first time mepis user...didnt install grub due to previous issues...now what?
Posts: 3
hi all,
after using opensuse and ubuntu, I have decided to try out simplymepis and decided this time i wouldnt install grub.
one of the issues which i came across during the installation was that although it gave me the option to install to a partition, on a drive- it didnt indicate or allow me (it seems) to preserve any existing partitions.
for example i had my 2nd hdd with 2 partitions installed on it. i want to install mepis to the first one, and freebsd to the second.
during install it only gave me an option to use the entire drive- and leave freespace....what is this freespace?...is it a partition?...if it isnt, how do i install to hdb1 instead of just hdb?..thereby preserving hdb2...? opensuse and ubuntu handles this nicely.
my next issue, which is the showstopper for me, is since i had issues with grub before, i didnt want to install it- instead i figured i could just use the default bootloader in windows and select the 2nd HDD to boot from...i seem to be wrong.
so i tried to edit the boot.ini file with bootpart 2.6 and although the program worked, it appears to only apply to partitions and doesnt seem to apply to partitions on a second hdd.
so my question to all is this please....what do i need to do to enable me to boot up mepis which resides on my 2nd hdd- considering that i didnt install grub and would preferably like to leave the mbr alone....
I'm looking forward to any help please.
Thanks all,
Tim
Maybe you'll find a solution
Posts: 4077
Maybe you'll find a solution here: www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.php/Alternative_boot_methods
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Check out Mepis wiki: www.mepis.org/docs
you need a bootloader
Posts: 4864
and if don't use grub you will be really stuck.
you have confused a couple of different issues here
1. there is a choice to install mepis
A using complete drive
B using custom partitions
This choice is where you leave the other partitions alone.
2. grub is needed to start Mepis.
you can load grub for Mepis onto the root of the partition OR into the MBR.
You install grub into the root partition when you are going to use another bootloader. I can't comment on the windows bootloader, I don't do windows.
Where to now?
reboot from the liveCD
install grub into the root of hdb1
try modifying the windows bootloader or use a different bootloader like smart boot manager.