Installing Windows XP after Linux Ubuntu, how can I change the bootloader to get a boot choice GRUB screen ...

The problem that I am having is that I had first installed windows XP then Linux Ubuntu and had the GRUB bootloader pop up when I started the computer and could choose my boot options hda1 for WinXP and hda2 for Ubuntu. I however have recently wiped out Win XP and re-installed it. Now Win XP automatically boots. My guess is that somehow the NTLDR or whatever it is is that Windows boots from has taken precidence. I however want to change back to the GRUB and have it take precidence to give me that choice of which OS to load. Right now both OS's seems stable but I can not get directly into the Linux, (but an access the HD using a Linux MEPIS CD). Could someone tell me which file to edit and what to put in it, (and where to put it if need be), to get my nice little GRUB back? I have been doing some reading on it and it is a very broad topic and I have not found any explicit tutorials without having to make a boot disk, (which I will do if I have to), but it is complex. Another way?Installing Windows XP after Linux Ubuntu, how can I change the bootloader to get a boot choice GRUB screen ...
Re-install your Linux and it should automatically detect that a Windows installation is present and prompt you to set up grub as the default boot loader instead of going directly to the Windows boot.

Windows does not recognize that there is any such thing as Linux or a EXT2 or EXT3 partition or even a Linux swap partition therefor Windows will always try to take over everything.

(It is Microsoft's adle minded way of ignoring the existence of Linux and open source in a childish attempt to create incompatibility).

Linux on the other hand does not ignore Windows or FAT, FAT32 or NTFS partitions.



Addendem,

Yes, you are going to have to use a Linux boot disk or boot cd because Windows will not allow you to access the Linux partition and Windows will always boot first.

Yes, it can be done since it is obviously done during the automated installation process of Linux.

Personally I don't know any way to do what you are asking.

The only way I presently know is to install grub and set it to take over the boot handeling functions is to set it up on the Linux installation.

However here is a link to a grub manual installation guide and I will have to try it myself just for fun.

http://orgs.man.ac.uk/documentation/grubInstalling Windows XP after Linux Ubuntu, how can I change the bootloader to get a boot choice GRUB screen ...
You can try this alternative, although i'm not sure about ubuntu though:



1. Boot from Ubuntu install cd and boot into rescue mode/command line mode. You can check the help once the install cd boots up and shows you the list of options. Another option is to boot up the livecd and start a root shell. The purpose is to get a shell (command line) with root privileges.



2. At the command line type 'grub-install --recheck /dev/hda'. This will reinstall GRUB into your hard drive's MBR.



3. Reboot and grub will load. If your linux entry is missing somehow, press escape and you'll be at the command line. Then follow this guide [1].



4. If your windows entry is missing, add the following lines _after_ booting into your linux to /boot/grub/grub.conf at the end:



title Windows XP Professional

rootnoverify (hd0,1)

chainloader +1

boot



Replace (hd0,1) with your hard drive. Remember the numbering in grub starts with 0 so hd0,1 is, in your case hda2. Therefore you'll have to write (hd0,0) for hda1.



Hope that helps. If this does not work, there still is another (tedious) method. Post a message if it does not.