Problems with GRUB

[lazyrunner50]

I have installed Fedora Core 3 and WinXP SP2 on my machine, and they were working happily with eachother (except for the fact that I have not found all the RPMs for my Linux version...which is a whole other problem...). Anyway, I was messing around with the settings with my video card (X800 XT PCI-E) while in XP.

I changed the core speed of the video card using the overclocking utility provided in the driver for the card and rebooted into XP. After rebooting I noticed some splotches on the screen (which meant that the speed of the card was too high for the image to be shown properly). I went into the utility, changed the speed back to the defaults and then rebooted. Upon rebooting instead of being greeted by the usual GRUB menu which allows me to choose which operating system I want, I got an error saying "Error loading operating system". Does anyone know how to fix this? I imagine it has something to do with GRUB getting corrupted or something. I am guessing that what I have to do is boot off the linux DVD I used to install Fedora, and try to reinstall GRUB..??

This leads to another problem. I was going to try to reinstall GRUB, but I only have a USB keyboard. Usually this is not a problem. I have been able to hit delete and get into the BIOS to change settings and to all the other options at boot time. Occasionally my keyboard will act up though nad when I try to hit delete or for that matter any other key, the computer does not respond. I know that the keyboard is powered up and working properly because when I try to hit one of the keys the lights on num lock, caps lock, and scroll lock all light up. These keys don't normally light up whenever I press a key, but the fact that they light up when I am trying to hit a key during boot time tells me that the keyboard has power, (and so should be recognized by the computer).

As this is kind of long, to summarize:
1. Do I need to reinstall GRUB to get rid of "Error loading operating system"
2. How do I make the computer recognize my keyboard at boot time and why should it work some times but not others?

 

[roycrom]

I think windows gives you that error when trying to boot so it looks like when you boot, its trying to go straight to windows instead of the grub OS choice screen. It looks like your bootable partition has been changed somehow, I would run fdisk affter booting from a livecd(or your Fed Core CD) and check what partition is set to be bootable. Windows usually resides on /dev/hda1, and grub (/boot) on /dev/hda2 if you have just one disk. (this is how most distro docs put it anyway).

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Somethings come from nothing, nothing seems to come from somethings - SFA - Guerilla

roycrom

 

[redletterrocko]

roycrom is probably right with the bootable partition error. However, I don't partition like he does (nor do I often use dual boot systems, windows dual boot on only one of the 8 systems I have at home). What I would recommend is to boot a rescue option from the dvd (I usually end up using Toms root boot) and after log in, mount your linux partition, and chroot to the root of your hard drive (essentially emulating a login into linux) and then reinstall grub. I use debian, so reinstallation is as easy ast apt-get, but Red Hat has a similar .rpm, so reinstall shouldn't be difficult. Then reboot and watch as your problem is fixed. Unlike roycrom's suggestion, grub should be installed on your MBR, not /boot.