idiots guide to grub needed

[mindwave]

Ok, this is a fairly common issue (at least it USED to be) and at one time I knew how to resolve this without thinking about it.

 

but gosh darn it, my machine has been running so well the last 2 years I have lost my skillz (and my notes)

 

Something happened yesterday. Dont know what, but in the midst if a network file copy the pc shut down.

 

reboot, find lots of HD open file errors, repaired and cant login.

 

Well its tmie to do some other things so I get my MDV 2011.1 x64 dvd load it in and reinstall.

 

everything goes fine until I reboot and then I get an error (the exact wording of which escapes me), but f memory serves me is about the GRUB installation not being correct.

 

For me, its an easy mistake to make, I have 8 sata HD's installed 2 PATA's and 4 USB's so sometimes I get 'lost'

 

Anyway, I know that there used to be a "simple" set of steps that would allow me to boot from Puppy (for example) manually edit the GRUB and then all was well/

 

Anyone have a list of said steps>?

 

I dont even mind manually rebuilding the file, I just can NOT remember how.

 

I know that "dirty" reinstals are frowned on in Linux, but really 200GB would be a lot to have to 'start over)

 

thanks for all your suggestions.

 

j

[paul]

mmm all things have changed now that grub2 is common, having trouble myself, having to read manuals :(

[mindwave]

UPDATEI believe I have found the proper partitions and setup, but now aftera dirty reinstall I'm left with a prompt that says:

 

dracut:/#

 

 

and respponds to no commands I know

 

anyone?

 

j