I have windows XP professional installed on 1 hard drive and Ubuntu 10.10 on my second hard drive. On start up the computer completely skips the grub menu and boots straight into 10.10.

I have tried running os-prober with the windows hard drive mounted and then updating grub but it didnt work.

Any ideas?

I have changed the boot order so that the HDD with xp on it is first however the computer still booted into linux.

I tried running grub-install /dev/sda and got this

/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Sector 32 is already in use by FlexNet; avoiding it.  This software may cause boot or other problems in future.  Please ask its authors not to store data in the boot track..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Sector 33 is already in use by FlexNet; avoiding it.  This software may cause boot or other problems in future.  Please ask its authors not to store data in the boot track..
Installation finished. No error reported

I checked using disk utility and the code for my xp hard drive is sdb so i ran the camand grub-install /dev/sdb shich gave me this

Installation finished. No error reported.

So i rebooted but it still didnt work.

Any other ideas?

Additional info

gedit /boot/grub/grub.cfg:

#
# 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 part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ "${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
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
    linux   /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic root=UUID=d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c ro   quiet splash
    initrd  /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
    echo    'Loading Linux 2.6.35-28-generic ...'
    linux   /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic root=UUID=d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c ro single 
    echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    initrd  /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
    linux   /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c ro   quiet splash
    initrd  /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
    echo    'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
    linux   /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c ro single 
    echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    initrd  /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-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/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
    linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
    linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
if [ "x${timeout}" != "x-1" ]; then
  if keystatus; then
    if keystatus --shift; then
      set timeout=-1
    else
      set timeout=0
    fi
  else
    if sleep --interruptible 3 ; then
      set timeout=0
    fi
  fi
fi
### 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.
### 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 ###

sudo fdisk -l:

Disk /dev/sda: 80.1 GB, 80060424192 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9733 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0008a483

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1        9352    75112448   83  Linux
/dev/sda2            9352        9734     3068929    5  Extended
/dev/sda5            9352        9734     3068928   82  Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xc5d6c5d6

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1               1       60800   488375968+   7  HPFS/NTFS

sudo blkid

/dev/sda1: UUID="d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c" TYPE="ext4" 
/dev/sda5: UUID="09e9c2cb-d903-4f0b-a181-536951845231" TYPE="swap" 
/dev/sdb1: UUID="B21844EB1844AFE1" TYPE="ntfs"

sudo os-prober

(nothing)

  Boot Info Script 0.55    dated February 15th, 2010                    

============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

 => Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive in 
    partition #1 for (,msdos1)/boot/grub.
 => Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks on the same drive in 
    partition #1 for (,msdos1)/boot/grub.

sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu 10.10
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda2: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       Extended Partition
    Boot sector type:  Unknown
    Boot sector info:  

sda5: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       swap
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  

sdb1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows XP
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  Windows XP
    Boot files/dirs:   

=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 80.1 GB, 80060424192 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9733 cylinders, total 156368016 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sda1    *          2,048   150,226,943   150,224,896  83 Linux
/dev/sda2         150,228,990   156,366,847     6,137,858   5 Extended
/dev/sda5         150,228,992   156,366,847     6,137,856  82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdb ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sdb1    *             63   976,751,999   976,751,937   7 HPFS/NTFS


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL                         

/dev/sda1        d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c   ext4                                     
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos" 
/dev/sda5        09e9c2cb-d903-4f0b-a181-536951845231   swap                                     
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos" 
/dev/sdb1        B21844EB1844AFE1                       ntfs                                     
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos" 

============================ "mount | grep ^/dev  output: ===========================

Device           Mount_Point              Type       Options

/dev/sda1        /                        ext4       (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)


=========================== sda1/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

#
# 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 part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ "${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
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
    linux   /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic root=UUID=d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c ro   quiet splash
    initrd  /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
    echo    'Loading Linux 2.6.35-28-generic ...'
    linux   /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic root=UUID=d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c ro single 
    echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    initrd  /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
    linux   /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c ro   quiet splash
    initrd  /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
    echo    'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
    linux   /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c ro single 
    echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    initrd  /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-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/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
    linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d682c9bd-dd89-4827-9802-a1f921ebe21c
    linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
if [ "x${timeout}" != "x-1" ]; then
  if keystatus; then
    if keystatus --shift; then
      set timeout=-1
    else
      set timeout=0
    fi
  else
    if sleep --interruptible 3 ; then
      set timeout=0
    fi
  fi
fi
### 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 "Windows XP" {
set root=(hd1,1)
chainloader (hd1,1)+1
}
### 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 ###

=============================== sda1/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s UUID' to print the universally unique identifier
# for a device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name
# devices that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
proc            /proc           proc    nodev,noexec,nosuid 0       0
/dev/sda1       /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=09e9c2cb-d903-4f0b-a181-536951845231 none            swap    sw              0       0

=================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


  51.7GB: boot/grub/core.img
  58.5GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
   1.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
   1.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
  58.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
  51.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic
   1.3GB: initrd.img
   1.2GB: initrd.img.old
  51.7GB: vmlinuz
  58.2GB: vmlinuz.old
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader  on sda2

00000000  d9 ed 13 ab ff a8 33 8c  01 b2 47 99 e1 4a b1 f1  |......3...G..J..|
00000010  69 5f a7 29 a4 1a 03 9e  31 b9 45 02 71 e6 58 78  |i_.)....1.E.q.Xx|
00000020  3d f6 ee 7b 3e 33 1b 82  c6 7d cf 1a c8 e7 bc 2f  |=..{>3...}...../|
00000030  b9 e1 70 75 cf 18 aa e7  d5 7e 3c f1 b4 e7 9e 3a  |..pu.....~<....:|
00000040  55 38 f1 b4 ee 78 59 0b  5e f7 3c 4c 57 73 9c 2a  |U8...xY.^.<LWs.*|
00000050  28 f1 19 ed 11 9c b2 19  e2 80 92 1c 7b 84 ee 0b  |(...........{...|
00000060  e2 c0 ac af 0a 50 42 b9  cf 0c dc 2c 20 77 85 dc  |.....PB...., w..|
00000070  8f 70 5f 7b 84 9b a1 f7  8c 2d ee 70 5c ae f7 39  |.p_{.....-.p\..9|
00000080  63 f7 09 8a ec 79 4c ed  9f cc ad 3c f8 1b 47 7d  |c....yL....<..G}|
00000090  3f 97 d5 16 cb 29 45 38  25 61 36 08 de 10 93 0f  |?....)E8%a6.....|
000000a0  95 4f ea 54 f9 89 ff f1  bf 9a cc bb fd b6 22 b1  |.O.T..........".|
000000b0  65 08 05 21 78 19 46 b0  24 7e fb de d4 b3 ba d6  |e..!x.F.$~......|
000000c0  ec 11 65 82 ee 10 1d 12  04 91 da 6d 67 47 ea 9b  |..e........mgG..|
000000d0  6f b0 aa fb cb 67 10 64  86 e8 26 85 fb f9 50 77  |o....g.d..&...Pw|
000000e0  9d 13 9b 9e d9 11 f3 a1  50 1b 11 b7 93 79 9f ab  |........P....y..|
000000f0  c1 b6 86 0f 35 ed d4 9f  dc f8 db bd ed 45 3a 68  |....5........E:h|
00000100  54 68 4a 1d d1 fc b8 c9  72 b4 d7 7b 60 e7 39 2f  |ThJ.....r..{`.9/|
00000110  2a 0a 4e 52 72 52 c6 e2  2a 55 6a 2a e1 82 40 71  |*.NRrR..*Uj*..@q|
00000120  11 11 e0 53 d6 ff 1b a9  c6 65 df 1e b7 15 6f a2  |...S.....e....o.|
00000130  15 02 a4 6d 19 b7 78 57  a6 ee 9e 36 08 7d 6f 7c  |...m..xW...6.}o||
00000140  fd f7 7c d5 40 ff 0f c7  97 dc aa 00 ce 8b bb dc  |..|.@...........|
00000150  e2 eb 1c 50 74 d8 14 cc  9a d6 5c a2 ab f2 67 f9  |...Pt.....\...g.|
00000160  58 ed 43 79 0e 78 7a 5c  a6 f8 7b e8 05 4e 62 8a  |X.Cy.xz\..{..Nb.|
00000170  0a 5f 22 ee a6 38 b9 e1  32 45 97 08 cc 75 66 c6  |._"..8..2E...uf.|
00000180  b3 a2 2d 89 a1 e9 95 21  28 53 fd dd be b1 b2 a2  |..-....!(S......|
00000190  78 3f a3 c9 3d e3 31 54  88 cf 78 0d e1 21 a8 74  |x?..=.1T..x..!.t|
000001a0  06 60 9d 21 c6 7a 24 e1  cc 28 f8 98 e0 99 e3 fc  |.`.!.z$..(......|
000001b0  fa 8b eb d5 56 03 20 b8  54 ba c6 ee 9f 57 00 fe  |....V. .T....W..|
000001c0  ff ff 82 fe ff ff 02 00  00 00 00 a8 5d 00 00 00  |............]...|
000001d0  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
*
000001f0  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 55 aa  |..............U.|
00000200