Ubuntu 10.10 + Windows 7 dual boot nightmare
Hi everyone,
my apologies if this has been answered already somewhere. My Dell laptop came preinstalled with Win7. I installed Ubuntu 10.10 along side, restarted normally, Grub menu OK, Ubuntu working fine, until I chose to boot on Win7 today! Win7 started up normally but when I restarted my laptop I got a message "no module found-press ctrl-alt-del to restart". No matter what i kept getting this message and of course no Grub menu. I then tried to re-install Ubuntu couple of times, but every time I boot into W7 my Grub is destroyed for some reason! Before an hour or so I had the not so smart idea to format the 8MB partition (think is the bootmgr) and re-install Ubuntu. Since then Grub and Ubuntu works fine, but W7 will refuse to boot (grub reloads).
Unfortunately I don't have a cdrom, so any ideas must be based on boot from usb.
my fdisk -l
Code:
Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 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: 0x83fc49c2
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda2 * 6 1918 15360000 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 1918 12246 82963073+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4 12246 30402 145833985 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 29659 30402 5962752 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 12246 29659 139870208 83 Linux
Partition table entries are not in disk order
and the boot_info_script
Code:
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 #6 for (,msdos6)/boot/grub.
sda2: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Grub 2
Boot sector info: Grub 2 is installed in the boot sector of sda2 and
looks at sector 385740112 of the same hard drive for
core.img, but core.img can not be found at this
location. No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD
sda3: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files/dirs: /Windows/System32/winload.exe
sda4: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sda5: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sda6: _________________________________________________________________________
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
=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================
Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________
Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Partition Boot Start End Size Id System
/dev/sda2 * 81,920 30,801,919 30,720,000 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 30,801,920 196,728,066 165,926,147 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4 196,728,830 488,396,799 291,667,970 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 476,471,296 488,396,799 11,925,504 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 196,728,832 476,469,247 279,740,416 83 Linux
blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________
Device UUID TYPE LABEL
/dev/sda2 761CEEBB1CEE7591 ntfs RECOVERY
/dev/sda3 F480F0C380F08CFC ntfs Windows 7
/dev/sda4: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 f932f059-06e3-45f3-8202-5fb0fe5c27b6 swap
/dev/sda6 5a82e624-7e72-4540-8b00-6e6f89c4419c ext4 Ubuntu
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
error: /dev/sdb: No medium found
============================ "mount | grep ^/dev output: ===========================
Device Mount_Point Type Options
/dev/sda6 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)
=========================== sda6/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 "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
}
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5a82e624-7e72-4540-8b00-6e6f89c4419c
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5a82e624-7e72-4540-8b00-6e6f89c4419c
set locale_dir=($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 2.6.35-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5a82e624-7e72-4540-8b00-6e6f89c4419c
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=5a82e624-7e72-4540-8b00-6e6f89c4419c 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,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5a82e624-7e72-4540-8b00-6e6f89c4419c
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=5a82e624-7e72-4540-8b00-6e6f89c4419c 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/11_Windows ###
menuentry “Windows 7″ {
set root=(hd0,3)
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/11_Windows ###
### 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,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5a82e624-7e72-4540-8b00-6e6f89c4419c
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5a82e624-7e72-4540-8b00-6e6f89c4419c
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda2)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 761ceebb1cee7591
chainloader +1
}
### 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 ###
=============================== sda6/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
# / was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=5a82e624-7e72-4540-8b00-6e6f89c4419c / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=f932f059-06e3-45f3-8202-5fb0fe5c27b6 none swap sw 0 0
=================== sda6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================
173.8GB: boot/grub/core.img
228.2GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
101.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
173.8GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
101.6GB: initrd.img
173.8GB: vmlinuz
=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============
sdb
Any help cause I really need to use W7 urgently...
Re: Ubuntu 10.10 + Windows 7 dual boot nightmare
No problems there except that the sda1 partition and some boot files for Windows 7 are missing. You didn't need to delete that for fixing dual boot.
You need a Windows 7 image, burn it to USB and do some startup repair from that. Have you got that on your HDD?
Re: Ubuntu 10.10 + Windows 7 dual boot nightmare
Exactly as you said, I formatted the bootmgr located on sda1. No, unfortunately I don't have a W7 image, nor I have a cdrom, neither a Windows box handy, just my laptop at the moment. Anything I can do to fix the problem?
By the way, if I do a repair the way you propose, most likely my grub will be wiped off by the W7 bootloader. Or not?
Re: Ubuntu 10.10 + Windows 7 dual boot nightmare
Quote:
No, unfortunately I don't have a W7 image, nor I have a cdrom, neither a Windows box handy, just my laptop at the moment. Anything I can do to fix the problem?
If thats the case, there should be some other workaround. Hang in there and some other mate might be able to advise on that. I know lilo used to work with Win XP but can't say if it would work for Windows 7 or not.
Quote:
By the way, if I do a repair the way you propose, most likely my grub will be wiped off by the W7 bootloader. Or not?
Yes you'll need to re-install Grub from Ubuntu Live USB but thats not a big deal. Just 2 commands and you'r done.
The problem is to fix Windows 7 bootloader. Wait and see....
Re: Ubuntu 10.10 + Windows 7 dual boot nightmare
Quote:
You need a Windows 7 image, burn it to USB and do some startup repair from that. Have you got that on your HDD?
Aaahh, wait a sec, if you mean the recovery partition, yes I left that intact.
Code:
Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 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: 0x83fc49c2
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda2 * 6 1918 15360000 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 1918 12246 82963073+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4 12246 30402 145833985 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 29659 30402 5962752 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 12246 29659 139870208 83 Linux
Partition table entries are not in disk order
I think the recovery partition 16GB is sda2 which I've actually just mount it and has a label RECOVERY.
Code:
delk@Fermat:~/Downloads$ ll /media/RECOVERY/
total 2158
drwx------ 1 delk delk 12288 2010-11-18 13:31 ./
drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 4096 2010-11-25 06:02 ../
-rw------- 1 delk delk 53 2004-04-30 18:01 AUTORUN.INF
drwx------ 1 delk delk 12288 2010-11-18 13:31 Boot/
-rw------- 1 delk delk 383562 2009-07-13 21:38 bootmgr
drwx------ 1 delk delk 8192 2010-11-18 13:31 dell/
-rw------- 1 delk delk 7450 2009-04-28 18:49 Desktop.ini
-rw------- 1 delk delk 81120 2010-04-20 19:08 Info.exe
-rw------- 1 delk delk 159 2010-11-20 04:49 MASTER.LOG
drwx------ 1 delk delk 8192 2010-11-18 13:31 preload/
-rw------- 2 delk delk 34530 2010-03-19 16:27 protect.arabic
-rw------- 2 delk delk 117133 2009-06-05 13:42 protect.chinese simplified
-rw------- 2 delk delk 117641 2009-06-05 13:42 protect.chinese traditional
-rw------- 2 delk delk 116238 2009-04-16 12:10 protect.danish
-rw------- 2 delk delk 119790 2009-04-16 11:55 protect.dutch
-rw------- 2 delk delk 47233 2009-04-17 13:19 protect.english
-rw------- 2 delk delk 116015 2009-04-16 12:10 protect.french
-rw------- 2 delk delk 116305 2009-04-16 11:58 protect.german
-rw------- 2 delk delk 34476 2010-03-19 16:30 protect.hebrew
-rw------- 2 delk delk 115710 2009-04-16 11:59 protect.italian
-rw------- 2 delk delk 117842 2009-04-16 12:00 protect.japanese
-rw------- 2 delk delk 124495 2009-04-16 12:00 protect.korean
-rw------- 2 delk delk 116195 2009-04-16 12:02 protect.norwegian
-rw------- 2 delk delk 116564 2009-04-16 12:03 protect.portuguese brazilian
-rw------- 2 delk delk 116363 2009-04-16 12:04 protect.spanish
-rw------- 2 delk delk 116404 2009-04-16 12:05 protect.swedish
drwx------ 1 delk delk 8192 2010-11-18 13:31 Recovery/
-rw------- 1 delk delk 192 2010-08-03 11:56 ResSys.ini
-rw------- 2 delk delk 401 2010-08-03 08:14 ST_InstallBackup.ini
drwx------ 1 delk delk 0 2010-08-02 23:48 System Volume Information/
Re: Ubuntu 10.10 + Windows 7 dual boot nightmare
Re: Ubuntu 10.10 + Windows 7 dual boot nightmare
That's an excellent resource but in my case I have formated the bootmgr partition and I think it doesn't account for that.
Re: Ubuntu 10.10 + Windows 7 dual boot nightmare
It sounds to me like you might be effected by this:
Quote:
"Grub loading. The symbol ' ' not found. Aborted." on Dell machines..
On Dell computers with Dell DataSafe Local Backup (DDSLB) installed, the above message is displayed with a series of characters within the ' ' section. This is a reported bug,
bug
#482757. Thanks to
merry_meercat's post which details how to fix the problem.
I found that here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1195275
Re: Ubuntu 10.10 + Windows 7 dual boot nightmare
I see a couple of problems.
The first is that sda1 has gone. I don't know if this is significant as all the required Windows boot files appear to be installed (in sda2 and sda3) but Windows can be finicky about it.
The boot flag is set at sda2 so I would expect it to boot Windows ok - unless the installation of grub to sda2 has over-written something.
I would first suggest downloading a Windows 7 repair disc (available by Googling) and burning it to disc. Then I would suggest booting from that disc and running startup repair THREE times, with reboots in between.
This may be enough to get Windows booting again.
The Windows repair disc is a very useful item to have in your repair arsenal.
Re: Ubuntu 10.10 + Windows 7 dual boot nightmare
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rotave
Well I just followed that (3rd method "chroot") and now my Ubuntu boots up without a Grub menu. When I do sudo grub-update I get that:
Code:
delk@Fermat:~$ sudo update-grub
[sudo] password for delk:
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
ls: cannot access /var/lib/os-prober/mount/boot
Boot: No such file or directory
done
Before I had a windows 7 loader in my grub menu and the grub menu appeared normally...What happened?