where does GRUB reside?

Where is GRUB on my computer? is it in the c drive, or one of my Linux drives? As explained here...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/windows-os-software/575262-freeing-space-deleting-partition.html

I'm preparing to wipe some things out on my drive and don't want to cause problems.

 

Grub loads in two stages. The first stage is usually in the MBR (an area of the disk that is not part of one of the partitions) and contains only the absolute minimum to load and run the second stage. The second stage is typically in the /boot Linux partition which also holds the Linux kernel.

 

Ok, so do I need to worry about that second stage if i delete my Linux partition? if it gets deleted will my computer still boot normally?

 

No if you delete stage2 then your computer will not boot.

I'd suggest you print out your /etc/grub.conf and have some install media handy. In the worst case you then boot your install media to the grub menu. From there you can manually boot anything thats on the hdd by typing in the respective grub commands.

 

I looked in Linux etc and found a grub.d folder with only one readable file in it. I think it was menu.lst

is that what you are referring to?

 

Correction-menu.lst is in boot/grub/menu.lst

the only file in etc/grub.d was called memtest. Same for Ubuntu and Mint

 

Erm, of the two linux distros that you've got installed, can you tell us which of the two stage 2 is being used?

If you did a default install of each linux distro, it may be the last distro that you installed, but any subsequent software updates of packages that were performed might for the relevant packages (e.g. possibly kernel or driver related packages?, rebuilds of the initramfs?) may have re-run the grub update from that distro and possibly switching where GRUB looks for stage 2.

If I was doing this, I'd find out how to fix the MBR by installing Microsoft's boot code e.g. recovery mode and fixmbr. Then you can use a live linux CD to delete the linux partitions and afterwards you would still be able to boot Windows. I'm assuming Windows is important to the OP?

 

I believe it's the Mint stage 2 being used. I installed it last, and it appears first in the GRUB menu. I haven't updated anything since. Yup, I want Windows to be there when I'm all done. I think this will do what I want re the Linux deletion and mbr-Full English posted it on my related thread on the Windows forum

How to uninstall Ubuntu on dual boot Windows XP using Windows only | Bob Morris: Investing, tech, coffee.

 

I didn't know the windows tool would be willing to delete the linux partitions that makes it easier. I think your research has been the right way to go about it.

 

I don't like nasty surprises.