Booting Solaris Operating System using Windows Boot Loader

To dual boot Unix and Windows usually we use GRUB bootloader. Here I will describe the process to boot Solaris (also applies to other Unix/Linux) using Windows Boot Loader which is installed by default for Windows.

We assume you have installed Solaris after Windows and you are using Solaris grub to boot Operating Systems.

In Solaris mark Windows primary partition as active. Follow this post for instructions on how to mark partitions active.

Ø Backup the windows mbr

# dd if=/dev/dsk/c0d0p0 of=/mbrbackup bs=512 count=1

// assuming your hard-drive is c0d0p0
Ø Install solaris mbr(instructions goes here: http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/819-2723/disksxadd-45774?a=view)
Ø Copy the solaris mbr as solmbr

# dd if=/dev/rdsk/c0d0p0 of=/solmbr bs=512 count=1 (dsk or rdsk?)

Ø Copy this solmbr in your USB drive or mounting an windows partition

Ø Load the windows mbr (previously copied into a file)

# dd if=/mbrbackup of=/dev/dsk/c0d0p0 bs=446 count=1

// bs =446 to keep the previously install Solaris Boot information

Ø Now boot to your windows.

Ø Copy the file solmbr from USB-drive to your C:\ logging into Windows.

Windows XP (booting Linux/ UNIX from XP boot manager)

Windows XP boot manager is very simple and nice one as this is only a file called boot.ini. The entries in this file are like below:

[boot loader] timeout=30 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

Add a line to this file like this C:\solmbr="Solaris". After restarting your PC you find a Solaris entry in boot menu.

Using Windows Vista/Seven

Click Start Menu> All Programs> Accessories. Right click Command Prompt and rus as administrator. Now type

c:> bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d "Solaris"

(Notice, every command gives a success notification after it completes without errors. If the above command has not worked use bcdedit /copy {ntldr} /d "Solaris").

Now type

c:> bcdedit /set {ntldr} device boot c:> bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \solmbr c:> bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast

// to add in top use /addfirst

After restart you wil find a new entry in boot menu.