Page 1 of 10 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 279

Thread: Dualboot Two Hard Drives

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    N.C.
    Beans
    4,796
    Distro
    Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

    Dualboot Two Hard Drives

    This guide only applies to Ubuntu 9.04 and earlier versions, which use legacy grub. Later versions use grub2, which is significantly different, but grub2 has a much better automated detection of other OSes. There are several excellent Grub2 guides that you might want to consult, if you're using Ubuntu 9.10 or later:
    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1195275
    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1285897
    http://members.iinet.net/~herman546/p20.html


    As a beginner, I wanted to set up a dual boot without installing Grub to windows and was able to find two excellent links for doing this:

    http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthre...umper+settings
    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...880#post677880

    The excellent instructions provided by "lha" worked flawlessly for installing on 2 IDE drives.

    I also found links to dualboot with a SATA and an IDE drive:

    http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthre...dual+boot+sata
    http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=192954
    http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthre...=275728&page=3
    The above IDE + SATA threads are probably outdated, but I'll leave them FYI.

    Hope this helps someone looking for an alternate method of dualbooting with 2 hard drives...

    I have my personal computer set up to dualboot using the method described in the first two links, lha has give me his "blessings" to write up a HowTo with his instructions. This is an alternate method of dualbooting Ubuntu and Windows, using 2 hd, without installing grub to Windows or altering your Windows installation.

    First, disconnect your Windows drive, then connect the drive you want to install Ubuntu on as the primary IDE master drive. After installing Ubuntu, allow the updater to install all the necessary updates, this may take awhile. Shutdown your computer and reconnect your Windows drive as slave, then restart, your computer will boot into Ubuntu.

    You will need to edit your menu.lst file:
    (Open a terminal, copy & paste one line at a time, press "enter" each time)

    Code:
    cd /boot/grub
    sudo cp menu.lst menu.lst_backup
    gksudo gedit menu.lst
    The first line changes to the grub directory, the second line makes a backup of your menu.lst file, and the third line opens the menu.lst file using the gedit text editor.

    Copy and paste the following lines above the line
    ###BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST
    Code:
    title              Windows XP
    root               (hd1,0)
    savedefault
    makeactive
    map                (hd0) (hd1)
    map                (hd1) (hd0)
    chainloader        +1
    If grub gives an error when rebooting, you can try rootnoverify (hd1,0) instead of root (hd1,0) in the second line.

    Note: If you prefer Ubuntu to boot by default, you can copy & paste the above entry at the very end of your menu.lst, instead of above ###BEGIN AUTOMAGIC....

    To automatically display the grub menu at bootup, find the line
    Code:
    hidden
    and replace with

    Code:
    #hidden
    To adjust the time grub is displayed at bootup, change the timeout(in seconds)...I'd suggest 10 seconds(default is 3).

    Quit and save settings.

    Note: If for some reason you need to restore your original menu.lst:
    Code:
    cd /boot/grub
    sudo cp menu.lst_backup menu.lst
    Reboot your computer, it will automatically boot to Windows, unless you choose Ubuntu within the time grub is displayed.

    If you want to uninstall Ubuntu, you can make the Windows drive primary master and reformat or unplug the Ubuntu drive.

    If you want to remove Windows, then you can unplug the Windows drive or reformat it, then open menu.lst

    Code:
    gksudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
    and remove the Windows entry in grub.

    Installing on a Dell Dimension 4550:
    I tried the above method trying to set up a dualboot on my Dell Dimension 4550, but when I tried to boot into Windows, I got "Error 21:Selected disk does not exist".
    I finally was able to get it to work by:
    Boot into Ubuntu, open up a terminal:
    Code:
    sudo fdisk -l
    The -l is a lowercase "L"
    Code:
    cat /etc/fstab
    From these two commands, I was able to determine that hdb, which was the slave drive with windows actually had 2 partitions. The first partition was a 35 Mb Dell utility and the second partition was Windows, so I changed the Windows root from (hd1,0) to (hd1,1) in the /boot/grub/menu.lst. However, I continued to get the error21 message...I thought maybe the jumper settings on the slave drive were incorrect. Fortunately, I entered bios setup by pressing "F2" during bootup and found out that the Primary ide controller for hd1 was turned "off" by default...I changed it to "Auto" detect. Grub booted directly into Windows and I'm enjoying dualboot of Windows and Dapper on my Dell computer.

    It is possible to set up a dualboot with Windows & Ubuntu on separate hard drives, with both hard drives connected during the install of Ubuntu:
    http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showpost...8&postcount=47
    if you want to be absolutely sure not to overwrite your Windows mbr, then disconnect your Windows drive during Ubuntu installation.

    An excellent tool to download before installing Ubuntu is the Super Grub Disk:
    http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzo...bDiskPage.html
    the Super Grub Disk is capable of restoring Windows mbr or reinstall grub...and can boot either Windows or Ubuntu.
    Last edited by confused57; April 19th, 2010 at 04:51 PM. Reason: Instructions

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    N.C.
    Beans
    4,796
    Distro
    Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

    Re: Dualboot Two Hard Drives

    The definitive guide for dualbooting Windows and Ubuntu on a single hard drive, using the alternate cd, can be found at Herman's site:

    http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/

    For Dapper Desktop CD:
    http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installing

    The guides can be used to install on 2 different hard drives, but Windows would need to be the master drive and Ubuntu the slave drive. You would select "IDE drive hdb" to install Ubuntu onto and install Grub to Windows(hda) when prompted. Windows doesn't like it when it's not the first OS in a dualboot system, therefore, it has to be on the master drive when using this method. (The menu.lst(Grub) Windows entry, provided in the links in my first post method, has a mapping command, which fools Windows into thinking it is the first OS.)

    If you decide to uninstall Ubuntu, heaven forbid, you'd need to boot up your computer with the Windows installation CD, go to recovery mode and enter fixmbr, which restores your Windows mbr(deletes Grub). Then you could reformat the slave drive from Windows.

    Note: I would recommend anyone installing grub onto their Windows mbr when setting up a dual boot with Ubuntu to download the Windows 98SE OEM boot floppy from bootdisk.com as described here:
    http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/p18.htm
    If for some reason Ubuntu or grub becomes corrupted, you would need to repair your mbr in order to boot Windows, by booting up with the Win98SE boot floppy and enter fdisk /mbr. The boot floppy would be useful for anyone not having a Windows install cd, or as a backup for those that do have one.

    I opted to post this method as a reply, rather than editing my first post, since it is a different way of setting up a dualboot with 2 hd. Any adivce from more experienced Ubuntu Linux users concerning dualbooting would be welcomed.

    I feel that having one link with various options concerning dualbooting with 2 hd, most importantly with Herman's guide, would give a beginner alternative methods for setting up a dualboot Windows/Ubuntu system. My initial intent was to offer only the dualboot method by "lha", but other options would be helpful, in my opinion...so that beginners would have a choice depending on their system, their experience with computers & linux, and their preferences...
    Here's a thread with one person's solution to dual boot dual hard drives:
    http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=259422

    If your computer supports selecting which drive to boot in bios:
    http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=275728

    Tip: Before installing Ubuntu on your system, you should try running the liveCD to ensure that there are no hardware incompatibilities and to familiarize yourself with the Ubuntu OS.

    Note: If you're installing Ubuntu to dualboot with Windows on a single hard drive, Windows MUST be on a partition located prior to Ubuntu...e.g. Windows on hda1, Ubuntu on hda2.
    Last edited by confused57; October 13th, 2006 at 05:58 PM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Beans
    Hidden!

    Thumbs down Re: Dualboot Two Hard Drives

    To everybody that brought this information to this place at this time... Thank you so much!!! What an awesome eloquent way to do this. Virgin Windows Install, Virgin ubuntu Install move one jumper, edit one text file and you are in heaven... (with 2 virgins) sorry I couldn't resist.

    Anyway than you very much. This kind of solution is what makes Liniux such a great OS.

    --Shoki

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    N.C.
    Beans
    4,796
    Distro
    Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

    Re: Dualboot Two Hard Drives

    Quote Originally Posted by shoki View Post
    To everybody that brought this information to this place at this time... Thank you so much!!! What an awesome eloquent way to do this. Virgin Windows Install, Virgin ubuntu Install move one jumper, edit one text file and you are in heaven... (with 2 virgins) sorry I couldn't resist.

    Anyway than you very much. This kind of solution is what makes Liniux such a great OS.

    --Shoki
    Thanks, for me it was the more desirable option, don't have to worry about repairing your Windows mbr,etc and as you mentioned, it's quite easy to set up. You summed it up nicely.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Beans
    28

    Re: Dualboot Two Hard Drives

    Confused57,

    I also want to thank you. I was trying to figure a method to insulate the wife from ever dealing with the fact that I put Ubuntu on the computer. Why, because she is dependent on Windows to remote-connect to her place of employment. She is very wary that I will screw up the computer permanently and for good reason.

    I have been searching for a method to use NTLDR with a Linux-Ubuntu option, but it was looking procedurally complicated and a little risky, since it involved tinkering with the Windows drive MBR.

    After reading your method I realized there is the “ever present” Windows recovery option of returning the Windows drive back to the Master IDE position from the slave position. Last night I demonstrated the recovery option to the wife after following your procedure for installing Ubuntu and modifying GRUB. She is satisfied since the recovery demonstration gave absolutely ZERO indication that the PC ever functioned using the Linux OS, nor did it indicate a hard drive was ever removed. All because the MBR in the Windows drive is left intact throughout your method. My Ubuntu/XP computer works like charm with XP set as the default OS on GRUB. Wife is happy, and I get to have my fun too. Have a great day!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Australia
    Beans
    91
    Distro
    Ubuntu 6.06

    Re: Dualboot Two Hard Drives

    I'm pretty sure (Me=Linux Newbie) there is a quicker way, without having to change all the files and such as in your how-to.
    This is the way I did it:
    I have a SATA drive for Windows XP and and IDE drive for Ubuntu 6.06. In the BIOS, I set the CD-ROM as first device (when installing Linux) and then the IDE drive to be the first hdd to start-up. After that just install Linux (with GRUB) and Bob's your uncle.

    If I go back into BIOS and set the SATA drive as default hdd, then the GRUB doesn't show, and if I set the IDE as default, then GRUB shows, with Linux as default OS.

    Hope that helps,
    Josh

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Beans
    1

    Re: Dualboot Two Hard Drives

    Code:
    title              Windows XP
    root               (hd1,0)
    savedefault
    makeactive
    map                (hd0) (hd1)
    map                (hd1) (hd0)
    chainloader        +1
    This worked great for me, except I orginally had these commands mistyped in grub. It should be noted that there is a SPACE between (hd0) and (hd1) in both the 'map' lines. Otherwise, Grub responds with an error 11: unrecognized device string.

    That unix is so literal...

    Thanks for the solution, all. It's very cool.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    N.C.
    Beans
    4,796
    Distro
    Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

    Re: Dualboot Two Hard Drives

    It's actually better to copy & paste commands and entries, because it is difficult to tell where the spaces are in the typed commands, etc.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Australia
    Beans
    24
    Distro
    Ubuntu 6.06

    Re: Dualboot Two Hard Drives

    I am trying to find a solution to getting Ubuntu to boot off Grub on the IDE XP MBR (Ubuntu is on SATA). I am reading here to see if I can learn something that may help.

    The early post gave a link
    http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthre...dual+boot+sata

    but there the commands are:
    6. In Ubuntu go to Applications/System Tools/Terminal. You will need to open a text editor and change the grub menu file:
    $cd /boot/grub
    $sudo gedit menu.lst
    now look for an entry (near the end) that reads like something like this:

    title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
    root (hd1,0)
    savedefault
    chainloader +1

    and change it to this:

    title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
    root (hd1,0)
    map (hd1,hd0)
    map (hd0,hd1)
    chainloader +1

    7. save the file
    8. reboot and test boot into XP

    Notice the difference in the map ..... commands?
    man I am confused now.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    N.C.
    Beans
    4,796
    Distro
    Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

    Re: Dualboot Two Hard Drives

    I've always entered the mapping commands as shown in my earlier post, which have worked for me...I'm not familiar with entering them the way you pointed out from the link.

    I'm assuming you're able to boot Ubuntu and not Windows...when you installed Ubuntu to the SATA drive you had both drives connected?

    If you're able to boot Ubuntu, what is your entry in /boot/grub/menu.lst for booting it, e.g. root (hd0,0) or root (hd1,0)?

    If you will, post the output of:
    Code:
    sudo fdisk -l
    The -l is a small "L".

    As a note, when there is a combination of IDE and SATA drives, Ubuntu usually installs grub to the IDE drive...therefore, it's probably recommended for someone doing fresh installs to install Windows to the SATA drive, then Ubuntu to the IDE drive.

    Since you have Windows on the IDE drive, I would think an entry similar to this would boot it:
    Code:
    title         Windows XP
     root          (hd0,0)
     makeactive
     chainloader   +1
    Last edited by confused57; September 6th, 2006 at 09:02 PM.

Page 1 of 10 123 ... LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •