Install Error Need Help ( solved )

mgmguy1 · n00b Joined: 31 Oct 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Norwood Pa

Team,
Lastnight I tried to install linux in 2 ways.
1st I tried to do it via GUI. I choose to format and choose hd7 as /root and
When I got I got to the part that said said they had gauthered all the info needed it sat and formating HD7 for like 2 hours. So I rebooted only to get a Grub error so I can't log into windows now.

So I rebooted PC again and used Text install. In here, I was asked where I wanted to place grub I had a choice between HD7 or MBR. I choose HD7 then when it asked me to choose where root was ( /) I said HD7 and asked to format it. In the text install gui it's been at 11% formating since lastnight.

This is the seconed time I have try to install this I need help.
Please advise, My wife is flippen out !

here is my fdisk-l info

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 843 6373048+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/hda2 844 14713 104857200 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda3 14714 20673 45057600 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda5 14714 14783 529168+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris <---Swap
/dev/hda6 14784 15339 4203328+ 83 Linux Home
/dev/hda7 * 15340 20673 40325008+ 83 Linux <---Root
_________________
If you don't vote don't complain

jeanfrancis · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:02 am Post subject:

Hi!

Grub should be installed in the MBR. Otherwise, it will not be used at the system boot.

For your formatting problem, I have no clue. I never used the GUI and text installers as they are in development and don't work perfectly. The best way to install Gentoo is the command-line (manual) install, and it will always be as that is the best way to understand what you are doing and to learn Linux if you are a beginner...

cyrillic · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:25 am Post subject:

I agree with jeanfrancis about installing manually. You can't really tell what is working (or not) when you use the automated installer.

My guess is that if formatting takes more than a couple of minutes, it is a sign that your harddrive is on its last legs. One way you could check the drive is like this :

mgmguy1 · n00b Joined: 31 Oct 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Norwood Pa

Thanks guys, I was able to fix my issue by cleaning the smudges off my cd and useing the Text install.
My only issue now is to fix Grub to boot my windows C: drive VS my HP recovery D: drive

All I need to do now is edit my /etc/grub.conf file to look like this right ?

title=WindowsXP
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
makeactive
chainloader +1
_________________
If you don't vote don't complain

jeanfrancis · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:45 am Post subject:

Yes you're right.

My grub.conf file is in /boot/grub and not in /etc, but yours may be there...

defenderBG · l33t Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 817

I would think it must be on hd(0,0) because grub starts from 0...

I am not sure if having ' ' after rootnoverify is acceptable... I think it should be without the space, because once I had that problem, might be so that the never versions don't have it.

jeanfrancis · Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:10 am Post subject: