Triple boot - Ubuntu Feisty (7.04) Dapper (6.06) and Windows XP (P4)

[Eric Dunbar]

On 25/03/07, Eric Dunbar <eric.dunbar at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 24/03/07, ac <"aec$news"@candt.waitrose.com> wrote:
> > Eric Dunbar wrote:
> > > Hello all:
> > >
> > > I've "lost" my "main" Ubuntu 6.06 (Dapper) install from the Grub boot
> > > menu. I have two HDs, one for Windows XP and one for Ubuntu.
> > >
> > > My Ubuntu 6.06 was set up with a /boot partition. My Ubuntu 7.04 was
> > > not (just /).
> > >
> > > When I set up my current configuration* I left 7.8 GB free on my
> > > Ubuntu disk for experimental OSes. I've wanted to see what Ubuntu 7.04
> > > would look like so I installed it into that free 7.8 GB partition.
> > >
> > > Unfortunately, I didn't realise that grub doesn't automagically handle
> > > multiple Linux OSes gracefully (I come from the PPC world where yaboot
> > > handles OSes differently). I've lost access to my Ubuntu 6.06
> > > partition and would like to regain it _and_ retain easy access to
> > > Ubuntu 7.04 as well, if at all possible.
> > >
> > > Can anyone suggest a Howto or link or wiki where I can go for further
> > > assistance in setting grub up so that it can handle my two Linuxes
> > > without excluding one (I haven't gotten anywhere yet with Google)? I'm
> > > scouring the man pages for grub but haven't found out how to specify a
> > > "chain loader" for a linux (I figure that's what I need to do).
> > >
> > > Thanks, Eric.
> > >
> > > *Two HDs:
> > > sdb = 20 GB
> > > /dev/sdb1 Windows XP
> > >
> > > sda = ~250 GB
> > > /dev/sda2 19 GB Ubuntu 6.06
> > > /dev/sda3 202 GB ext3 formatted "Virtual Machine" partition (contains
> > > VMs for VMware)
> > > /dev/sda6 7.8 GB free
> > >
> > > (plus, some other partitions like /dev/sda1 89 MB for /boot for Ubuntu
> > > 6.06 and /dev/sda5 1.5 GB for /swap)
> > >
> >
> > If I understand correctly, your original grub boot information is
> > still basically in the (now unused) original /boot partition for
> > dapper 6.06.
> >
> > So in theory, if you can copy it out and use the relevant items in
> > your new grub file, (menu.1st) which I expect is in the /boot/grub  of
> > 7.04 partition, then you will be hopefully on your way.
> >
> > It will be the top-most entry:
> > the extract you want will be similar to:
> > [extract]
> > =======================
> > title           Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-28-386
> > root            (hd0,1)
> > kernel          /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-28-386 root=/dev/hda2 ro quiet splash
> > initrd          /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-28-386
> > savedefault
> > boot
> > =======================
> > and you will need to verify that where in my extract, (hd0,1) is
> > stated, yours must refer to your sda2, but in grub speak
> >
> > which again might be something like (hd0,1) (??). The kernel line will
> > also need to be relevant for your 6.06 stuff - root=/dev/sda2  (??).
> >
> > good luck
> > --
> > ac
>
> Got it to work three different ways:
> 1. I used the "automagic" detect option from Supergrub and it loaded
> the 6.06 LTS grub.
>
> 2. I took the settings for my 6.06 kernel in the 6.06 menu.lst using
> the "edit" command, and then "e"dited an entry in the 7.04 grub to
> successfully boot 6.06 from 7.04 grub.
>
> 3. I tried the copying trick (take entry from 6.06 menu.lst and paste
> into 7.04 menu.lst) and it worked (same action basically as #2 and #1
> ;-).
>
> Question for everyone:
>
> Where does Ubuntu's installer (Feisty (7.04) and Dapper (6.06 LTS)
> place the grub binary by default?
>
> This is how I would like my system to work:
>
> I would like to modify my setup so that I have a "primary" grub which
> can be used to load either of the "secondary" grubs (6.06 and 7.04),
> or, even to load the menu.lst files from the respective
> /boot/grub/menu.lst files.

Second question:

Is it possible (I presume it is but I haven't managed to get the right
syntax yet and it's bed time ;-) to...

have the first grub "chain load" the second grub or the second grub's menu.lst?