18. Bootloader expert use
 

Boot into the system in question. In order to determine the GRUB2 version run the following command in a terminal:

sudo grub-install --version

or if that fails try:

sudo grub2-install --version

If this returns "GNU GRUB version 0.97" (possibly with a custom suffix), then it is using GRUB (otherwise called GRUB legacy) not GRUB2 and your system should be correctly identified by Mageia during installation and added automatically to the menu.

If this returns (GRUB) 1.98 or 1.99 or 2.xx, then you are using GRUB2.

Make a note of the version and enter this command to identify the root partition:

df -h / |(read; awk '{print $1; exit}')

This will output something like :

/dev/sdb11

sdb11 is the root partition - make a note of it.

Now check that the /boot folder is in the same partition by entering the following command:

df -h /boot |(read; awk '{print $1; exit}')

If the /boot partition is different to the root partition then make a note and use the /boot partition in the "root" line when editing menu.lst below.

You can now shut down the system and install Mageia.

In your new running Mageia system, open a terminal and as root edit the file /boot/grub/menu.lst as follows:

To become root use:

su -

(enter root password)

To open the file in an editor use:

kwrite /boot/grub/menu.lst

(replace "kwrite" with "gedit" if you are using Gnome)

Add the following entry for your (e.g. Ubuntu) system, possibly as the second stanza. The position the item appears in the menu will depend on its position in the file:

title Ubuntu

root (hd1,10)

kernel /boot/grub/core.img

If the GRUB2 version is 2.xx then change the last line to :

kernel /boot/grub/i386-pc/core.img

If you needed to use "grub2-install" earlier then change "grub" to "grub2" in the last line.

If /boot was on a separate partition, then remove "/boot" from the last line.

Save the file and re-boot. You should now see your "Ubuntu" entry in the menu and be able to boot from it.