Dual boot Windows 7 (64) and Arch Linux (64) problems

exceta · 2010-01-07 20:13:38

Hello:

I am new to Arch Linux and just finished installing the 64bit on my laptop. It had a prebuilt Windows 7 (64) installed which I kept but split the hdd from 160Gb to 80Gb and 80Gb. I installed Arch there and set 4 partitions, all of them as Logical - a 64 MB ext2 /boot partition; a 512 MB swap partition; a 15 GB root partition; and the rest as my /home partition. My partitions look like this:

             Disk Drive: /dev/sda
                       Size: 160041885696 bytes, 160.0 GB
             Heads: 255   Sectors per Track: 63   Cylinders: 19457

    Name        Flags      Part Type  FS Type          [Label]        Size (MB)
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    sda1                    Primary   Unknown (27)                     12889.02
    sda2        Boot        Primary   NTFS                               106.93
    sda3                    Primary   NTFS             []              73915.11*
    sda5                    Logical   Linux ext2                          65.81*
    sda6                    Logical   Linux                              509.97*
    sda7                    Logical   Linux ext2                       15002.92*
    sda8                    Logical   Linux ext2                       57549.55*

The install was succesful(this was running from the core install cd) and I installed GRUB to my /boot but when I restarted it loaded Windows 7. I have used Knoppix USB disc to boot and see my Arch Linux install files and edited the /boot/gur/menu.lst file.

In Windows I installed EasyBCD 1.7.2 and tried to get NeoGrub bootloader working as a dual boot. I tried getting rid of the boot flag for Windows with cfdisk and setting it to my (Logical) sda5. That did not work. So far the only way I have booted into my Arch Linux install has been by going to the Live CD, choosing "Boot from Existing Linux Install" and editing the command files there.

root  (hd0,4)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sda3 ro
initrd /kernel26.img

My goal is to get a dual boot working for Windows 7 and Arch Linux 64 and continue installing the Xorg and KDE to Arch. I just don't know what the problem is here. I don't mind reinstalling Arch if something went wrong, but I would like to keep my Windows running in order and add Arch on.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

foutrelis · 2010-01-07 20:50:48

Install Grub to the MBR and then add an entry for Windows in /boot/grub/menu.lst. Maybe something like the following:

title Windows 7
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
chainloader +1

exceta · 2010-01-07 22:23:55

I ran the LiveCD and chose "Install to MBR hd0". I ended up with this:

setup hd(0,1)
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists.....yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/iso9660_stage1_5" exists.....yes
Running "embed /boot/grub/iso9660_stage1_5 (hd0,1)".....failed(this is not fatal)
Running "embed /boot/grub/iso9660_stage1_5 (hd16)".....failed(this is not fatal)
Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 d (hd0,1) /boot/grub/stage2 p (hd0,1) boot/grub/menu.lst".....failed

Error 31: File is not sector aligned

My entry for Windows into the menu.lst looks like this:

# (0) Arch Linux x64
title  Arch Linux x64
root   (hd0,4)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/3841273c-d91e-41d6-9dbf-716a15d03a01 ro
initrd /kernel26.img

# (1) Arch Linux x64
title  Arch Linux x64 Fallback
root   (hd0,4)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/3841273c-d91e-41d6-9dbf-716a15d03a01 ro
initrd /kernel26-fallback.img

# (2) Windows 7
title Windows 7
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
makeactive
chainloader +1

samuele.mattiuzzo · 2010-01-07 22:31:34

these are the steps you need to do

1. format your disk with cfdisk:
- first partition goes to windows, flag botable on
-other partitions as you wish. remember to set bootable on also on the partition where / goes

2. reboot with windows 7 usb / cd
3. install windows 7
4. reboot and complete install, configure windows 7, log into it, look at it for the last time
5. reboot, install archlinux

you don't have to touch any flags from windows, or it will fix himself anytime you restart (so it will reinstall himself on the MBR...) just leave him bootable, then install archlinux and grub

exceta · 2010-01-07 22:36:47

Thanks, but I mentioned I don't want to mess with my current Windows installation. Any other ideas?

foutrelis · 2010-01-07 22:55:05

exceta wrote:

I ran the LiveCD and chose "Install to MBR hd0". I ended up with this:
setup hd(0,1)

hd(0,1) would be /dev/sda2, not the MBR. Boot into your Arch installation using the method you mentioned in your original post and then follow the wiki section I linked to above.

exceta · 2010-01-07 23:00:25

Ok. I'll try that now. Thanks.

Edit: I got in, it loaded but when I tried to install grub I got this:

grub> setup (hd0,
Possible partitions are:
Partition num: 0, Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x27
Partition num: 1, Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x7
Partition num: 2, Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x7
Partition num: 4, Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83
Partition num: 5, Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x83
Partition num: 6, Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83
Partition num: 7, Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83

grub>setup (hd0,0)

Error 12: Invalid device requested

I tried (hd0,4) and the same happened.

Last edited by exceta (2010-01-07 23:22:01)

TigTex · 2010-01-08 00:06:34

what about
root (hd0,4) and then
setup (hd0) -> that will install to MBR.

If hd0 fails maybe it's hd1 (bios stuff)

edit to post below: this wasn't a question

Last edited by TigTex (2010-01-08 00:26:27)

bino28 · 2010-01-08 00:21:31

TigTex wrote:

what about
root (hd0,4) and then
setup (hd0) ? -> that will install to MBR.
If hd0 fails maybe it's hd1 (bios stuff)

Yes, setup (hd0) is to MBR.

exceta · 2010-01-08 01:16:17

Thanks TigTex and bino28! That worked. The problem is now when I choose Windows 7 from the Grub Bootloader, it brings up my Acer Recovery Management. It seems Windows doesn't like having the MBR changed. This is what my menu.lst looks like:

title Windows 7
rootmoverify (hd0,0)
makeactive
chainloader +1

Might I have to change the hd0,0 to something else?

Thanks again for fixing that other problem!

foutrelis · 2010-01-08 08:01:18

Try hd(0,1) and if that doesn't work, hd(0,2).

Good luck.

Arch Linux

#1 2010-01-07 20:13:38

Dual boot Windows 7 (64) and Arch Linux (64) problems

#2 2010-01-07 20:50:48

Re: Dual boot Windows 7 (64) and Arch Linux (64) problems

#3 2010-01-07 22:23:55

Re: Dual boot Windows 7 (64) and Arch Linux (64) problems

#4 2010-01-07 22:31:34

Re: Dual boot Windows 7 (64) and Arch Linux (64) problems

#5 2010-01-07 22:36:47

Re: Dual boot Windows 7 (64) and Arch Linux (64) problems

#6 2010-01-07 22:55:05

Re: Dual boot Windows 7 (64) and Arch Linux (64) problems

#7 2010-01-07 23:00:25

Re: Dual boot Windows 7 (64) and Arch Linux (64) problems

#8 2010-01-08 00:06:34

Re: Dual boot Windows 7 (64) and Arch Linux (64) problems

#9 2010-01-08 00:21:31

Re: Dual boot Windows 7 (64) and Arch Linux (64) problems

#10 2010-01-08 01:16:17

Re: Dual boot Windows 7 (64) and Arch Linux (64) problems

#11 2010-01-08 08:01:18

Re: Dual boot Windows 7 (64) and Arch Linux (64) problems

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