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grub lost after re-installing xp on xp partition

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:32 pm
by tony.sankey
As a complete newcomer to LinuxMint-6, I was thrilled to set up a dual boot (XP/LinuxMint-6) system, and was nicely finding my way around Linux. This morning I did a re-installation of XP Pro on its partition, and was horrified to find that the grub had disappeared on bootup to select the OS. Could someone please advise how I can access my LinuxMint partition and/or reinstate the grub.

Re: grub lost after re-installing xp on xp partition

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:54 pm
by garda
The information you are looking for is described in adequate detail at the Linux Mint Wiki, under the Howtos section.

Re: grub lost after re-installing xp on xp partition

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:22 pm
by locutus
All versions of Windows do that. MS doesn't like to admit that there are any other OS's out there.

Here is a link to EasyBCD, which is a bootloader for Windows and anything else you want. It's free and easy to use.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS- ... yBCD.shtml

Re: grub lost after re-installing xp on xp partition

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:25 am
by altair4
If I'm not mistaken EasyBCD is a bootloader ( actually it's a bootloader editor ) for WinVista since only Vista has BCD (Boot Configuration Data) which replaces the old boot.ini, etc.. from WinXP and prior Windows.

Re: grub lost after re-installing xp on xp partition

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:55 pm
by kansasnoob
You should just be able to boot your Mint Live CD and then open the Terminal and type:

Code: Select all

sudo grub
Which will drop you into a grub prompt that looks like this:
[ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For
the first word, TAB lists possible command
completions. Anywhere else TAB lists the possible
completions of a device/filename. ]

grub>
Then run the following:

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find /boot/grub/stage1
That will return something like:
(hd0,0)
Which, in that case, indicates grub/stage1 is on drive #1, partition #1. Grub begins numbering with 0 (zero). Anyway whatever that output is you'll want to enter next like this:

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root (hd0,0)
Then the next step involves the drive# only so I use only the first digit ie: (hd0):

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setup (hd0)
Next simply type:

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quit
After reboot you should be able to access the Grub bootloader again.

Clear as mud?

Re: grub lost after re-installing xp on xp partition

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:44 pm
by tony.sankey
Many thanks for all your helpful suggestions, and the trouble you've taken to reply. Today I tried all sorts of approachs and have completely messed up the system!

I have reformatted the hard drive and started to re-install as a Linux-only system. I'm fortunate to have tried out Linux on an old system: 1000Mhz Athlon, 640 MB SDRAM, 40 GB HD, and have kept my 'workhorse' computer separate.

I'll keep the faith though.

Blooded, but unbowed.

Re: grub lost after re-installing xp on xp partition

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:22 pm
by kansasnoob
I can assure you that it all gets easier with time!

And you never have to worry about "re-licensing" Mint!

There are many things I like about Mint and Ubuntu, really Linux in general, but the number one thing is that I never have to worry about whether I'll be able to reinstall if I totally hose things or if I've changed some hardware.

It's free and hopefully it will always be free! Use it, modify it, and at some point give back a little by supporting in any way you can.