Active partition of Linux Mint won't Boot

[menuhin]

Hi all,

I'm new to Linux Mint.
I've installed Linux Mint onto my hard drive using a USB thumb.

/dev/hda1 --- Vista
/dev/hda2 --- OSX86
/dev/hda3 --- LinuxMint
/dev/hda4 --- DATA

But during installation, I chose the advanced option NOT TO INSTALL BOOTLOADER.
After installation, I marked /dev/hda3 active, and reboot.

What I got is "missing operating system"...

Can some guru answer me following questions?

1. How can I boot into my /dev/hda3 linux system in this scenario? (I have LiveUSB of LinuxMint 7)
2. Do I need to install GRUB to boot into /dev/hda3? And if yes, why GRUB is need instead of just marking the partition active?

Thanks a lot!

- J

[garda]

You need a boot loader to boot and load an OS. That's why you should've chosen to install GRUB. Since you haven't done anything with your fresh install, I'd recommended you just re-run the install from the LiveUSB.

[menuhin]

Because I'm planning to use another bootloader

I want to do
grub-install /dev/sda3
NOT
grub-install /dev/sda

But in the installation option, I don't know how to choose such an option during the installation.

[altair4]

In step 7 - Advanced button - there should be a combo box that would have all the partitions listed including sda3.

[garda]

Once a partition is marked active, it will be searched for a boot loader by the BIOS. What you have to do now is boot from the Live USB, run Partition Editor and mark as active another partition that already has a boot loader (very likely /dev/hda). Then you configure whatever boot loader that you want to use. Judging by the variety of operating systems that you've got, I presume you're planning to do something like this, right? If my guess is right, you don't have to use GRUB, so no need to reinstall Mint.

[StanTheMan]

When you have Vista , it usually has a hidden partition that uses up one of your Primary partitions.
You are better to create Logical partitions for all your Linux partitions.
The would be numbered like ' sda5 sda6 sda7 ' or similar.
I normally leave Vista partition set as active. Grub disregards the Active tag.

[menuhin]

Thanks all Gurus!

I'm on Linux Mint right now!

- J