how to install Grub without reinstall linux in mutitple OS environment

[roadorange]

hi. few days ago, my computer has window2000 pro and linux.

Today i installed windowsXP in C drive and 2003 enterprise server in D drive.
After i installed windows, obvious the boot records are overwritten.
However, my RHEL3 is still in my linux partition.
My question is how to install Grub to support windows and linux without reinstall RHEL3????

[thompsa2]

Yes we want to experience lin/ un by chasing down the old root of raw material.

But the best way is to start off with something simple which is gui base, then slowly but sure we move on to the not faint harted. if your system is on a business network or any kind you realy have to consider planning before you do anything like you did.

In any case any raw os will overwrite the current partition nomatter where and what you install after that it is a freak of nature that your machine still boots.

All i can suggest under correction is get a boot disk backup everything and start from scratch. get yourself vmware the "best on the market" guy. and remember No matter what you do plan, plan and plan. this tool vmware will make your life so easy and also give you the edge that you need to fully comprehend networking to the fullest(local or wan).

[infiniphunk]

Perhaps this (http://www.sorgonet.com/linux/grubrestore/) will help you.

[saikee]

infiniphunk's information is comprehensive.

The Grub can be restore by

(1) Linux installation CD
(2) A Live CD by change root to it and do a grub-install (similar to Setup (hd0) in infiniphunk site)
(3) A Grub bootable disk by using its configfile command to boot up the Linux and then do a grab-install.

[infiniphunk]

Just for the record Saikee the link I provided was provided to me by Google.ca. ;)

I can hardly take credit for any of that info. Besides, from what I've read here before you are our resident multi-booting master!

[saikee]

I feel embarrassed to hear your remark. I always attach the importance for people pointing to the right direction, especially in your case to the point. That makes learning enjoyable.

[infiniphunk]

It's just that the way you worded your post it kinda sounded like you were giving me credit for the info on the site I gave a link to.
All I did was ask myself, "OK, if I had just installed windoze and it had re-written the MBR on my disc, how would I restore GRUB?" So I just did a google search for "re-install GRUB", and there it was. Red Hat specific too.

As for me, (and a bit off-topic), I currently have Hoary on /dev/hda1 and Zenwalk on /dev/hda5. I use GRUB to boot Ubuntu and its set up on the MBR. I use LILO on a floppy to boot Zenwalk. Usually Zenwalk is on; I rarely boot Ubuntu; I only keep it around for the odd time when I just can't figure out how to do something, or want to get some of that ol' apt goodness.

One of these days I may just install GRUB again and set it up to boot both, and I'd like to put a cool boot-splash image there too.

[saikee]

The to-the-point info is very helpful for people needing a quick answer and have inadequate time to read long posts. There are so many other info seem to be relevant in the Internet.

It is very simple for you to boot your zenwalk in hda1. Next time you boot up Zenwalk with the floppy, log in as root (only the root user is allowed to alter the boot menu), drop into terminal mode and type

lilo -b /dev/hda5

The -b parameter is to ask Lilo to install itself in /dev/hda5. Lilo will respond by saying if there is an error or not. If no error is reported then Lilo would have implanted its boot loader in sector 0 of your hda5. Lilo always check its booting entries before revalidating the boot menu. Having a bootloader in the root partition is the only necessary condition for Zenwalk to be chainloaded, by anther Lilo or by Grub.

You can then reboot and boot up Ubunto, log in as root, use the desktop to open /boot/grub/menu/lst with the editor kwrite and add these few lines to the end of the file

# Lines preceeding # are just explanations any may be omitted
# Grub counts from zero and so (hd0,4)=hda5, title line is for display
title this is my Zenwalk in hda5
root (hd0,4)
chainloader +1
boot

Save the file, reboot and Zenwalk will be one of the booting choices available.

[infiniphunk]

Thanks for that tip Saikee!

[roadorange]

thanks for everyone's comment and helpful information.
i appreciate it

[nuttron]

this is also off topic but i want to thank you infiniphunk for your sig. i just installed Zenwalk on a spare hard drive..it is very good.....installed in 30 minutes on a 700 mgz celeron ,with a bit of tweaking i got it going to my liking ,using xfce-3.8.18 instead , i like the sistem sound...installed OpenOffice....gkrellm...etc...impressed .