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Linux first or GRUB first ?

 
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# 1  
Old 01-04-2014
Linux first or GRUB first ?
Hi everyone,
I am having trouble of understanding the concept of GRUB bootloader in Linux.

My questions are-:


  • Do we install GRUB first and then install Linux ?
  • Does GRUB act as a bootloader for Windows if we are trying to dual boot Windows and Linux ? Or does GRUB load the Windows bootloader once I select Windows from the GRUB boot menu ?
  • Do we install GRUB in the active partition of our HDD overwriting the Windows bootloader ?
  • Now most previous versions of GRUB did not use to support UEFI booting. As a workaround can I add Linux to the bootmenu of Windows ? I guess that will work since the Windows loader can boot UEFI and Legacy both.

Just need some help to get my head around these concepts.
# 2  
Old 01-04-2014
  • GRUB is usually installed as part of any Linux distribution installation.
  • GRUB will chainload your Windows bootloader.
  • The master boot record (MBR) will locate the active partition and load it's boot code. You can install grub into the MBR, or change your active partition. Nothing is generally written into your Windows partitions.
  • This sounds like grub4dos ... You can insert that into your windows bootloader.
This User Gave Thanks to neutronscott For This Post:
sreyan32
# 3  
Old 01-04-2014
As a part of the linux installation process GRUB will be configured and installed. It will search your disk and find other OS, including them into its boot menu. If windows is found, GRUB will "chainload" to its bootloader. You can install GRUB both to the disk MBR or to your active partition's BR. With UEFI, I can't help, but I guess recent GRUBs do support it.
This User Gave Thanks to RudiC For This Post:
sreyan32
# 4  
Old 01-04-2014
Quote:
Originally Posted by neutronscott
  • GRUB is usually installed as part of any Linux distribution installation.
  • GRUB will chainload your Windows bootloader.
  • The master boot record (MBR) will locate the active partition and load it's boot code. You can install grub into the MBR, or change your active partition. Nothing is generally written into your Windows partitions.
  • This sounds like grub4dos ... You can insert that into your windows bootloader.
Is there any way I can install GRUB first and then Linux ? I install GRUB to my active partition and then install Linux. I want to do this because I have a disc of Debian 6.06 and the GRUB in it does not support UEFI. So I want to install a recent version of GRUB manually and then install Debian 6.06. Is that possible ?
# 5  
Old 01-06-2014
Quote:
Originally Posted by sreyan32
[*]Now most previous versions of GRUB did not use to support UEFI booting. As a workaround can I add Linux to the bootmenu of Windows ? I guess that will work since the Windows loader can boot UEFI and Legacy both.
GRUB Legacy did not have support for UEFI. GRUB (aka GRUB2) has had UEFI support for a least 3 years. The modified version of GRUB Legacy used by Red Hat does have support for UEFI.
 
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