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Unable to dual boot from Oracle Unbreakable Linux to Windows partition.

I have installed Oracle Unbreakable Linux, which is based on Fedora Ver4.

I am not able to boot to windows partition though everything looks perfect.

************
grub.conf
contains correct entries
************
default=0
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,5)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Enterprise (2.6.9-42.0.0.0.1.EL)
        root (hd0,5)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.0.0.1.EL ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet
        initrd /initrd-2.6.9-42.0.0.0.1.EL.img
title Microsoft Windows
        rootnoverify (hd0,0)
        chainloader +1

************
/etc/fstab
shows /dev/hda1 mapped to /mnt/win (defaults or auto,users,rw options don't work)
************
[root@pc ~]# cat /etc/fstab
# This file is edited by fstab-sync - see 'man fstab-sync' for details
LABEL=/                 /                       ext3    defaults        1 1
LABEL=/boot             /boot                   ext3    defaults        1 2
none                    /dev/pts                devpts  gid=5,mode=620  0 0
none                    /dev/shm                tmpfs   defaults        0 0
LABEL=/home             /home                   ext3    defaults        1 2
/dev/hda1               /mnt/win                vfat    auto,users,rw        0 0
none                    /proc                   proc    defaults        0 0
none                    /sys                    sysfs   defaults        0 0
/dev/hdc                /media/cdrecorder       auto    pamconsole,exec,noauto,managed 0 0
/dev/fd0                /media/floppy           auto    pamconsole,exec,noauto,managed 0 0

**********
even tried to mount manually, but failed
**********
[root@pc ~]# mount -t vfat /dev/hda1 /mnt/win
mount: /dev/hda1 already mounted or /mnt/win busy
mount: according to mtab, /dev/hda1 is already mounted on /mnt/win

**********
Tried to create my own entry. Created a directory disc and tried to mount it with /dev/hda1. disc shows no files.
**********
[root@pc ~]# mkdir diskc
[root@pc ~]# mount -t vfat /dev/hda1 ./diskc
[root@pc ~]# ls -l diskc
total 0

Please help
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Avatar of gram77

ASKER

yes
I think you got soemthing wrong here...

Do you want to access your windows files ..or do you want to boot into Windows ?

Avatar of gram77

ASKER

both actually.

I want to boot into windows and also access windows files from Linux.

Secondly, in grub.conf hiddenmenu is uncommented, yet the menu for dual booting is not displayed until I press enter. Strange isn't it?
Well about accessing your files in linux you said that your windows files are in
/mnt/win
so in other words your windows files are accessible in linux through this dir..

As for your GRUB file

Try something like

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda2
title           Windows NT/2000/XP (loader)
root            (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader     +1


http://www.faqs.org/docs/Linux-mini/Multiboot-with-GRUB.html
http://www.geocities.com/epark/linux/grub-w2k-HOWTO.html

Avatar of gram77

ASKER

shakoush2001:
This didn't work either:
# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda2
title           Windows NT/2000/XP (loader)
root            (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader     +1
Oh wait sorry

hiddenmenu should be

#hiddenmenu

otherwise you need to press ESC to see the menu
Avatar of gram77

ASKER

# fsck /dev/hda1
fsck 1.35 (28-Feb-2004)
dosfsck 2.8, 28 Feb 2001, FAT32, LFN
Warning: FAT32 support is still ALPHA.
/dev/hda1: 0 files, 1/1278924 clusters

There are no files in that partition. It has been wiped out. It is pinging for the windows partition

Rather than simply setting the partition type, I checked on formatting /dev/hda1 That is when the files disappeared.

Avatar of gram77

ASKER

This is what I got from forums.oracle.com:

Bad news. Maybe /dev/hda1 isn't there any more? Try this:

Using your Linux install media, when you get to the "boot:" prompt type:

boot: linux rescue

and just have Anaconda skip mounting your hard drive on "/mnt/sysimage".

Once you get to the shell prompt, try this:

# fsck -f /dev/hda1

to see if there is still a recognizable file system on "/dev/hda1".

You may find it more intuitive to use Knoppix, Fedora Live or some other live CD besides the linux rescue mode.

# fsck -f /dev/hda1
shows 0 files in it!!