Re: Backing up my system completely
eddieg780: “Looks like I have a lot of reading to do. I know it will be worth it in the end.”
Well, to simplify the GRUB bootloader part of this ...
Conceptually, just keep a few key things in mind.
Let's say you have a Kubuntu installation on partition (hdx,y) (in GRUB notation).
For most users, that means your main GRUB files are there also. You can see them in /boot/grub.
To make GRUB boot that Kubuntu OS, you need to install GRUB to the Master Boot Record of some hard drive in your system, usually the hard drive that is set to boot first in BIOS boot order. Let's say it is hard drive hdz.
To hook GRUB up so it boots Kubuntu, you simply install GRUB to the MBR of hdz as follows:
grub> root (hdx,y) # tells GRUB where to get the GRUB files to use here
grub> setup (hdz) # installs GRUB in the MBR of hdz and “hooks things up” properly
grub> quit # quits this in a safe, clean manner
That's it!
The other thing you will see is booting Kubuntu by chainloading.
To do that, GRUB must be installed to the boot sector of the Kubuntu partition; the boot sector is the first 512 bytes of the Kubuntu partition (just like a MBR is the first 512 bytes of the hard drive).
To install GRUB so you can boot Kubuntu by chainloading, you simply do:
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx,y)
grub> quit
Now, whenever you wish to boot Kubuntu by chainloading you do:
root (hdx,y)
chainloader +1
boot
That's it. Basically quite simple. It's only the * logistics * that you have to deal with now and then. For example, getting the grub> prompt; using a live Kubuntu CD to access the partition and get a grub> prompt; etc. The goal of the logistics is always the same: to get the GRUB prompt grub>. Simple.
But, anyway, conceptually, that's all there is to it.
As a technical note, you can now see why it is always a good idea, convenient, and safe to install GRUB “everywhere”! That way, it'll be there for you, and you will have many options for booting Kubuntu (e.g., in an emergency). You can have the installer put GRUB in a MBR, or in a root partition with Kubuntu (i.e., in (hdx,y)). If you happen to do this manually, it can be done all at once:
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdz)
grub> quit
(in a lot of cases, with just one hard drive, x = z = 0)
When this is done, we say that GRUB is installed to the MBR of hdz and it “points at” Kubuntu in (hdx,y).
or, GRUB is installed to the boot sector of hdx and it “point at” Kubuntu in (hdx,y).
Which simply means that GRUB was installed (set up and hooked up properly) * using the GRUB files located at /boot/grub in the Kubuntu on (hdx,y) *.
So, conceptually it's simple:
> Using the GRUB files in your Kubuntu partition, you want to install GRUB to a MBR of a hard drive (usually, the hard drive BIOS boots from).
> And, maybe also to install GRUB to the boot sector of the Kubuntu partition (in case you ever need/want to chainload Kubuntu).
> And, finally, you've got some basic logistics to get the GRUB prompt and to use a few commands (rules, syntax, tricks, etc.).
eddieg780: “Looks like I have a lot of reading to do. I know it will be worth it in the end.”
Well, to simplify the GRUB bootloader part of this ...
Conceptually, just keep a few key things in mind.
Let's say you have a Kubuntu installation on partition (hdx,y) (in GRUB notation).
For most users, that means your main GRUB files are there also. You can see them in /boot/grub.
To make GRUB boot that Kubuntu OS, you need to install GRUB to the Master Boot Record of some hard drive in your system, usually the hard drive that is set to boot first in BIOS boot order. Let's say it is hard drive hdz.
To hook GRUB up so it boots Kubuntu, you simply install GRUB to the MBR of hdz as follows:
grub> root (hdx,y) # tells GRUB where to get the GRUB files to use here
grub> setup (hdz) # installs GRUB in the MBR of hdz and “hooks things up” properly
grub> quit # quits this in a safe, clean manner
That's it!
The other thing you will see is booting Kubuntu by chainloading.
To do that, GRUB must be installed to the boot sector of the Kubuntu partition; the boot sector is the first 512 bytes of the Kubuntu partition (just like a MBR is the first 512 bytes of the hard drive).
To install GRUB so you can boot Kubuntu by chainloading, you simply do:
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx,y)
grub> quit
Now, whenever you wish to boot Kubuntu by chainloading you do:
root (hdx,y)
chainloader +1
boot
That's it. Basically quite simple. It's only the * logistics * that you have to deal with now and then. For example, getting the grub> prompt; using a live Kubuntu CD to access the partition and get a grub> prompt; etc. The goal of the logistics is always the same: to get the GRUB prompt grub>. Simple.
But, anyway, conceptually, that's all there is to it.
As a technical note, you can now see why it is always a good idea, convenient, and safe to install GRUB “everywhere”! That way, it'll be there for you, and you will have many options for booting Kubuntu (e.g., in an emergency). You can have the installer put GRUB in a MBR, or in a root partition with Kubuntu (i.e., in (hdx,y)). If you happen to do this manually, it can be done all at once:
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdz)
grub> quit
(in a lot of cases, with just one hard drive, x = z = 0)
When this is done, we say that GRUB is installed to the MBR of hdz and it “points at” Kubuntu in (hdx,y).
or, GRUB is installed to the boot sector of hdx and it “point at” Kubuntu in (hdx,y).
Which simply means that GRUB was installed (set up and hooked up properly) * using the GRUB files located at /boot/grub in the Kubuntu on (hdx,y) *.
So, conceptually it's simple:
> Using the GRUB files in your Kubuntu partition, you want to install GRUB to a MBR of a hard drive (usually, the hard drive BIOS boots from).
> And, maybe also to install GRUB to the boot sector of the Kubuntu partition (in case you ever need/want to chainload Kubuntu).
> And, finally, you've got some basic logistics to get the GRUB prompt and to use a few commands (rules, syntax, tricks, etc.).
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