Node:Chain-loading, Previous:Loading an operating system directly, Up:General boot methods

Load another boot loader to boot unsupported operating systems

If you want to boot an unsupported operating system (e.g. Windows 95), chain-load a boot loader for the operating system. Normally, the boot loader is embedded in the boot sector of the partition on which the operating system is installed.

1. Set GRUB's root device to the partition by the command rootnoverify (see rootnoverify):
   

   grub> rootnoverify (hd0,0)
   

2. Set the active flag in the partition by the command makeactive¹ (see makeactive):
   

   grub> makeactive
   

3. Load the boot loader by the command chainloader (see chainloader):
   

   grub> chainloader +1
   

   +1 indicates that GRUB should read one sector from the start of the partition. The complete description about this syntax can be found in Block list syntax.

4. Run the command boot (see boot).

However, DOS and Windows have some deficiencies, so you might have to use more complicated instructions. See DOS/Windows, for more information.

Footnotes

1. This is not necessary for most of the modern operating systems.