Ubuntu
grub2 package

Boot sector on partition

Asked by craig christensen

I have a disk with 2 partitions on it already; HP_Recovery and Windows XP. I have room for a third partition (100 GB) and want to install Ubuntu 11.10. Problem is I want to boot loader and boot sector for Ubuntu to be in its own partition, NOT the MBR. I have a boot manager (Boot-US) that will choose my operating systems (Win7, Winxp, Winxp Recovery, Ubuntu, and a common data drive [not bootable])..3 Hard Drives.
The problem with Ubuntu 11.10, it uses Grup 2 which will overwrite the MBR and put the boot sector there. I can't do that because the boot manager (boot-us) wants to see the boot sector in the partitions. if the boot sector in the partition is empty, boot-us can't find the OS.
I read articles and came across the Ubuntu 9.04 server install which uses Grub and can do this easily. However, I think the 9.04 uses the filesystem ext3 and not ext4 which I want. After the install of the server, articles says install the new Ubuntu desktop 11.10
Dilemma: Is there any good ideas out there? Any instructions how to install Ubuntu 11.10?
Document information I got is at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MultiOSBoot

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craig christensen
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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

You can choose where to install the GRUB2 (Not Grup2) bootloader, you can install it to a partition or the MBR. Both work fine. I suggest you use Grub and don't bother with Boot-us, Grub can boot both your OSes without issue...

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craig christensen (inlandchris) said : 		#2

Thanks for the reply and spelling. I would use GRUB2 if possible for all my hard drives but if you noticed, I have 3 hard drives and the second hard drive is Windows XP. Cannot run windows XP (in my case) as a second hard drive. All OS's are independent and runs only as the first hard drive in the system. Running Windows XP on the second hard drive will overwrite the MBR of the first hard drive and destroy the contents of the second hard drive. Since all hard drives are independent, I can use anyone of them as a single hard on the system. Boot-US will hide the partitions/Hard drives I choose when I select an OS. So, choosing winxp will hide the windows 7 hard drive and windows xp thinks it is the first hard drive in the system. The same will go with Ubuntu when/if I install it. I will install it as the first hard drive in the system.
 I don't believe GRUBx can do like Boot-US. So, that is why I am asking a question on this forum to see if anybody has answers and so far, not. Maybe its too complicated or not possible.
Thanks again for the reply

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craig christensen (inlandchris) said : 		#3

closing, another question was posted

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#4

"Cannot run windows XP (in my case) as a second hard drive. " You can with Grub2. It will hide first disk to Windows. In facts, using Windows as second disk is the best solution for dual boot on two disks.

"Running Windows XP on the second hard drive will overwrite the MBR of the first hard drive and destroy the contents of the second hard drive." Where did you get this !