Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > comp.os.linux.misc > #37552

Re: GRUB over MSbootloader

Show all headers | View raw

On 2023-02-27 05:10, 28A.I873 wrote:
> On 2/26/23 2:59 PM, vjp2.at@at.BioStrategist.dot.dot.com wrote:
>> I installed  MSDOS first then WP, so now XP controlled the swithcing 
>> between
>> booting MSDOS or booting XP.
>>
>> When I install Linux, will grub replace the Windows boot loader or 
>> include it
>> as a submenu on grub?
>>
>> And If I don't like this, how do I put it all on grub?
> 
>    GRUB2 replaces the DOS/Win bootloader. It searches the disk(s)
>    to see what's there are creates its own menu entries.

Maybe, maybe not. Depends how you install it.

It is XP, which means traditional partitions, not GPT.

You can leave in the MBR Grub or a Generic Boot Record. The later will 
look at what partition is marked bootable (which can be either the 
Windows partitition or the partition that contains Grub), and boot it. 
You just change the mark with a proper partitioner software, and the 
system that has the boot control changes.

The problem is, that Windows will bail out when doing major upgrade. In 
my words of 2016 (with Windows 10):

«When Windows (I boot it about once a month) tries to do certain updates
(not others) it says that the update failed to be applied for some
obscure reason (no, they are unable to figure it out in their help
sites). I figured long ago that this is because it does not see
partition #1 as bootable. Ie, that Windows is not in control of the boot
process.»



Or, you can use "altmbr.bin" from syslinux.

In short (as done with openSUSE):

+++·····················
echo -e -n '\004' > x  ### should create x as a 1 byte binary 4
cat /usr/share/syslinux/altmbr.bin x > altmbr.4

That creates the file "altmbr.4" which is based on the syslinux
"altmbr.bin" generic boot code.  It will always boot partition 4,
regardless of the active flag.

So now install that in the MBR, and set the active flag for partition
1 (to keep windows happy).  And you will still boot with the grub menu.
·····················++-

This method works very well with Windows, which does not overwrite it, 
even with major updates. At most, it can replace the MBR with another 
one. No problem, you use any linux rescue usb to replace it again with 
your altmbr.4 or altmbr.3 or altmbr.2 (wherever your Linux partition is).

> 
>    Problem - if you get too aggressive with Win fixes it may
>    wipe out GRUB2 and re-install the Win bootloader. M$ is
>    convinced it owns the compuverse. However there are some
>    rescue utilities that can re-install GRUB2 afterwards
>    without you having to install some kind of new Linux.

-- 
Cheers, Carlos.

Back to comp.os.linux.misc | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar

Thread

GRUB over MSbootloader vjp2.at@at.BioStrategist.dot.dot.com - 2023-02-26 19:59 +0000
  Re: GRUB over MSbootloader Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2023-02-26 22:25 +0000
  Re: GRUB over MSbootloader "28A.I873" <28A.I873@noabzba.net> - 2023-02-26 23:10 -0500
    Re: GRUB over MSbootloader Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2023-02-27 05:13 +0000
      Re: GRUB over MSbootloader "28A.I873" <28A.I873@noabzba.net> - 2023-02-27 21:35 -0500
    Re: GRUB over MSbootloader "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2023-03-19 12:02 +0100
  Re: GRUB over MSbootloader Peter 'Shaggy' Haywood <phaywood@alphalink.com.au> - 2023-02-28 15:42 +1100
  Re: GRUB over MSbootloader vjp2.at@at.BioStrategist.dot.dot.com - 2023-03-17 19:17 +0000
    Re: GRUB over MSbootloader "Nuno Silva" <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2023-03-18 09:36 +0000
      Re: GRUB over MSbootloader "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2023-03-19 12:38 +0100
        Re: GRUB over MSbootloader Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2023-03-20 15:16 +0000
          Re: GRUB over MSbootloader Bobbie Sellers <bliss@mouse-potato.com> - 2023-03-20 10:24 -0700
          Re: GRUB over MSbootloader "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2023-03-20 23:32 +0100

csiph-web