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Bug#269351: os-prober: Should add GRUB map command for Windows 98 on /dev/hdb



Package: os-prober
Severity: normal

Hi,

I used the new Debian installer (around beta4 version) to install Linux
on a computer with a second IDE hard drive with Windows 98 on it.
Debian installer correctly detected the OS on /dev/hdb1, and added an
entry in /boot/grub/menu.lst.  However, I can't boot Windows 98 from
grub menu.

Today I finally have time to hunt down this problem:  It appears that
DOS/Windows can only boot from the first disk, and the bootloader had to
do some bios magic to satisfy Windows (lilo need a similar command to do
the samething).  In my case (two IDE hard drives), two lines using
``map'' command added to /boot/grub/menu.lst before the ``root'' line in
Windows 98 stanza solve the problem, the stanza now looks like:
    title       Windows 98
    map         (hd0) (hd1)
    map         (hd1) (hd0)
    root        (hd1,0)
    savedefault
    chainloader +1
Please see grub manual 4.2.6 for details.

I am not sure if this is fixed in RC1, but looking at the BTS I doubt
it.  Sorry I don't have time to test again with RC1.  Also, this perhaps
should be labeled as severity wishlist, but now this makes an entry in
grub menu unusable.  It would be better to not detect Windows 98 on
/dev/hdb at all, than to detect it but generate a broken entry in boot
menu.

Ming
2004.08.31

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Physics is much too hard for physicists.                 --- David Hilbert
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