Boot loader question

lsproc · External Since: Jun 13, 2006 Posts: 14

I currently have 2 disks, one with XP, another with a blank partition and
Linux in another. Grub is being used and can boot XP.

I want to install Vista onto the blank partition, but, I need to know if I
will need to reinstall the XP bootloader first.

Past experiences with fixboot and fixmbr caused the disk unbootable (NON
SYSTEM DISK). Would I be better off reinstalling Windows? Im reinstalling
linux at some point anyway.

Alejo · External Since: Jun 28, 2006 Posts: 88

If you install Vista in the same drive as Linux You will loose GRUB. you may
be able to restore Grub with the Distro CD, but in my experiences it has not
worked. Linux should always be the last OS to install. also, is your XP drive
able to Boot itself? if it is you should diconnect it before you install
Vista, otherwise you will loose the NTLDR from XP.

"lsproc" wrote:

> I currently have 2 disks, one with XP, another with a blank partition and
> Linux in another. Grub is being used and can boot XP.
>
> I want to install Vista onto the blank partition, but, I need to know if I
> will need to reinstall the XP bootloader first.
>
> Past experiences with fixboot and fixmbr caused the disk unbootable (NON
> SYSTEM DISK). Would I be better off reinstalling Windows? Im reinstalling
> linux at some point anyway.

Alejo · External Since: Jun 28, 2006 Posts: 88

Sorry i missed the part the part that you are re-installing Linux. if XP is
still bootable then (By itself) then disconnect it and install vista on the
other drive. once all done reconnect the XP drive and install Linux, Grub
will make the boot entries for both automagically. (Most of the time). in the
end you will have two bootable drives and you will be able to use grub to
boot ALL the OS's.
Just remmember to have only one drive plugged in while installing Microsoft.
this way you will keep the bootloader on each drive.

"lsproc" wrote:

> I currently have 2 disks, one with XP, another with a blank partition and
> Linux in another. Grub is being used and can boot XP.
>
> I want to install Vista onto the blank partition, but, I need to know if I
> will need to reinstall the XP bootloader first.
>
> Past experiences with fixboot and fixmbr caused the disk unbootable (NON
> SYSTEM DISK). Would I be better off reinstalling Windows? Im reinstalling
> linux at some point anyway.

lsproc · External Since: Jun 13, 2006 Posts: 14

But Vista and Linux will be on the same drive (IDE limitations)

"Alejo" wrote:

> Sorry i missed the part the part that you are re-installing Linux. if XP is
> still bootable then (By itself) then disconnect it and install vista on the
> other drive. once all done reconnect the XP drive and install Linux, Grub
> will make the boot entries for both automagically. (Most of the time). in the
> end you will have two bootable drives and you will be able to use grub to
> boot ALL the OS's.
> Just remmember to have only one drive plugged in while installing Microsoft.
> this way you will keep the bootloader on each drive.
>
> "lsproc" wrote:
>
> > I currently have 2 disks, one with XP, another with a blank partition and
> > Linux in another. Grub is being used and can boot XP.
> >
> > I want to install Vista onto the blank partition, but, I need to know if I
> > will need to reinstall the XP bootloader first.
> >
> > Past experiences with fixboot and fixmbr caused the disk unbootable (NON
> > SYSTEM DISK). Would I be better off reinstalling Windows? Im reinstalling
> > linux at some point anyway.

Alejo · External Since: Jun 28, 2006 Posts: 88

"lsproc" wrote:

> Actually, I need to boot XP too...
>
> I can probably live without Linux for a while, the main question is, if I
> was to install vista with grub as the mbr, will it detect XP?

Ok, this is my opinion and if that were my own computer this is what i would
do.

i would remove the drive that has Linux and leave the XP drive all by it
self inside the tower, insert the XP install cd and repair the MBR to make
that drive bootable again. once i have accomplished this i would turn off
computer and remove the XP drive. now i would re-install the Vista drive and
load Vista onto it. if you are using a P-ATA HDD then set the drive with the
OS you want to boot into everytime you turn on the computer to be the Master
and the other as the slave. if you have two SATA drives then it a alot
easier; as all you need to do is adjust the boot order from CMOS.
now if you want an option as to which OS to boot (what i do) then get
EasyBCD from www.neosmart.net and put an entry in the Vista boot loader
(BOOT.ini) for the XP drive.

......or you can just load Vista right now with the XP drive connected,
choose CUSTOM install and tell vista where to install. it will see the other
drive with XP on it and will make a boot entry. if it does not then get
easyBCD and manually insert the entry for XP. ---- like i said this is not
the best way when you have two drives because you are depending on one OS to
boot both discs, so if that OS fails or if the drive fails you have two
un-usable OS's instead of one.

forget trying to install GRUB w/o a Linux distro; unless you really know
what you are doing.

lsproc · External Since: Jun 13, 2006 Posts: 14

Ok, thanks.

I will probably reinstall XP to fix the bootloader, as it is seriously
messed up, and Ill leave Linux too. Many thanks!

"Alejo" wrote:

>
>
> "lsproc" wrote:
>
> > Actually, I need to boot XP too...
> >
> > I can probably live without Linux for a while, the main question is, if I
> > was to install vista with grub as the mbr, will it detect XP?
>
>
> Ok, this is my opinion and if that were my own computer this is what i would
> do.
>
> i would remove the drive that has Linux and leave the XP drive all by it
> self inside the tower, insert the XP install cd and repair the MBR to make
> that drive bootable again. once i have accomplished this i would turn off
> computer and remove the XP drive. now i would re-install the Vista drive and
> load Vista onto it. if you are using a P-ATA HDD then set the drive with the
> OS you want to boot into everytime you turn on the computer to be the Master
> and the other as the slave. if you have two SATA drives then it a alot
> easier; as all you need to do is adjust the boot order from CMOS.
> now if you want an option as to which OS to boot (what i do) then get
> EasyBCD from www.neosmart.net and put an entry in the Vista boot loader
> (BOOT.ini) for the XP drive.
>
> .....or you can just load Vista right now with the XP drive connected,
> choose CUSTOM install and tell vista where to install. it will see the other
> drive with XP on it and will make a boot entry. if it does not then get
> easyBCD and manually insert the entry for XP. ---- like i said this is not
> the best way when you have two drives because you are depending on one OS to
> boot both discs, so if that OS fails or if the drive fails you have two
> un-usable OS's instead of one.
>
> forget trying to install GRUB w/o a Linux distro; unless you really know
> what you are doing.