Ubuntu
grub2 package

Dual Boot Ubuntu and Windows XP Home

Asked by Hugh Smythe

I've installed Ubuntu 10.10 on a slave hard drive with Windows XP Home installed on the master. Before I installed Ubuntu, I disconnected the Windows (master) drive as I didn't want Grub to overwrite the Windows mbr. I was hoping that Ubuntu would show up as a separate operating system option if I pressed F8 on startup but that isn't the case. I am now unable to start Ubuntu without messing around disconnecting and reconnecting hard drives. Can someone explain to me (if possible, in very simple terms) if there is any way I can get a dual boot Windows/Ubuntu option at startup without having to go through a complicated procedure.

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Ubuntu grub2 Edit question
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Jonathan Mast
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Best Jonathan Mast (onlineamateur) said : 		#1

I have an identical setup. On the bios splash screen it shows esc for boot menu or something similar. Pressing esc takes me to a screen where I can select which hdd to boot to. If your bios doesn't have an option like this you may need to reconfigure grub.

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marcus aurelius (adbiz) said : 		#2

you could have installed ubuntu with the windoze drive connected.

seeing that you've done this, you'll have to make the drive ubuntu is on (the slave drive) the master drive now. attach your windoze drive as slave.

boot into ubuntu then press CTR+ALT+T to get into terminal

type: sudo apt-get -y install os-prober; sudo os-prober; sudo update-grub

enter your password when asked. it will not show up on the screen.

you should get a menu that lets you choose which system you want booted.

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mycae (mycae) said : 		#3

Disconnecting the drive means that grub would have been unable to detect your windows disk, and thus has not set up a chainload for it. You will definitely need to reconfigure grub. Windows does not provide a multi-OS launcher, so grub has to do this.

See the bit called "post-restoration commands" and beyond.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2

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Hugh Smythe (smythes) said : 		#4

Thanks Jonathan Mast, that solved my question.

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Hugh Smythe (smythes) said : 		#5

Thanks all for your advice.