After long time of struggling with various boot loaders and their configurations, mainly because there are almost NO informations about GRUB 2 and hidding partitions when you have TWO or more hard disks, finally today I managed to configure GRUB 2 to work as I wish. So, to maybe save someone's time, I'll write my example here.
I got two 250GB SATA HDDs, sda and sdb.
SDA is partitioned on this way:
sda1 - primary - 25GB - NTFS - [with XP64bit]
sda2- primary - 100GB - NTFS - [ Steam is here 
]
sda3 - extended to/on logical partitions:
sda5 - SWAP - 4.2GB
sda6 - Ubuntu Natty (last usable Ubuntu linux) - 12GB - EXT3
sda7 - Empty, awaiting Xubuntu 12.04LTS - 12GB - EXT3
sda8 - Big Linux Partition, (NOT /home), For various Linux files, backups, ..
Installation was going on this order:
(Hard Disk 1, sda, connected at motherboard's IDE 1 connector).
XP was installed first, then was Ubuntu Natty, with GRUB 2 placed on MBR .
(Second disk, SDB was disconnected from motherboard IDE 2 connector.)
DVD-rom is connected at motherboard's IDE 4 connector.
After that, I disconnected SDA from motherboard, and connected SDB to IDE 2 connector/slot.
Reason for this is exactly the same I started to search and learn "How to hide/unhide partitions with GRUB 2", and that is:
I don't want XP see Win 7 boot and cfg files (and root partition) and vice-versa.
Then I installed Windows 7 x64, allowing that it takes entire disk.
Allowing Windows 7 to take entire EMPTY hard disk, produce that win 7 will create special "System reserved" partition.
If you have a pre-configured, or better to say pre-partitioned HDD, let's say one 50GB partition for OS Win 7, and rest (in this case) 200GB for files (Steam ;
windows 7 will not create that "System reserved" partition (100MB) {this is just an info from my experience}.
So, after Win 7 installation there was one "System reserved" 100MB partition, and rest is one C:/ partition 250GB (of course it is not 250, it's less, but this is only for purpose of this writting).
After defragmentation (defragmenting NTFS partition before resizing is important), I shrinked it to 35GB that is C:\, and rest was formated as NTFS, which becomes E:\ (cca a little more than 200GB) {note: D:\ is DVD-rom, if for any reason you want, you can change that drive letters later in windows}
If you are curious why I do partitioning on that way:
I always do it that way, because then I can make backups of only OS partitions, so large program files/games will stay on E:, and backup with compression ratio 50% will result with acceptable backup size of 5 - 10GB, and that backup can be stored on that big NTFS partition; including Linux partition backups.
Next, I connected both hard disk, checked if BIOS is configured to boot from SDA (bios will not say SDA or SDB, so you have to learn what are names of disks in boot order)
Booting from SDA will display GRUB2 menu with Ubuntu and XP.
Do NOT choose XP! Windows 7 partitions will not be hidden from it!
Choose Ubuntu.
After booting I'm going to configure grub2 files as I need.
Note: I'm logged as root, so I will not use sudo command.
First, in terminal:
Code:
root@MSI:~# update-grub
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-13-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-13-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
Found Windows NT/2000/XP on /dev/sda1
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sdb1
done
root@MSI:~#
Note that now Windows 7 OS is just added to GRUB 2 boot menu, NOTHING is hidden yet.
Also, the /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ is set to be non-executable, so that is the reason why there is no memtest in grub2 menu entry.
Then, edit file /etc/grub.d/40_custom with text editor.
In my example, it is this:
Code:
#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
menuentry "XP 64 (with hidden W7)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd0,1)
parttool (hd0,1) hidden-
parttool (hd1,1) hidden+
parttool (hd1,2) hidden+
chainloader +1
parttool ${root} boot+
boot
}
menuentry "Win 7 (with hidden XP 64)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd1,1)
parttool (hd1,1) hidden-
parttool (hd1,2) hidden-
parttool (hd0,1) hidden+
chainloader +1
parttool ${root} boot+
boot
}
# END #
Save file and then run "update-grub" again.
You will see EXACTLY the same output as it was before:
Code:
root@MSI:~# update-grub
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-13-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-13-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
Found Windows NT/2000/XP on /dev/sda1
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sdb1
done
root@MSI:~#
In other words, there you will NOT see your new added menu entryes.
BUT, if you reboot now your computer, there WILL BE new menu entryes, just as I named them:
Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-13-generic
Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-13-generic (recovery mode)
Windows NT/2000/XP on /dev/sda1
Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sdb1
XP 64 (with hidden W7)
Win 7 (with hidden XP 64)
SO, do not choose any of listed entryes:
Windows NT/2000/XP on /dev/sda1 or Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sdb1
cause, they will boot choosen system without any hideden partitions; instead, choose
XP 64 (with hidden W7) or Win 7 (with hidden XP 64)
Note: "XP 64 (with hidden W7)" or "Win 7 (with hidden XP 64)" are only the OS menu entry names that I set for them, you can set names in that file "40_custom" as you wish.
Having grub 2 configuration like this, when I boot to XP, I can't see Windows 7 "system reserved" partition, nor Windows 7 C:\ partition, BUT I CAN see Windows 7 E:\ partition where are valuable files created, downloaded or stored when I was in Windows 7;
When booted ino Win 7, it can't see XP's C:\ partition, but it can see E:\ partition.
Of course those "E:\" partitions, if for some reason needed, can also be configured to be hidden.
As you can see from my mentioning Steam, only reason why I still have windows is for gaming.
I hope this will help someone.
BTW, here is grub.cfg file:
Code:
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi
function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}
function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root fa90a1fd-6c68-402f-75cf-04fdd5995493
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root fa90a1fd-6c68-402f-75cf-04fdd5995493
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_US
insmod gettext
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
if background_color 44,0,30; then
clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
if [ ${recordfail} != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "$linux_gfx_mode" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-13-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root fa90a1fd-6c68-402f-75cf-04fdd5995493
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-13-generic root=UUID=fa90a1fd-6c68-402f-75cf-04fdd5995493 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-13-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-13-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root fa90a1fd-6c68-402f-75cf-04fdd5995493
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-13-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-13-generic root=UUID=fa90a1fd-6c68-402f-75cf-04fdd5995493 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-13-generic
}
submenu "Previous Linux versions" {
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2entryies
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root fa90a1fd-6c68-402f-75cf-04fdd5995493
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=fa90a1fd-6c68-402f-75cf-04fdd5995493 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root fa90a1fd-6c68-402f-75cf-04fdd5995493
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-8-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=fa90a1fd-6c68-402f-75cf-04fdd5995493 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows NT/2000/XP (on /dev/sda1)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 641088131087E9FE
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sdb1)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 5C029AB7029A961C
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
menuentry "XP 64 (with hidden W7)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd0,1)
parttool (hd0,1) hidden-
parttool (hd1,1) hidden+
parttool (hd1,2) hidden+
chainloader +1
parttool ${root} boot+
boot
}
menuentry "Win 7 (with hidden XP 64)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd1,1)
parttool (hd1,1) hidden-
parttool (hd1,2) hidden-
parttool (hd0,1) hidden+
chainloader +1
parttool ${root} boot+
boot
}
# END #
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
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