Apparently both GRUB and some 3rd party Windows software make use of something called the &quot;embedding area&quot; of a hard disk and not standardized.  The result is apparently a possibility for both to use the same space and for that software to make GRUB unable to boot the system.<br>


<br><a href="http://linux.slashdot.org/story/10/08/28/2112208/Some-Windows-Apps-Make-GRUB-2-Unbootable" target="_blank">http://linux.slashdot.org/story/10/08/28/2112208/Some-Windows-Apps-Make-GRUB-2-Unbootable</a><br><a href="http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/ucgi/%7Ecjwatson/blosxom/debian/2010-08-28-windows-applications-making-grub2-unbootable.html" target="_blank">http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/ucgi/~cjwatson/blosxom/debian/2010-08-28-windows-applications-making-grub2-unbootable.html</a><br>


<br>Be sure to read the comments to the Slashdot story.  With no standard governing use of that non-partitioned area of the disk, it is perhaps not surprising that is is not a good idea to depend on it.  Since I doubt the proprietary world will do anything about it, I guess I hope that GRUB will change to avoid the problem.<br>


<br>Has anyone seen this happen?  What system/software?  I am now wondering if problem we saw with Roger&#39;s machine at the installfest could be related.  I don&#39;t think so, but it might impact the new HP machine he bought.  See the HP article reference and the fact the machine came with 4 primary partitions already in place (only noting they are using some of the new techniques).<br clear="all">

<br>-- <br>Dazed_75 a.k.a. Larry<br><br>The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive.<br>
  - Thomas Jefferson<br>