FC3/XP dual boot: "invalid boot sector" after each FC3 boot

Duncan Lithgow duncan at lithgow-schmidt.dk
Thu Jan 20 18:17:52 UTC 2005


Lelegard Thierry wrote:

>Hello all,
>
>I have posted the following in linux.redhat.install but I
>realize that I should have started with this list. 
>
>I have a laptop with Windows XP and Fedora Core 3. Each time
>I boot FC3 (I mean each time, not once after install), the
>boot sector is somehow corrupted and I get the message:
>
>  Hard disk boot sector invalid
>  Press 'H' to retry Hard Disk, any other key for floppy
>
>Using a boot CD, I boot WinXP (nothing special done on boot
>sector). Then, I can reboot WinXP again and again without
>problem. When I decide to boot FC3, it works fine but after
>shutting it down, I run again in the problem.
>
>I use Boot Magic 8 for multi-boot.
>
>I saw several dual boot problems but none seems similar.
>Any idea?
>
>Now the details...
>
>Hardware:
>Acer TM291 LMi laptop with one 40GB HD and no floppy.
>
>1) Primary partition: Windows XP SP2 (NTFS)
>2) Extended partition with the following logical partitions:
>   - FAT32, Boot Magic 8 and Win/Linux data sharing
>   - Linux swap
>   - Ext 3, Linux FC3 /, GRUB installed on first sector
>3) Primary partition (hidden, FAT): Acer recovery partition.
>
>Originally, the laptop used WinXP only. It was repartioned
>using Partition Magic 8 and boot loader was replaced by
>Boot Magic 8. Then, I installed FC3 (using single DVD distro).
>GRUB was installed on first sector of partition, MBR supposedly
>not modified. If you are intersted in deeper details, the
>output of Partition Info is added at the end of this message.
>
>Then, the following scenario can be reproducted at will:
>
>1) Boot -> Boot Magic menu (Windows XP / Linux FC3) ->
>   select WinXP -> OK -> reboot
>
>2) Boot Magic menu -> select FC3 -> OK -> login -> logout
>   -> reboot
>
>3) Boot failure, message:
>
>     Hard disk boot sector invalid
>     Press 'H' to retry Hard Disk, any other key for floppy
>
>4) Boot on a CD-ROM. This is a very useful toolbox I built based on
>   "Corporate Modboot" framework (http://www.nu2.nu/corpmodboot)
>   with Partition Magic, Ghost, etc...
>
>5) On the CD menu, I simply select "Boot from Hard Disk" (no
>   special tool used, no explicit manipulation of MBR) ->
>   successful start of Boot Magic menu -> select WinXP ->
>   OK -> reboot
>
>6) Boot Magic menu (note: no need to use Boot-CD) -> etc...
>
>Everything is now fine ... until you boot/shutdown FC3,
>after which I run into the same boot problem again.
>
>Of course, I can live with that. But having to use the
>Boot-CD after each FC3 boot cycle is not very satisfactory.
>
>Thanks to all for any idea.
>-ThL
>
>============
>
>PowerQuest PartitionInfo 8.0 -- Windows NT/2000 Version
>Date Generated:  01/20/05  13:54:01
>Copyright (c)1994-2002, PowerQuest Corporation
>Permission is granted for this utility to be freely copied so long
>as it is not modified in any way.  All other rights are reserved.
>
>PowerQuest, makers of PartitionMagic(r), Drive Image(tm), and DriveCopy(tm), can be reached at:
>    Voice:  801-437-8900
>    Fax:  801-226-8941
>    Web site:  http://www.powerquest.com/support/
>    E-mail:  magic at powerquest.com
>
>General System Information:
>    Total Physical Memory (bytes):  519,553,024
>    Used Physical Memory: (bytes):  354,488,320
>    Maximum Page File Size: (bytes):  1,213,501,440
>    Current Page File Size: (bytes):  237,899,776
>
>
>
>===========================================================================================================
>Disk Geometry Information for Disk 1:    4864 Cylinders,  255 Heads,  63 Sectors/Track
>System              PartSect  # Boot BCyl Head Sect  FS    ECyl Head Sect    StartSect     NumSects
>===========================================================================================================
>                           0  0  80     0    1    1  07    1023  254   63           63   51,986,277
>Info: End C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>  Actual values are:
>        0  0  80      0    1    1  07   3235  254   63        63  51986277
>                           0  1  00  1023    0    1  0F    1023  254   63   51,986,340   26,137,755
>Info: Begin C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>Info: End C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>  Actual values are:
>        0  1  00   3236    0    1  0F   4862  254   63  51986340  26137755
>ACER_SERVIC                0  2  00  1023    0    1  1E    1023  254   63   78,124,095       16,065
>Info: Begin C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>Info: End C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>  Actual values are:
>        0  2  00   4863    0    1  1E   4863  254   63  78124095     16065
>                  51,986,340  0  80  1023    1    1  0B    1023  254   63   51,986,403    4,096,512
>Info: Begin C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>Info: End C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>  Actual values are:
> 51986340  0  80   3236    1    1  0B   3490  254   63  51986403   4096512
>                  51,986,340  1  00  1023  254   63  05    1023  254   63   56,082,915    1,638,630
>Info: Begin C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>Info: End C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>  Actual values are:
> 51986340  1  00   3491    0    1  05   3592  254   63  56082915   1638630
>SWAPSPACE2        56,082,915  0  00  1023    1    1  82    1023  254   63   56,082,978    1,638,567
>Info: Begin C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>Info: End C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>  Actual values are:
> 56082915  0  00   3491    1    1  82   3592  254   63  56082978   1638567
>                  56,082,915  1  00  1023  254   63  05    1023  254   63   57,721,545   20,402,550
>Info: Begin C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>Info: End C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>  Actual values are:
> 56082915  1  00   3593    0    1  05   4862  254   63  57721545  20402550
>                  57,721,545  0  00  1023    1    1  83    1023  254   63   57,721,608   20,402,487
>Info: Begin C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>Info: End C,H,S values were large drive placeholders.
>  Actual values are:
> 57721545  0  00   3593    1    1  83   4862  254   63  57721608  20402487
>
>
>
>===========================================================================================================
>Partition Information for Disk 1:    38,154.4 Megabytes
>Volume         PartType    Status    Size MB    PartSect  #   StartSect  TotalSects
>===========================================================================================================
>C:             NTFS        Pri,Boot 25,383.9           0  0          63  51,986,277
>               ExtendedX   Pri      12,762.6           0  1  51,986,340  26,137,755
>               EPBR        Log       2,000.3        None --  51,986,340   4,096,575
>D:             FAT32       Log,Boot  2,000.3  51,986,340  0  51,986,403   4,096,512
>               EPBR        Log         800.1  51,986,340  1  56,082,915   1,638,630
>*:SWAPSPACE2   Linux Swap  Log         800.1  56,082,915  0  56,082,978   1,638,567
>               EPBR        Log       9,962.2  56,082,915  1  57,721,545  20,402,550
>               Linux Ext3  Log       9,962.2  57,721,545  0  57,721,608  20,402,487
>*:ACER_SERVIC  Hid.FAT16X  Pri           7.8           0  2  78,124,095      16,065
>
>
>===========================================================================================================
>Boot Record for drive C:   (Drive: 1, Starting sector: 63, Type: NTFS)
>===========================================================================================================
> 1. Jump:                   EB 52 90
> 2. OEM Name:               NTFS
> 3. Bytes per Sector:       512
> 4. Sectors per Cluster:    8
> 5. Reserved Sectors:       0
> 6. Number of FATs:         0
> 7. Root Dir Entries:       0
> 8. Total Sectors:          0
> 9. Media Descriptor:       0xF8
>10. Sectors per FAT:        0
>11. Sectors per Track:      63  (0x3F)
>12. Number of Heads:        255  (0xFF)
>13. Hidden Sectors:         63  (0x3F)
>14. Total Sectors (>32MB):  0  (0x0)
>15. Unused:                 0x80008000
>16. Total NTFS Sectors:     51986276
>17. MFT Start Cluster:      786432
>18. MFT Mirror Start Clust: 1028156
>19. Clusters per FRS:       246
>20. Clusters per Index Blk: 1
>21. Serial Number:          0x7C88DBB488DB6AE2
>22. Checksum:               0  (0x0)
>23. Boot Signature:         0xAA55
>
>===========================================================================================================
>Boot Record for drive D:   (Drive: 1, Starting sector: 51,986,403, Type: FAT32)
>===========================================================================================================
> 1. Jump:                   EB 58 90
> 2. OEM Name:               MSWIN4.1
> 3. Bytes per Sector:       512
> 4. Sectors per Cluster:    2
> 5. Reserved Sectors:       34
> 6. Number of FAT's:        2
> 7. Reserved:               0x0000
> 8. Reserved:               0x0000
> 9. Media Descriptor:       0xF8
>10. Sectors per FAT:        0
>11. Sectors per Track:      63  (0x3F)
>12. Number of Heads:        255  (0xFF)
>13. Hidden Sectors:         51986403  (0x3193FE3)
>14. Big Total Sectors:      4096512  (0x3E8200)
>15. Big Sectors per FAT:    15879
>16. Extended Flags:         0x0000
>17. FS Version:             0
>18. First Cluster of Root:  2  (0x2)
>19. FS Info Sector:         1
>20. Backup Boot Sector:     6
>21. Reserved:               000000000000000000000000
>22. Drive ID:               0x80
>23. Reserved for NT:        0x00
>24. Extended Boot Sig:      0x29
>25. Serial Number:          0x41EC0713
>26. Volume Name:
>27. File System Type:       FAT32
>28. Boot Signature:         0xAA55
>
>===========================================================================================================
>Boot Record for drive *:   (Drive: 1, Starting sector: 57,721,608, Type: Ext3)
>===========================================================================================================
>Ext3 file system super block:
> 1. Inodes count:           1275456
> 2. Blocks count:           2550310
> 3. Reserved blocks count:  127515
> 4. Free blocks count:      1494520
> 5. First data block:       0
> 6. Logical block size:     2
> 7. Logical fragment size:  2
> 8. Blocks/group:           32768
> 9. Fragments/group:        32768
>10. Inodes/group:           16352
>11. Mount time:             0x41EF9F56
>12. Last write time:        0x41EF9FE5
>13. Mount count:            10
>14. Max. mount count:       -1
>15. Magic number:           EF53
>16. State:                  0x0001
>17. Error behavior:         0x0001
>18. Minor revision level:   0
>19. Last check time:        0x41EE333F
>20. Max. time bet. checks:  0
>21. Creator oper. system:   0
>22. Major revision level:   1
>23. Reserved block def. UID:0x0000
>24. Reserved block def. GID:0x0000
>
>===========================================================================================================
>Boot Record for drive *:   (Drive: 1, Starting sector: 78,124,095, Type: FAT)
>===========================================================================================================
> 1. Jump:                 EB 3C 90
> 2. OEM Name:             MSWIN4.1
> 3. Bytes per Sector:     512
> 4. Sectors per Cluster:  2
> 5. Reserved Sectors:     1
> 6. Number of FAT's:      2
> 7. Root Dir Entries:     512
> 8. Total Sectors:        16065  (0x3EC1)
> 9. Media Descriptor:     0xF8
>10. Sectors per FAT:      32
>11. Sectors per Track:    63  (0x3F)
>12. Number of Heads:      255  (0xFF)
>13. Hidden Sectors:       78124095  (0x4A8143F)
>14. Big Total Sectors:    0  (0x0)
>15. Drive ID:             0x80
>16. Dirty Flag:           0x00
>17. Extended boot Sig:    0x29
>18. Serial Number:        0x3D4D16F1
>19. Volume Name:          ACER_SERVIC
>20. File System Type:     FAT16
>21. Boot Signature:       0xAA55
>
>
>  
>
I have a similar setup but use grub instead of boot magic, works perfect 
for me, might help you. Sort of avoids whatever the problem is instead 
of solving it though.

Duncan




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