Grub.... Error 21?
Posts: 3
I have been trying to dual boot mepis, and windows. new to the whole linux thing, and feel fairly decent about my skills at working with computers. i have installed grub in the MBR and evertime i get this
Grub Loading Stage 1.5
Grub Loading please wait....
Error 21
I don't have a clue as to what Error 21 is, i have installed mepis to hdb, and i have windows on hda. Everytime i do this it freezes at the above spot. I tried waiting to see if anything else would happen. I can always restart and boot onto the Mepis CD. Everytime I install the Grub i have to go back and fix the MBR to boot back into windows because it just freezes at Error 21, but I really want to dual boot. I am already after a day beginning to really enjoy the whole mepis setup. If you need more info, or this doesn't make sense let me know. I will keep trying to get it up and running on a Grub dual boot.
Thanks for anyhelp. Mepis is great. I can see a time soon when windows will no longer be on my computer, and i look forward ot it 
thanks
Posts: 3
it worked out great. you guys are a huge help. thanks for everything, and i am really enjoying getting everything working great.
GRUB error 21
Posts: 3
I have windows vista RC1 and I have Ubuntu Linux on my external hard drive and whenever I boot up my laptop I get the Error 21. It's only when my external is not on or is not connected. I want to have it so that whenever my external is not connected it loads up windows and when it is connected then I have the choice between ubuntu and vista. Also one more thing, I know this is off-topic but after I installed ubuntu I try to login. I can type my username but I can't type my password. Is it something to do with a network connection or is it just the fact that I put it on my external. I really need the help. Thank you
Well, I did say everyone was welcome :)
Posts: 1186
Hi Skylinelover24,
This is a MEPIS forum, not an Ubuntu forum, but that's OK.
GRUB gets the memu list from the Linux /boot/grub directory. If the Linux disk is not present, then you should get an Error 21. GRUB doesn't know what to do.
You could get around this by installing Linux on the internal hard drive. Of course, we think you should install MEPIS, instead of Ubuntu.
Alternately, you could use the Windows loader, maybe. If the Vista loader works the same as the XP loader, you could add an entry at the end of boot.ini, that would "chainload" Linux. The Win loader shouldn't care if the disk is not always present.
I have no idea why Ubuntu won't let you enter your password.
Warren
Unfortunately I understand
Posts: 4077
Unfortunately I understand that Vista loader has changed. I wrote this for XP: www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.php/Windows_boot_loader
But when I search for info about Vista loader to make sure it works I found that Vista doesn't use "boot.ini" anymore.
--
Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs
Error 21 Reply
Posts: 3
My only problem is is that I can't partition my internal hard drive. I am even using PartitionMagic and it still won't let me partition it. I can partition my external but my internal is only one partition
Try This
Posts: 5513
I did a very quick Google Search for "windows vista disk partitioning" (no quotes) and this is one article I found. I do not run Vista, I have not tested what is mentioned in the article, so I cannot say at all whether it works well, badly, or if it will cause cancer in lab rats. Please let us know if it is at all useful
How to resize a partition in Windows Vista 16Feb07
http://vistarewired.com/2007/02/16/how-to-resize-a-partition-in-windows-vista/
Jon
No computer is magic, no operating system is magic, no website is magic. They all require human interaction, thought, and responsibility to work.
Error 21
Posts: 3
I partitioned my external but my internal hard drive cannot partition. I set aside 60 GB for my backup files on Vista but the rest I partitioned for Ubuntu. Is it ok if I just take all my recovery stuff put it on my Vista Drive and just format my external? Is there anything that I might expect to be ruined if I format my external with a little bit of the GRUB on it?
Error 21
Posts: 1
Hi.. I have the same problem...
My NP notebook wont start if my usb external drive is not connected.
Did you find any solution? Or I must install ubuntu on my internal hard disk?
thankx in advance...
21 : Selected disk does not
Posts: 472
21 : Selected disk does not exist. This error is returned if the device part of a device- or full file name refers to a disk or BIOS device that is not present or not recognized by the BIOS in the system.
Google on: grub error 21
See: http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-grub/2003-02/msg00082.html
http://www.mepis.org/node/5782
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?threadid=338856