${saved_entry}"
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 video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a2eea2b9-5e1f-417f-8a1b-fa8733ab8959
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='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a2eea2b9-5e1f-417f-8a1b-fa8733ab8959
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_US
insmod gettext
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=5
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
if background_color 44,0,30; then
clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
if [ ${recordfail} != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "$linux_gfx_mode" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-11-generic-pae' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
savedefault
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a2eea2b9-5e1f-417f-8a1b-fa8733ab8959
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-11-generic-pae root=UUID=a2eea2b9-5e1f-417f-8a1b-fa8733ab8959 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-11-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-11-generic-pae (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a2eea2b9-5e1f-417f-8a1b-fa8733ab8959
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-11-generic-pae ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-11-generic-pae root=UUID=a2eea2b9-5e1f-417f-8a1b-fa8733ab8959 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-11-generic-pae
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows NT/2000/XP (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" --class windows --class os {
savedefault
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 00F43D1CF43D157E
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
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 ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=============================== sda6/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
/dev/sda6 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=15a60e94-4171-42e5-9172-8c131cf6678e none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=================== sda6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================
GiB - GB File Fragment(s)
594.069580078 = 637.877354496 boot/grub/core.img 1
750.084682465 = 805.397295104 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
588.331615448 = 631.716261888 boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-11-generic-pae 2
586.975040436 = 630.259650560 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-11-generic-pae 1
588.331615448 = 631.716261888 initrd.img 2
586.975040436 = 630.259650560 vmlinuz 1
========= Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive: =========
sdb sdc sdd sde
=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================
unlzma: Decoder error
I will take a look at those other posts you refered too and see if I can figure out what I need to do.
Of course if you think its simple enough to reply with some 'baby steps' type instructions for me to follow that would be good too... lol
Thanks
Terry
EDIT:
WOW! I looked at that "http://www.multibooters.co.uk/multiboot.html" one! I think that guy has a couple of extra zeros on the end of his IQ that I don't have, it's all way over my head.
Couldn't they just put the files to boot each partition ON the partition so that all the boot manager has to do it point and shoot?