Bootloader and multi-boot question

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wdstudios
Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 8:53 pm

Bootloader and multi-boot question

Post by wdstudios »

My desktop runs a triple-boot configuration with Linux Min 19, Windows 8.1, and Windows XP x64 Edition. Whenever I nuke the hard drive and reinstall everything, I must do so in a specific order because of how the bootloaders behave. GRUB (the Linux bootloader) can see Windows installations, but Windows bootloaders cannot see Linux; furthermore, bootloaders from newer versions of Windows can see older versions of Windows, but bootloaders from older versions of Windows cannot see newer ones. Whenever a new OS is installed, its bootloader overwrites the previous one. Ergo, I always have to install XP first, then 8.1, and then finally Linux. If I install them in any other order, one or more OS will become inaccessible. Also, I can never just go directly to the XP partition. If I want to start up XP, I have to select Windows 8.1 from the GRUB menu, then pick "previous version of Windows" from the 8.1 bootloader, then pick Windows 8.1 AGAIN from the GRUB menu.

If I wanted to swap out XP x64 in favor of ReactOS... how would the bootloaders handle it? Can the ROS bootloader see Win 8.1 and Linux? Would the Win 8.1 bootloader see ROS as an earlier version of Windows?
Illen
Posts: 49
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2017 7:12 pm

Re: Bootloader and multi-boot question

Post by Illen »

wdstudios wrote: Wed May 22, 2019 2:33 am Can the ROS bootloader see Win 8.1 and Linux?
The setup will likely fail to properly recognize these, so it can't by default. But you can easily add the BootMGR and GRUB entries to FreeLDR boot menu by editing freeldr.ini (after installation). For example, if you have ROS on first partition, BootMGR is on partition 2, GRUB is on partition 3, and all partitions are bootable, then you do it like this:

Code: Select all

[Operating Systems]
ReactOS="ReactOS"
BootMGR="Windows 8.1 Boot Manager"
GRUB="GRUB Loader"

[ReactOS]
BootType=Windows2003
SystemPath=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\ReactOS

[BootMGR]
BootType=Partition
BootDrive=hd0
BootPartition=2

[GRUB]
BootType=Partition
BootDrive=hd0
BootPartition=3
Quim
Posts: 257
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 11:45 pm

Re: Bootloader and multi-boot question

Post by Quim »

We needs tests...
It is assumed that ReactOS can recognize and be booted using Windows XP bootloader, Windows Vista,7,8,10 bootloaders seems not to be recognizable by FreeLoader...

A test: What about booting ROS using DOS, FreeDOS and Windows 9x bootloaders?
Can ROS recognize Windows 9x bootloaders in order to make dual boot ReactOS /Windows 95/98/ME ?

Or maybe using linux GRUB in order to boot all these OSes (GNU/Linux distro + ReactOS + Windows XP + Windows 7 + Windows 8 + Windows 10). :?:
https://jira.reactos.org/browse/CORE-5463
https://jira.reactos.org/browse/CORE-15563
https://jira.reactos.org/browse/CORE-5943


And if you add Plop Boot Manager on old computers that cannot boot LiveUSBs, you will have another bootloader...
https://forum.plop.at/index.php/topic,1840.0.html
https://jira.reactos.org/browse/CORE-14868
erkinalp
Posts: 861
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 5:55 pm
Location: Izmir, TR

Re: Bootloader and multi-boot question

Post by erkinalp »

FreeLDR can boot Linux kernels (limited to 32-bit bzimage ones) and multiboot-compliant executables directly.
-uses Ubuntu+GNOME 3 GNU/Linux
-likes Free (as in freedom) and Open Source Detergents
-favors open source of Windows 10 under GPL2
Quim
Posts: 257
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 11:45 pm

Re: Bootloader and multi-boot question

Post by Quim »

erkinalp wrote: Sun May 26, 2019 5:00 pm FreeLDR can boot Linux kernels (limited to 32-bit bzimage ones) and multiboot-compliant executables directly.
Does FreeLoader supports booting Windows 9x(95,98,ME) and Windows 2000,XP,2003 ?
What kind of modifications needs in order to boot Windows Vista,7,8,81,10 ?

One thing pending is to have Plop full support, by its developer (if Elmar some day submit FreeLdr patches)....
https://jira.reactos.org/browse/CORE-14868
erkinalp
Posts: 861
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 5:55 pm
Location: Izmir, TR

Re: Bootloader and multi-boot question

Post by erkinalp »

You can boot GRUB 2 (you can use a GUI plug-in with that) with FreeLDR and vice versa.
-uses Ubuntu+GNOME 3 GNU/Linux
-likes Free (as in freedom) and Open Source Detergents
-favors open source of Windows 10 under GPL2
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