[LBo] installing GRUB to the MBR

[Anita Lewis]

Simon wrote:

> I now got rid of the Kubuntu partition and have only a new install of
> slackware and winXP left an my HD (win=hda1, slack=hda5). But because i
> somehow was happier with grub, i didn't install lilo new this time and what
> i tried to do is install Grub to my MBR using an Ubuntu LiveCD.
> I mounted my hda1 partition which carries the MBR for i dont have a boot
> partition to /mnt and tried several ways as they are described on the
> internet.
> I simply tried grub-install hda1, which didn't work out, but this never
> worked out for me so i didn't wonder.
> Next I tried sudo chroot /mnt which didn't work out either. (It says:
> '"/bin/bash" not found' or something like that)
> and then i tried
> sudo grub
> find /boot/grub/stage1 which retourned "file not found.
> and when i enter root in the grub prompt and hit the tab key, it says
> "possible commands: root rootnoverify" or sth like this.

There is more to booting with grub than just putting grub in the MBR.
That is what you tried to do.  You also need a directory on /dev/hda5 in
the /boot directory for some grub files.  That is why you did not find
anything with that 'find command.  Also, the MBR is not in /dev/hda1.
The correct installation command would be 'grub-install /dev/hda'

Your best bet is most likely to boot into Slackware and then install
grub from there. The grub package is on the /extra directory of the
installation disks for Slackware.  I'm not sure which disk that is.  You
can also pick up the grub package here:
http://packages.slackware.it/package.php?q=current/grub-0.97-i486-3

So, you need to boot into Slack and get that package or have it, like on
your windows partition if you are not connected to the Internet in
Slack.  How to boot?  First install LILO.  To do that put in the
Slackware install cd and in the setup screen go down to "Configure" -
Reconfigure your Linux System.  You will then see this series of things:
http://www.slackbook.org/html/book.html#AEN1100  Installing LILO is part
of that.  After you install LILO, boot to Slack and then install GRUB
from there.

I think this might be the easiest way to do this.  You could actually
install grub in the MBR with the Ubuntu disk, but then you would have to
use the grub commandline to boot to Slackware and install grub from
there anyway.

Anita



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