Where to install grub

sgage said:

Good luck! Just know that it's totally possible - I've been dual booting multiple Windows and multiple Linuxes for over 20 years. Once you have a clear mental model of what's going on (and the right bootable tools) you can configure and fix things any which way.

I've never been able to get my head around grub. Don't know why. I have multiple Windows 10 and 1 Windows 7 partition and I would really like to install at least one Linux distro.

It would be very, very appreciated if you could post details like your actual grub code and where you store the grub executables. I figure that I can use your code as a guide and modify it to suit. Also, how do you make sure that a Linux install does not affect the existing Windows installs?

Right now I'm using EasyBCD to manage the different Windows partitions. Can the Windows multi-boot menu and grub co-exist? Which runs first when the system first powers up?

I would be very appreciative if you can help me here.

Hi there

@x509

Typically in a dual boot (triple/quadruple etc) system Grub will start up first and then select the OS you want from the menu -- or you can have a default OS to boot -- see the doc. You should install the Windows OS FIRST as Windows install will kill the Linux boot manager !!!!!.

@ThijsL202

for MBR systems -- on the Linux system the bootloader should be installed into /boot. On UEFI systems install it into /boot/EFI (which should have the boot flags set to boot,esp when creating the partition).

EFI : as root (or Sudo)

#mkdir /boot/EFI
#mount /dev/sda1 /boot/EFI
# grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/EFI --bootloader-id=GRUB
#grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

To add Windows install os-prober then update bootloader and grub again

# grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/EFI --bootloader-id=GRUB
# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Non EFI systems (MBR)

#grub-install /dev/sda where /dev/sda is the target disk --NOT the partition !!!!!!)
#grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

When you install grub most Linux distros will ask if you want grub to detect other OS's such as Windows. The whole process should be simple - then at boot you will be prompted to boot into Windows or Linux.

Personally if you just want to have practice at installing / using Linux systems I'd start by using them in a Virtual Machine --that way you won't hose up any existing Windows system -- and if the process goes wrong just delete and start again.

Simply first install Virtual BOX (Oracle) VMplayer(VMWare) or HYPER-V (enable from Windows -- must have Windows PRO or above for this - it is possible on HOME but fiddly !!!) as your "Virtualisation platform" -- I'd probably avoid HYPER-V to start with especially if you aren't used to running Virtual machines. These are all FREE software.

Then with either VBOX or VMplayer use the Linux iso as the install media and just run the "Create Virtual Machine" wizard on either of those platforms. ---job done.

Virtual Machines these days are quite efficient and certainly give you loads of experience in testing different OS'es etc. Great learning tool as well.

If you have a decently powerful CPU - 2nd level Virtualisation is also possible -- i.e "nested" virtual machines.

You can for example create a Linux Arch Virtual machine, within that virtual machine enable KVM/QEMU and then run a Windows Virtual Machine on the Linux Virtual machine !!! Don't expect super stellar performance though on the 2nd level VM !!!!!! Good for learning though.

Have fun -- good things to play with when you can't go out (Lockdowns etc) -- passes time quickly !!!

BTW on Virtual Machines you can use UEFI and MBR versions even on an old BIOS / MBR machine so again good for testing.

If using KVM/QEMU and you want EFI versions (including Windows VM's) install package OVMF on the Linux Host.





Cheers
jimbo