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dual boot linux mint with windows xp

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 9:03 pm
by tsea
hello friends, I have installed Linux mint 14 on my computer along with windows xp(already installed and working). i created four separate partitions for /boot, /, /home and a swap partition while installing mint and under 'device for boot loader installation' i chose device corresponding to /boot i.e i installed GRUB on separate partition. the tutorial on net that i was referring to had a program 'easybcd' which was to be used to make an entry for Linux mint in window 7's boot menu. later i found that this program does not support windows xp. so how to make such an entry in window xp's boot menu so that i get choice to select the os during boot?? please help me friends and give your valuable responses. after looking at some other internet source i have also tried to edit boot.ini file in windows xp and put an entry ' c:\grldr="Linux mint 14(cinnamon)" '. window gives os selection choice at startup now but soon i pick 'Linux mint 14(cinnamon)', it shows an error message :

windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<windows root>\system32\hal.dll
please re-install a copy of the above file.

and then when i click enter it boots to windows xp. i think it could not locate GRUB and the correction i made in boot.ini file is to check for GRUB at some other location. please friends fix this problem. thanks in advance.

Re: dual boot linux mint with windows xp

Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 4:15 am
by PiMinto
Where did you install grub to? you can't edit any Windows settings/files to change o/s booting.

Re: dual boot linux mint with windows xp

Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 4:59 am
by slipstick
You need to copy the first sector from the boot partition to a file in the Windows C:\ directory and then reference that file in boot.ini. For instructions:

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... i+#p653348

Re: dual boot linux mint with windows xp

Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 8:48 am
by tsea
slipstick wrote:You need to copy the first sector from the boot partition to a file in the Windows C:\ directory and then reference that file in boot.ini. For instructions:

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... i+#p653348

thank you very much slipstick... the problem has been completely fixed by your help..thanks again :)

Re: dual boot linux mint with windows xp

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:27 am
by PiMinto
apologies, I was not aware of this!