Can't Boot Between Windows 7 and Mint 14

[ghostsword98]

Hi,

I'm running Windows 7 on my Asus R500A, with 8GB RAM and 750GB HDD.

I made a Mint 14 install DVD and booted into it, then ran through the installation process. I selected "Install Alongside Windows 7" when the option came up. However, when I start my computer, it automatically boots into Windows. I tried installing Mint again, in case it didn't work properly the first time, but when I went through the installation again, it said I was already running Windows 7 and Mint 14 Nadia. I am still unable to get the GRUB to display the two options for booting.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[SugarSnipes]

have you tried using a third party boot loader? I had that issue then got a boot loader to let me choose between continuing to windows or going to the GRUB menu.

[ghostsword98]

Yeah, I've tried using Easy BCD, but it only has two entries: "Windows 7" and "CD/DVD Drive"
I think I've installed Mint twice now, one on an E:/ drive and one on a G:/ drive. When I go into Computer Management, they're listed under Disk 0. I'm not sure how to go about installing Mint on a different, bootable disk.

[anandrkris]

If i recall correctly, i manually added an entry to make Windows since i installed GRUB to a seperate partition instead of MBR. This tutorial helped me a lot to understand the difference between installing GRUB to MBR / separate partition.

[ghostsword98]

I followed the tutorial, creating four separate partitions (/boot, /, swap, and /home). I've also created a new entry in EasyBCD, selecting GRUB2. However, when I select the Mint boot I created in the Windows Boot Manager, I get the following message:
"Windows failed to start, a recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click "Next"
3. click "Repair your computer"
etc."

I'm not really sure how this works, but should I make a partition solely for the GRUB?

[anandrkris]

I hope your Windows is booting fine. Did you mean those partitions were created earlier when you installed Mint or you installed them now?

I will try to explain my understanding -

The MBR (Master Boot Record) holds the information of OS'es available in your system. Now this can be handled by either Windows Boot Loader or GRUB (Boot loader of Linux Mint). As explained in the tutorial, GRUB could be installed in a seperate partition or written to MBR. Advantages and disadvanatges are explained in the article shared earlier.
1. You can make Windows boot loader to boot all other OS'es in your system. (Using entry in EasyBCD)
Note - viewtopic.php?f=46&p=689565#p672157 - Installing latest EasyBCD helped StevePMo. You could give it a try.
2. If GRUB is installed to MBR, then GRUB will automatically reconginze the other OS'es available in system and list them as options.

It is strange that you're getting Windows related error when you select Mint. Probably others who have experienced similar issue can help.

[exchaoordo]

I had the same problem. Here's what I did to fix it. I cannot say which of these is key, but essentially the result is that the Linux bootloader (which I thought was grub but may not be) is coming up first.
Before, the Windows bootloader was giving me the Linux option. Here's what I did wrong:
My first install I selected the partition that I was using (sda5) as the "device" (it's a pull-down menu, says something likes, "Device where you want the boot..."
The second time, I left the default selected, which was my enitre Hard Drive, in that pull-down menu. I installed again and it now goes to the Linux bootloader. There is likely an easier way to do this by manually changing the Master Boot Record, but I'm not that capable.

My next question is how to setup the default. Like I said, thought it was grub....

I hope that helps.