GRUB -- how to make the secondary drive the primary boot drive

[Goh Lip]

On 06/01/2011 01:01 PM, Robert Swanson wrote:
> 	I am running Kubuntu 6.06 and I have a problem with grub.  I was originally
> running the system as a multi-boot system.  I had other systems on my primary
> drive, hda, and Kubuntu is on my secondary, hdb.  The problem is that my
> primary drive is dying and I am having a problem configuring grub so that I
> can remove the primary drive and make the secondary drive my boot drive.
> 	I attempted to install grub on my secondary drive, but the problem is that
> when I pull the primary drive, I can't get the system to boot.  I have tried
> putting the secondary drive on the primary cable and it still wouldn't boot.
> 	I have a boot partition on hdb with what I believe are all the grub files, it
> is also set as the boot drive.
> 	Any help to enable me to successfully remove the primary drive and make the
> secondary my boot drive would be appreciated.  I have all my files backed up
> and am all ready to go.
> Bob
>


Bob, first, you need to be able to boot up Kubuntu 6.06 on hdb, 
therefore you may need to connect back hda to do that.

Then after booting up 6.06, check if Kubuntu device is /dev/hdb or 
/dev/sdb by "sudo fdisk -l" and recheck with /etc/fstab too. (Best to 
pull out all external drives or thumbs before booting.)

Assuming it's /dev/hdb, then at terminal,
sudo grub-install /dev/hdb

Go to menu.lst and modify all instances of 'hdb to 'hda'
and (hd1,x) to (hd0,x)   {whatever the 'x'}.
Save.

Shut down and remove hda.
'Rejig' jumper wire of hdb to make sure it is set as 'master' and not 
'slave'. (This is more important in ATA drives than just primary cable)
Connect to the primary cable.
Boot.

Good luck - Goh Lip

ps: 6.06? okay.