Linux Mint Windows XP Dual boot
Installing Windows on a Linux Mint Computer and then fixing MBR after Windows install
Many, who do a dual boot with any Linux and Windows will face the problem of Master Boot Record (MBR). In easier words, one of them (Windows or Linux) wont boot after installing/uninstalling the other. This is a small guide I hope many would find it useful.
Have you tried the "Boot-Repair-Disk" utility?
Download the tool (ISO file) and burn an image CD. Then boot from that CD. Download it from here: http://sourceforge.net/p/boot-repair-cd/home/Home/
FIXING WINDOWS BOOT AFTER UNINSTALLING LINUX
For Windows XP: Boot the installation CD and select repair. Enter your windows installation drive number (shown there) and enter Administrative Password. Now run these two commands there one after the other — “fixmbr” and “fixboot”. Optionally some people also run “bootcfg /rebuild”. You’re Done.
For Windows Vista: Boot from the installation CD/DVD and enter “Repair Windows” link at the left hand bottom of the dialog. Then go to command prompt . There run “bootrec /fixmbr” and “bootrec /fixboot” commands one after the other. That does it.
FIXING GRUB AFTER INSTALLING WINDOWS
1.Boot from a LiveCD and open the terminal..
2.There enter sudo grub to enter GRUB prompt.
3.Type find /boot/grub/stage1 to find out your Linux partition.
4.Then use the device name that was output in the next command, say (hd0,1). Then the command would be root (hd0,1).
5. After this, say setup (hd0). Replace hd0 with your hard drive.
Now your GRUB should be installed fine. However, your windows’ boot entry may not be in GRUB. You may choose to restore it while still being in your LiveCD or after booting into your hard-drive installed Linux.
To restore it:
1. Open /boot/grub/menu.lst of your Linux partition, in a text editor and get to the bottom where all the list of options to boot are found.
2. Add the following lines with your Windows name in the title and replace (hd0,0) with your own hard drive and partition:
title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
root (hd0,0)
makeactive
chainloader+1
3. Save and reboot.
EDIT:
ADDING WINDOWS XP (AND OLDER) OPTIONS TO VISTA’S BOOT LOADER
After installing Windows XP after Windows Vista and after restoring Vista’s bootloader one may find that xp or older windows’ options will not be there. For this please make use of a software called EasyBCD. The installation and operation are self-explainatory. Just click on Add/Remove Entries and add your OS entry. You may also add your linux and mac entries to it. Also there is an option for having a common bootloader using NeoGrub.