Grub bootloader problem...please help

[SolidPez]

Sorry for the new thread, but I feel this problem wouldn't get the attention it deserves at the end of the previous topic. Please forgive me.

Anyway I installed linux redhat 8.0 to dual boot with xp. I completed the installation without a hitch and double checked everything. Upon reboot at the end of the installation, the grub bootloader did not start. Instead windows xp started as normal. I wondering how I can get my pc to recognize the Grub bootloader on the mbr (where i believe redhat installed it by default). I don't have a linux boot disk (didn't see option for creating one during installation), but is there anyway i can create I bootdisk now? Even though installation is over? Anyone experience a similar situation and solved this problem? Or anyone suggest any possible fixes? Thanks.

[knute]

Boot the the redhat cd, and use the rescue mode on it to get into linux, then setup and install grub.
Before you do that though, make an xp boot disk, so that if you need to get into windows and misconfigure grub, you can still use the computer. :)

[SolidPez]

Thanks, Can you tell me how to do this? What do I do after booting into the redhat install cd? Also if I manage to get into linux, how do I get it to install grub into the mbr? What command?

[mdwatts]

If you had installed Grub in the mbr, it certainly would have started instead of booting directly into XP.

Grub must have been installed in either the Linux /boot or root '/' partition.

If you have a separate primary /boot partition, then use Partition Magic (if you have it) or boot from the install cd in rescue mode, run fdisk and then make the /boot partition active.

If not, it may be easier to just reinstall and this time make sure you specify where you want Grub installed.

You could boot from the cd in rescue mode, modify your /boot/grub/menu.lst so it points to the mbr and then run

grub-install /dev/hda

[SolidPez]

I just reinstalled redhat and made sure grub was installed on the mbr.

The final loading bar (the total progress bar had already hit 100%, I'm not sure what this last small, fast moving bar was for) was about half way loaded and it went to a black screen, just like the last time.

After the 'installation' I got the same message I did last time, only this time I took note of it. Here is the jist of it:
(note that anaconda is the name of the redhat gui installation interface)


"(anaconda:95) : Gnome Canvas-CRITICAL **: file gnome-canvas-psth-def.c:line 1142
(gnome-canvas-path-def-any-closed) : assertion 'path !NULL' failed
install exited abnormally
recovery thread got woken up.
recovery thread finished.
disabling swap...
unmounting fiesystems....

it is now safe to reboot."


I reboot and grub never loads, just xp, same as last install.

I noticed however, that the redhat install disk had a rescue mode option, that I assume from the description lets you boot into linux (like windows safe mode) and fix problems. Would it be easier to edit the grub file from here then the command prompt?

Also for anyone that has installed redhat 8.0 how to do you exit out of the gui installation screen? Thanks

[mdwatts]

The bootloader most likely gets written to disk as the last step of the installation and since yours is failing, that would be the reason.

Are you sure you created the cd's correctly and the iso image you downloaded was not corrupt?

[SolidPez]

I've checked the disks, all were ok. I installed, same gnome canvas error aborting install. I reburned all disks at slowest possible speed, same gnome canvas error. I installed the KDE graphical interface instead of gnome, same gnome error aborting install. Any further suggestions?

[SolidPez]

bump

[SolidPez]

bumpy, *waits for matt to reply* =)

[itor66]

When i downloaded redhat (over cable modem), I had install problems as well and disc 2 was bad, i had to redownload the offending iso and then reburn it and it worked well then.

[knute]

So boot into rescue mode, and install grub.

I'm guessing it gives you a command line -- Don't know it's been forever since I've used RH, and didn't know enough to know about rescue mode then! :rolleyes:

Anyway, find the grub rpm on the approrpriate disk and rpm -Uvh grub* should do it, followed by grub-install /dev/hda.

HTH :)