Installing Linux Mint Question...

[qfunk]

Here's my menu.lst file...:

Code: Select all

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
#            grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
#            grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
#            and /usr/share/doc/grub-legacy-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default      0

## Graphical boot menu location
gfxmenu=/boot/gfxmenu/default.message

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout      10

# Pretty colours
color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line)  and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
#      password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title      Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root      (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader   +1
#
# title      Linux
# root      (hd0,1)
# kernel   /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=/dev/sda9 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,8)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
##      alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
##      lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
##      lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
##      altoptions=(single-user) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
##      howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
##      memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title      Linux Mint 6, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
root      (hd0,8)
kernel      /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=/dev/sda9 ro quiet splash
initrd      /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
quiet

title      Linux Mint 6, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
root      (hd0,8)
kernel      /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=/dev/sda9 ro single
initrd      /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title      Linux Mint 6, kernel Last successful boot
root      (hd0,8)
kernel      /boot/last-good-boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda9 ro quiet splash  last-good-boot
quiet

title      Linux Mint 6, memtest86+
root      (hd0,8)
kernel      /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title      Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sdb1
title      Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root      (hd1,0)
savedefault
map      (hd0) (hd1)
map      (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader   +1


[qfunk]

Hi!
I took a screenshot of the partitions and am posting below... I had my ipod connected, and maybe due to that it showed another drive (sdc) in the partition table... I don't know what this drive is, if it had been my ipod, then it should have been 16gb or 15 gb... not 1.6 gb as shown in the partition table... please does anyone know what this is??







-Mohit.

[AK Dave]

Hi! Thanks for your reply... I've been waiting for their reply, but since no one replied, I decided to reinstall linux.

I showed you where to get supergrub. Did you download it? Did you try it? I was waiting for you to report back that you'd done something. I do not believe that it was necessary for you to do a full reinstall to fix a grub error.

[AK Dave]

I guess, I should not go into lenghty details of how I intially installed my linux and then couldn't boot from it. I just want to know, if I'm correct in installing the mint on Secondry hard disk (detected as SDA on linux live cd) and then changing the boot sequence to secondary as first in the bios and then succeeding in booting from the grub.??

Please do NOT do this. You're doomed to failure.

Please leave the BIOS ordering of your drives alone after you have performed the install. Do not install to one drive, and then swap them around in BIOS, and expect grub to keep up with your shenanigans automatically.

[AK Dave]

I took a screenshot of the partitions and am posting below... I had my ipod connected, and maybe due to that it showed another drive (sdc) in the partition table... I don't know what this drive is, if it had been my ipod, then it should have been 16gb or 15 gb... not 1.6 gb as shown in the partition table... please does anyone know what this is??

That is probably a usb thumb drive.

[AK Dave]

It didn't even boot linux...maybe because the grub of linux is in Windows Partition, whcih I tried to remove by fixing the mbr... now nothing is working except this linux boot cd.

Please stop playing with your BIOS settings.

Please download and burn supergrubdisk.

[AK Dave]

My understanding is you have 2 hard drives, both bootable, one with Windows and one with Mint. You've played with the MBR on one. You've played with grub on both. You've played with BIOS settings. You need to stop moving things around. One set of BIOS settings, please. Just plug the drives in and leave them alone. Stop playing the switcheroo.

Put the drives back in the BIOS configuration where they were when Windows worked. Windows was primary? Leave it that way please. Now get your Windows disc, boot with it, and run Windows Recovery. You need to fix your damage. Reboot. Don't mess with the BIOS settings. Unless your hardware is especially whacked out, you should have no trouble with grub on one drive redirecting on bootup to linux on another drive.

THEN boot supergrubdisk. Let it find your installed bootable OS partitions and assemble itself on the primary drive. Then you should be booting fine.

I think you've made this whole experience a nightmare for you and others by the way you've been willy-nilly flipping around your master and slave settings in BIOS. It just usually is not necessary to play with this, and doing so adds a whole different level of complexity to the whole boot and install process that you're not prepared for.

[qfunk]

Thanks dave... I ran the windows Recovery in windows boot disc... I ran the command "fixboot" and it worked perfectly... somehow the fixmbr wasn't working...

Now I have my windows back... and will try and get the super grub disk... still have linux installed... so should be fine. Thanks a lot!

I have a question: How can I open up the linux mint connection server in Xchat for windows?? I was chattign with shane yesterday using live cd's xchat... not I have windows and have installed the xchat for windows on my computer... but don't know how to connect to the linux mint server...

Code: Select all

irc.spotchat.org/#linuxmint 

EDIT: Found the way to get into linux chat using xchat.... will wait for shane ... and by the time would download the supergrub cd...

[AK Dave]

I am SO glad we have you back to a configuration where Windows works for you, because thats where you started with and a dual-boot configuration is what you were trying to install. Having Windows booting and working right BEFORE configuring dual-boot is important. I want your system to be working for YOU.

You have a functional bootable Linux partition on the other drive. You've booted to it before. Now we just need to get a grub to boot to it with the drives in this configuration.

You're almost there!

[qfunk]

Hi Dave, shan3, and technogeek...
Guess this might be my last post on this thread or this forum...

I tried installing linux 3 times, once normally with grub installed with linux(sdb6), and not windows (sdb1)...
Second time, trying to install with the cd via windows xp within the ntfs partition (sdb6 - formatted as ntfs this time)...
Third, reformatted the linux partition to ntfs, and freed some space on another hdd (sda)... installed linux on sda9 and the grub to windows PARTITION (instead of the HardDISK)...

Thus I currupted the mbr of my windows due to lack of knowledge and procedure resources and got scared that I might not be able to reboot to windows at all! Had I loaded the grub to the hard-DISK then I might have messed up somewhere again, thus damaging the whole hard Disk, the whole 160gb data lost!!

So Now I give up on Linux, hoping someday I might get someone nearby to guide me through the process, so that I can for once install the linux.

When I first saw linux mint prntscr on some forum, I liked it, and even though I knew that many window based programs don't support linux, I knew that I could find a PS2 emulator for my games (I mostly play Pro Evolution Soccer 6 on my pc)... and some alternate of winamp, and something to sync my ipod, ... I hoped I could get linux started and learn more and more... but sadly, the currupted mbr got me to my senses, and I stopped wondering about how I could install it...

Anyways, thanx for all your help... even though I couldn't install it, I still have learnt a lot about it... like grub, mbr, sudo commands, etc etc...

Have a good day all!
Regards,
-Mohit.

[Aging Technogeek]

qfunk;

Don't give up now. As AK Dave said in his last post, you're almost there . Just wait for instructions from AK Dave or Shane before doing anything and you could have a functioning dual boot set up in a day or two. I'm still hoping you can get it done - Mint is worth the effort.

I'm just sorry I didn't know enough to get you up and running faster. I've learned a lot from this experience myself. It will help me in future both in my own installs and when answering question here. I've already used what I've learned to set up a two disk dual boot system on one of my own computers.

Just hang in there a day or two more before dumping Linux. You'll be glad you did.

[AK Dave]

I tried installing linux 3 times, once normally with grub installed with linux(sdb6), and not windows (sdb1)...
Second time, trying to install with the cd via windows xp within the ntfs partition (sdb6 - formatted as ntfs this time)...
Third, reformatted the linux partition to ntfs, and freed some space on another hdd (sda)... installed linux on sda9 and the grub to windows PARTITION (instead of the HardDISK)...

Slow down. Use complete sentences. I cannot figure out what you did last night that went wrong.

We got your Windows install fixed. Thats fine. You had a perfectly good Mint install on the other drive. All you needed was a grub to link it to boot. Which was what supergrubdisk was going to provide you. You said you were downloading it. I waited for you in IRC last night, and when you showed you said you had given up, scrubbed linux, and that was all.

You sir, are a Help Vampire.

[qfunk]

Hi technogeek and dave,

i really didn't mean to disappoint you by wasting you and my time and effort like this... But i got really scared after my windows mbr got damaged. I had written the grub to windows bootable partition, instead of the bootable hard disk (main... Hope i'm making sense).

Well, now i've formated my swap, and 2 ext3 partitions as a single ntfs partition on sda (pata). Fixed the boot of windows with fixboot. But there's still some problem with my pata hard drive (connected as primary, but non-bootable)...in xp, the cpu light is flickering continuosly, and even when the system is idle, it doesn't stop flickering. I believe that it is due to some part me grub still remaining in the xp boot which tells it to look for linux in my pata. Or maybe, the fixboot command "restored" the previous boot record, telling that there's another xp installed on my pata, the one which i already formatted before installing linux. Not sure though about any of this, just guessing things up.

[qfunk]

I didn't get supergrub disc, because i didn't know how to run commands on it, and it also didn't have a mint live kindof interface. It looked like dos, and from the screenshots, it didn't look much user friendly - what if i messed up again during it's setup? So i just have up on it.

[qfunk]

I guess i'll take backup of my important files to my pata harddisk, and then disconnect the pata so that there are no errors in recognition of sdb or sda. But the problem is that i don't have a slot for secondary pata or something like that, on my motherboard, so whenever i connect back my pata, it WILL show as primary, leaving my bootable sata as secondary.

Well, anyways, after removing the pata, i'll install mint on my formatted D drive. (after backup ofcourse). I was thinking of reinstalling my windows xp, but guess supergrub disk will solve the flickering cpu light.

I'm also going to look for a irc chat software for my nokia s40 phone so that i can confirm the process of supergrub on each step, if you don't mind helping me out in that way... Don't want to mess up this time.

Well it's almost 12:50 am here, so gotta sleep, goodnight.

[AK Dave]

SGD is an awesome hands-on teaching tool that you can learn a lot from, in addition to using it to fix your problem.

This example is very similar to yours. Study it:
http://www.supergrubdisk.org/wiki/Onede ... sksExample

Here is a list of various boot problems laid out like a troubleshooting list. Read and enjoy:
http://www.supergrubdisk.org/wiki/Boot_Problems

I will not walk you through using SGD. The SDG website can do that much better than I could, and you will learn better without hand-holding.

[qfunk]

Hi dave... well, I'm hoping I don't have to install the grub with supergrub... cause I don't want to play around much with my computer, prefer the way it is currently, just wanted something different, and liked the look of mint, so got keen on learning linux.

Well, I'm thinking of Re-installing Windows comletely... after formatting the C: drive... and then before copying back the backup files and programs to windows, I'll install linux on the same hard disk, but on a different partition. I'll keep the pata hard drive disconnected during both the installations, so that there is no error of sdb or sda... but I just want to know, that will linux recognize the pata when I connect it later on?? I know windows shows the partitions etc... but I have no clue of linux doing it... also if linux would be installed in my secondary, sata, (non-bootable pata disconnected), then would it load automatically even if I connect my pata back?? (cause my pata can only be connected as primary, and then there might be a sda or sdb problem again...) I know I sound confusing, but I can't explain it further, cause it will only look more complex then...

Anyways, I'm online on IRC till 6:00 pm my timings... hope to catch you or shan3 on there... would explain in more detail ...

[shane]

I havent read all the posts since my last one but I just thought i'd drop a line since i was helping qfunk over IRC. This is more to other readers than qfunk...

He did make a mistake of installing grub to sdb1 and not sdb. And that borked his XP partition... He and I did make some progress getting grub to work. It did start grub at one stage but it wouldn't find the Mint installation or partition... grub would exit with error 17. I am not sure if this was because of the messed up XP partition or the SATA + PATA combination. Everything looked fine to me but I don't have that much experience with these combinations of drives.

It was becoming a time consuming (several hours) and difficult process doing everything over IRC and relying on him to be my eyes I understand his frustration and decision to just get XP working again... If he decides to stick with Windows for now that's a choice I respect. However, I am pretty sure he'll be back Anyway, he got his XP working again... which is good... as losing important data is not something we want associated with installing Linux... backups or no backups.

@qfunk: if you're scared of messing up your XP installation, why not try to install using mint4win? It's not the greatest way to install, but it will be a much safer way for you to experiment until you get the hang of organizing your partitions and your drives. You do have a lot of drive space anyway... You can learn how to use Linux with the safety of having an assured working XP. Don't think Linux is too hard for you... it's just different... and you seem interested, which is key.

[qfunk]

Hi shane!!
After much of wasting away time here and there on sites and windows programs... I finally decided to try and install linux mint again...

Just saw the announcement of linux 7 being released... but since I've already downloaded mint 6.. do I need to download 7 for an updated installation? Or would 6 be fine enough??

Anyways, I lost that program for IRC for windows which I was using before.. and mirc is not free... only trial. So do you know of any windows program that can let me chat in the linux IRC??

I'm thinking of changing the priority sequence of the hard disk drives in the BIOS, so that sb1 is kept as primary for booting (non-windows & not having any OS currently) ... even though it has been connected as secondary (I'm sure the bios has this setting for hd boot pririties)...

Then After backing up a drive on sb1, I'll format and install linux mint on it. It's only got 14.5 gb of space (the drive, not the hdd). And this time, I'll let the grub do the booting, and won't go into advanced options of installing the grub to the windows partition (last time I did that, my xp stopped booting!!)....

Anyways, I'm continuing this thread, or if you suggest, I can start a different thread for this. I'll be installing mint on monday, only if I find you online during afternoon, Indian times... cause you said earlier that you're mostly online during that time....

I'm not sure if you're still around on linux, but I thought I'd write here, and see if anyone replies back to this old thread.

Thanks.
-Qfunk.

[qfunk]

Hey,... sorry for double posting... I might be getting a new pc in some weeks so hope to keep this current pc for linux... if it installs good and I get to know the commands and settings for the OS and it's programs... I'll install it on the new machine too!!

Sorry, but for now, I've changed my mind... I guess I'll just carry on with windows until I get a new pc... cause there's a lot of confusion with the 2 hdd's on this one (sdb and sda) ... so won't be installing mint yet.. was just getting bored of windows, so thought of trying linux again...

Thanks again for all the help so far...

Regards,
-Qfunk.