distro testing
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distro testing
I hope this is the proper place for this topic.
I am running Linux Mint 10 and want to keep using it while at the same time testing other distros. Every time I install a new distro to my testing partitions it overwrites the MBR and starts using the grub boot configuration of the new distro. Then when I decide I am not interested in that distro I have trouble getting the grub boot configuration back to Linux Mint 10.
Is there a way to install a distro that allows you to keep the configuration of the grub boot file with Linux Mint 10?
I hope that makes sense.
PS I want to test beyond using a live CD/DVD/USB by actually installing the distro as sometimes that makes it work differently.
I am running Linux Mint 10 and want to keep using it while at the same time testing other distros. Every time I install a new distro to my testing partitions it overwrites the MBR and starts using the grub boot configuration of the new distro. Then when I decide I am not interested in that distro I have trouble getting the grub boot configuration back to Linux Mint 10.
Is there a way to install a distro that allows you to keep the configuration of the grub boot file with Linux Mint 10?
I hope that makes sense.
PS I want to test beyond using a live CD/DVD/USB by actually installing the distro as sometimes that makes it work differently.
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Don
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Re: distro testing
Don't install the boot loader of the distro you want to test or once installed reinstall grub2 in Mint 10:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2 ... ng%20GRUB2
As an example, once you have the test distro installed boot into Mint 10 and if the boot disk is sda run from the Mint 10:
Now Mint 10 grub is again installed and you can use StartUp Manager to chose the Menu default choice and time.
If you find yourself in the most basic grub2 prompt use this:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2 ... ng%20GRUB2
As an example, once you have the test distro installed boot into Mint 10 and if the boot disk is sda run from the Mint 10:
Code: Select all
sudo grub-install /dev/sda
If you find yourself in the most basic grub2 prompt use this:
Check the link above for more information.1. set prefix=(hdX,Y)/boot/grub
Use the values determined earlier. Example: If the Ubuntu system is on sda5, enter: set prefix=(hd0,5)/boot/grub
2.* set root=(hdX,Y)
Example: set root=(hd0,5)
3. insmod normal
Attempt to load the normal module.
4. normal
Activate the normal module. If successful, the GRUB 2 menu may appear.
5. set
(Optional) Review the current settings.
6. ls /boot
(Optional) Check for a vmlinuz and a initrd.img entry.
7. insmod linux
An error message usually means the path is incorrect.
8.* linux /vmlinuz root=/dev/sdXY ro
Selects the latest kernel. Example: linux /vmlinuz root=/dev/sda5 ro
9. initrd /initrd.img
Selects the latest initrd image.
10. boot
Re: distro testing
Thanks Nunol for your reply.
If I don't install the boot loader of the distro I want to test how will I boot into it?
If I don't install the boot loader of the distro I want to test how will I boot into it?
Don
http://bestwebstop.webcentr.net
Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
Moved up to LM17 KDE
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Re: distro testing
You don't need "the" boot loader for the distro you are installing. ONE grub or grub2 can handle all your installs. You simply are setting up grub to link to all of them and allow you to choose between distros (or distros AND windows) at startup. Grub is a boot loader that can handle having many distros installed at the same time and booting them all, plus it's not necessary to install it each time you install a distro. Just go back, as posted above, and setup grub to recognize the new install.
I just did this all today. I changed my HD config and reinstalled my distros I like to play with on separate partitions, one boot loader.
I just did this all today. I changed my HD config and reinstalled my distros I like to play with on separate partitions, one boot loader.
Re: distro testing
Yes, like TBABill said.
I use Mint Grub2, you have already installed the StartUp Manager (check the Administration menu) when you open the StartUp Manager it automatically looks for others distros (and Windows) and setups Grub2 to boot them. So when you install a new distro you have to go first into Mint, open StartUp Manager and only then can you see the new distro on the Grub2 menu.
I use Mint Grub2, you have already installed the StartUp Manager (check the Administration menu) when you open the StartUp Manager it automatically looks for others distros (and Windows) and setups Grub2 to boot them. So when you install a new distro you have to go first into Mint, open StartUp Manager and only then can you see the new distro on the Grub2 menu.
Re: distro testing
Cool I didn't know I could just run startup manager and it would find all the distros making it so I don't need to install the boot loader for the distro.
Do all distros offer the option to not install the boot loader?
Do all distros offer the option to not install the boot loader?
Don
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Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
Moved up to LM17 KDE
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Re: distro testing
Not all. Usually I test them in a VM first to make sure they behave properly but most installers have a option where you have a choice to install none, LILO, grub or other boot loader.donec wrote:Do all distros offer the option to not install the boot loader?
Re: distro testing
I test distros with with VirtualBox too and recommend it. Another good way is to use USB stick and Unetbootin to test distros.
Re: distro testing
If you install a new distro and use that distro boot loader and want to control with Mint StartUp Manager do this:
1) boot into Mint
2) run (where X is your disk, a or b, etc):
This will reinstall Mint Grub2 menu and you don't need to look for the boot loader on the other distro installer.
See here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2 ... ng%20GRUB2
1) boot into Mint
2) run (where X is your disk, a or b, etc):
Code: Select all
sudo grub-install /dev/sdX
See here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2 ... ng%20GRUB2
Re: distro testing
I triednunol wrote:If you install a new distro and use that distro boot loader and want to control with Mint StartUp Manager do this:
1) boot into Mint
2) run (where X is your disk, a or b, etc):This will reinstall Mint Grub2 menu and you don't need to look for the boot loader on the other distro installer.Code: Select all
sudo grub-install /dev/sdX
See here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2 ... ng%20GRUB2
Code: Select all
sudo grub-install /dev/sda
Don
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Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
Moved up to LM17 KDE
http://bestwebstop.webcentr.net
Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
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Re: distro testing
Do you have enough free disk space in the /boot partition?
Re: distro testing
How can I find out?nunol wrote:Do you have enough free disk space in the /boot partition?
Don
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Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
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Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
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Re: distro testing
Run:
And check if the boot partition is full.
Code: Select all
df -h
Re: distro testing
Resultsnunol wrote:Run:And check if the boot partition is full.Code: Select all
df -h
So which portion tells if the boot partition is full or not?Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda5 14G 4.9G 8.3G 38% /
none 1.8G 336K 1.8G 1% /dev
none 1.9G 372K 1.9G 1% /dev/shm
none 1.9G 316K 1.9G 1% /var/run
none 1.9G 0 1.9G 0% /var/lock
/dev/sda7 41G 15G 24G 39% /home
/dev/sdb1 16G 2.8G 13G 18% /media/16GSDHC
Don
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Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
Moved up to LM17 KDE
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Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
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Re: distro testing
If that "df -h" was made from Mint and your "/boot" is on "/" it's not full, you only use 38% of the available space.
If sda5 is your Mint partition (and /boot) the command
Should install Mint grub2 Menu on that disk, don't know why didn't work.
From a Grub2 prompt is possible to boot most linux OS but for some reason Grub2 is not playing nice with that Mint install.
If sda5 is your Mint partition (and /boot) the command
Code: Select all
sudo grub-install /dev/sda
From a Grub2 prompt is possible to boot most linux OS but for some reason Grub2 is not playing nice with that Mint install.
Re: distro testing
I'm feeling confused. I have tried using the code
and what I have is when I boot I get some text and no menu unless I hit esc and then I get a menu of just Linux Mint 10 as the only available OS.
However! I have Mint 11 and Win 7 on the computer.
If I reinstall Mint 11 I will get the complete (including Win 7) Grub that is packaged for Mint 11 (my testing distro) but the MBR will look at the files in Mint11 instead of Mint 10 (my working distro).
I want to be able to reliably to install a test distro and then do a couple easy things and have it so if I delete the testing distro partition, I can just reboot and go into Linux Mint or Win 7.
Code: Select all
sudo grub-install /dev/sda
sudo update-grub
However! I have Mint 11 and Win 7 on the computer.
If I reinstall Mint 11 I will get the complete (including Win 7) Grub that is packaged for Mint 11 (my testing distro) but the MBR will look at the files in Mint11 instead of Mint 10 (my working distro).
I want to be able to reliably to install a test distro and then do a couple easy things and have it so if I delete the testing distro partition, I can just reboot and go into Linux Mint or Win 7.
Don
http://bestwebstop.webcentr.net
Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
Moved up to LM17 KDE
http://bestwebstop.webcentr.net
Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
Moved up to LM17 KDE
Re: distro testing
Hit Esc to get the Menu was Grub Classic way, not Grub2 that uses the "Shift" key. That's odd. Are you using mint4win?
If you reinstall Mint 11 or other Grub2 distro you should get a nice boot menu to chose the OS you want to start.
That code should work if your boot drive is sda.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2
If you reinstall Mint 11 or other Grub2 distro you should get a nice boot menu to chose the OS you want to start.
That code should work if your boot drive is sda.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2
Re: distro testing
I don't even know what mint4win is, I think it may be something like Wine but I know I have not loaded it and it does not show up in Software manager.nunol wrote:Hit Esc to get the Menu was Grub Classic way, not Grub2 that uses the "Shift" key. That's odd. Are you using mint4win?
Yes that is what happens but when I try to get grub to use the configuration I have setup in Mint 10 grub quites working. I can setup the grub configuration in Mint 11 but then if I delete Mint 11 I have to boot from a live USB stick to try and get booted up again. So I want to keep my grub configuration running from Mint10.If you reinstall Mint 11 or other Grub2 distro you should get a nice boot menu to chose the OS you want to start.
My boot drive is sda.That code should work if your boot drive is sda.
Don
http://bestwebstop.webcentr.net
Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
Moved up to LM17 KDE
http://bestwebstop.webcentr.net
Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
Moved up to LM17 KDE
Re: distro testing
Mint4win is used to install Mint inside Windows.
For some reason Grub2 from Mint 10 doesn't work properly. That means your best bet is to use StartUp Manager from Min 10 to create a Rescue Floppy from the advance Menu. I never used that feature in Mint or Ubuntu but used to use that a lot a decade ago. After making that rescue disk or floppy you should test it to make sure it works.
For some reason Grub2 from Mint 10 doesn't work properly. That means your best bet is to use StartUp Manager from Min 10 to create a Rescue Floppy from the advance Menu. I never used that feature in Mint or Ubuntu but used to use that a lot a decade ago. After making that rescue disk or floppy you should test it to make sure it works.
Re: distro testing
I don't own a floppy drive anymore or any floppy disk.nunol wrote:Mint4win is used to install Mint inside Windows.
For some reason Grub2 from Mint 10 doesn't work properly. That means your best bet is to use StartUp Manager from Min 10 to create a Rescue Floppy from the advance Menu. I never used that feature in Mint or Ubuntu but used to use that a lot a decade ago. After making that rescue disk or floppy you should test it to make sure it works.
Don
http://bestwebstop.webcentr.net
Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
Moved up to LM17 KDE
http://bestwebstop.webcentr.net
Links and accurate information provide the best answer, while garbage in provides garbage out.Registered Linux user # 449322
Moved up to LM17 KDE