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    Triple boot vista/XP/ubuntu not working

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by hcet, Oct 9, 2007.

  1. hcet

    hcet Newbie

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    I'm trying to use grub to triple boot the OSs.
    The notebook is an acer extensa 5510.

    Disk layout as follows:

    /dev/sda1 acer recovery partition (hidden/FAT16?)
    /dev/sda2 windows vista (NTFS)
    /dev/sda3 windows XP (NTFS)
    /dev/sda4 extended
    /dev/sda5 linux (ext3)
    /dev/sda6 linux (swap)

    Vista and ubuntu boot, but XP does not (read on for details).

    The grub.conf is as follows:

    [lines relevant to ubuntu omitted]

    title Microsoft Windows Vista
    rootnoverify (hd0,1)
    makeactive
    chainloader +1


    title Microsoft Windows XP
    rootnoverify (hd0,2)
    makeactive
    chainloader +1


    When I choose "Microsoft Windows XP" from the grub menu, apparently the acer recovery partition is booted, since a program is started that asks me to factory restore the system.

    Another thing: when I start vista, vista sees its own partition as C: and the XP partition as D:; however, if I try to boot from an XP cdrom, both the XP installation program and the recovery console see the vista partition as D: and the XP partition as C:.

    I've tried using vista boot pro and fixboot to restore the XP partition boot sector, but no luck.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.
     
    hcet, Oct 9, 2007
    #1
  2. danny2001

    danny2001 Notebook Consultant

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    Windows, by default, is going to assume that its system drive is C. Vista will map its system drive as C, and xp will map its system drive to c. I'm not 100% sure, but as far as the restore partition starting when you select windows, it seems Grub may just be pointing to the wrong partition. Make a backup of the Grub conf and change the 2 to something else. If you need to restore the grub conf, just boot off of an ubuntu live cd and restore the back up. Good luck.
     
    danny2001, Oct 9, 2007
    #2
  3. hcet

    hcet Newbie

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    I was pretty sure both XP and vista were able to use something different than C: for their system drives. In fact, I've seen many XP installation running from F:. Why doesn't XP take into consideration the other (already installed) OS? (Yes, Vista was preinstalled and XP was installed after).

    I already tried to do that, and made grub point to (hd0,0). This boots the restore partition straight away.
     
    hcet, Oct 10, 2007
    #3
  4. hcet

    hcet Newbie

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    Basically, what I'd like to get is:

    - XP boots and sees its partition as D: and the vista partition as C:
    - XP boot should be self-contained in its own partition, ie there is no need that ntldr, boot.ini, etc. are in the vista partition (but of course they must be in XP partition).

    Thanks
     
    hcet, Oct 10, 2007
    #4