Ubuntu 10.10 + Windows 7 dual boot nightmare

[Quackers]

No problem at all
If you are happy that your questions have been answered please mark the thread as solved using the Thread Tools near the top of the page, as it may help others when searching.
Thanks.

[oldfred]

Did you ever run the fix from post #20 as you still showed grub installed in the windows boot sector of sda2. Windows has to have its code in the boot sector and testdisk can recover it (usually). Otherwise you could run fixboot on sda2 from a windows repairCD.

[Dr.Fuzzy]

Did you ever run the fix from post #20 as you still showed grub installed in the windows boot sector of sda2. Windows has to have its code in the boot sector and testdisk can recover it (usually). Otherwise you could run fixboot on sda2 from a windows repairCD.

Ahhh the testdisk...yes I gave that a go and ended up in the grub rescue prompt (before I had the Grub menu, and my main problem was not being able to boot W7)! Then I had to go through the Grub manual to figure out the commands to boot Ubuntu again! NO, I wouldn't recommend it, at least It didn't work for me, only made things worse.

[Dr.Fuzzy]

My first hit on Google. Have you tried this?

http://www.ehow.com/how_2134715_dell...-settings.html

Well I decided to resurrect the topic since I've just realized another problem. Pressing F8 at boot time supposedly starts up the Dell restore utility. Sadly this doesn't happen not that I planned to restore my laptop any soon, but just in case I need it I want to have the option working.

The report from the boot_info_script follows:

                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 #5 for (,msdos5)/boot/grub.

sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       vfat
    Boot sector type:  Grub 2
    Boot sector info:  Grub 2 is installed in the boot sector of sda1 and 
                       looks at sector 226360144 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:   /COMMAND.COM

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:   /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda4: _________________________________________________________________________

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

sda5: _________________________________________________________________________

    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

sda6: _________________________________________________________________________

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

=========================== 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/sda1                  63        80,321        80,259   6 FAT16
/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   488,396,783   291,667,954   f W95 Ext d (LBA)
/dev/sda5         196,728,832   476,469,247   279,740,416  83 Linux
/dev/sda6         476,471,296   488,396,783    11,925,488  82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL                         

/dev/sda1        3030-3030                              vfat       DellUtility                   
/dev/sda2        761CEEBB1CEE7591                       ntfs       RECOVERY                      
/dev/sda3        F480F0C380F08CFC                       ntfs       Windows 7                     
/dev/sda4: PTTYPE="dos" 
/dev/sda5        80dbb1f1-69f5-4d7c-a556-7929b10a3c48   ext4                                     
/dev/sda6        f932f059-06e3-45f3-8202-5fb0fe5c27b6   swap                                     
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos" 
error: /dev/sdb: No medium found

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

Device           Mount_Point              Type       Options

/dev/sda5        /                        ext4       (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)
/dev/sda1        /media/DellUtility       vfat       (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks,uid=1000,gid=1000,shortname=mixed,dmask=0077,utf8=1,showexec)
/dev/sda2        /media/RECOVERY          fuseblk    (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096,default_permissions)


=========================== sda5/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,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80dbb1f1-69f5-4d7c-a556-7929b10a3c48
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,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80dbb1f1-69f5-4d7c-a556-7929b10a3c48
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 2.6.35-24-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80dbb1f1-69f5-4d7c-a556-7929b10a3c48
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-24-generic root=UUID=80dbb1f1-69f5-4d7c-a556-7929b10a3c48 ro   quiet splash noapic
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-24-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80dbb1f1-69f5-4d7c-a556-7929b10a3c48
    echo    'Loading Linux 2.6.35-24-generic ...'
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-24-generic root=UUID=80dbb1f1-69f5-4d7c-a556-7929b10a3c48 ro single 
    echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-24-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,msdos5)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80dbb1f1-69f5-4d7c-a556-7929b10a3c48
    linux16    /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80dbb1f1-69f5-4d7c-a556-7929b10a3c48
    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
}
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda3)" {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ntfs
    set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f480f0c380f08cfc
    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 ###

=============================== sda5/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/sda5 during installation
UUID=80dbb1f1-69f5-4d7c-a556-7929b10a3c48 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# swap was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=f932f059-06e3-45f3-8202-5fb0fe5c27b6 none            swap    sw              0       0

=================== sda5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


 111.6GB: boot/grub/core.img
 107.4GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
 101.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-24-generic
 111.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-24-generic
 101.4GB: initrd.img
 111.7GB: vmlinuz
=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

sdb

and my fdisk -l

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/sda1               1           5       40129+   6  FAT16
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sda2               6        1918    15360000    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3   *        1918       12246    82963073+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4           12246       30402   145833977    f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5           12246       29659   139870208   83  Linux
/dev/sda6           29659       30402     5962744   82  Linux swap / Solaris

Grub2 menu displays Ubuntu (sda4), Windows 7 loader (sda3) - boots into W7, and Windows 7 loader (sda2) which is the RECOVERY partition identified when did grub-update and doesn't boot.

sda1 is the DellUtility partition.

I am near perfect, if only I manage to fix the restore option!

[Quackers]

Grub2 is installed in the boot sector of sda1 and sda2 (as well as the mbr of sda). This is probably what is borking the recovery partition from running. You got a bit too busy with grub2 I think. I don't know what to suggest to get grub out of sda1 and sda2.
What I would definitely recommend is to make the recovery dvd's as quickly as possible, and verify them too.
I would also make the recovery disc (which is actually the repair disc) available in Backup and Restore centre in Control Panel - on the left side.

[Dr.Fuzzy]

Tried it, but the st***d windows require a DVD drive (don't have one, nor an external) to create the restore disk nor allow you to create it as an iso and save it elsewhere! So it seems the only option is to try and fix the current system!

[oldfred]

I know testdisk works to recover a backup bootsector as many were installing grub to the windows partitions.

Fix for most, a few have other issues, better than windows fix in many cases as it also fixes other parameters:
This has instructions on using testdisk to repair the install of grub to the boot sector for windows from Ubuntu or Linux LiveCD.
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawik...ms:Boot_Sector

Not sure if it works for FAT partitions also. I would try sda2 first, then see if it works for sda1.

If you cannot create the repairCD I would download this.
If your PC did not come with a complete Vista or Win7 installation CD, you can download a Recovery Disc at the following links:
Windows Vista/7 Recovery Disc - for repairs only
http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/window...disc-download/
http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/window...-repair-discs/
Vista/7 will not repair XP (they create the boot sectors differently) but can run chkdsk.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392

I was only able to get the above on a USB by creating the CD and then booting the CD to copy itself to a USB flash drive. I tried all the standard unetbootin and just copying from the ISO. Neither of those worked. I understand they may work for a full Windows ISO.

[Dr.Fuzzy]

testdisk no doubt can do the job but in my case (if you see my earlier posts) made things worse, actually ended up trying to boot from a grub rescue prompt...not very pleasant.

Removing grub from sda1 and sda2 as Quackers suggested might be the cure to F8 restore denial, but myself haven't got a clue how to.

[oldfred]

If you do not want to use the testdisk way to recover the boot sector you have to use a windows disk to recreate one.

Do not run fixMBR if you want to keep grub in the MBR as fixMBR put the windows boot loader in the MBR.

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ot-record.html
http://windows7ultimate.windowsreins...indexthumbs.ht

Above links summarized, see links if more detail desired
You will need to boot with your Vista/Windows 7 installation disk or repair disk. Hit Enter at the language selection prompt then hit "R" to get to the repair section. You can then select the automatic boot repair tool, but it often will not do any good. Then select the command prompt (console) and type in the following commands:
BootRec.exe /fixmbr #updates MBR master boot record do not run if you still want grub
chkdsk C: /r /f (may have to run /r or /f as separate entries) rerun until no errors
BootRec.exe /FixBoot #updates PBR partition boot sector
BootRec.exe /ScanOs
BootRec.exe /RebuildBcd

[Dr.Fuzzy]

First of all thank you!

Windows 7 boots fine, so instead of using an installation/repair disk cannot just boot them, go into command mode or recovery console and run the mbr commands? Now, supposedly I run the fixmbr command, grub will be wiped out, but I can always boot from an Ubuntu live cd and install it again, update grub entries, etc...serves the purpose or not? Ok, apart from the fixmbr command the rest:

BootRec.exe /fixmbr #updates MBR master boot record do not run if you still want grub
chkdsk C: /r /f (may have to run /r or /f as separate entries) rerun until no errors
BootRec.exe /FixBoot #updates PBR partition boot sector
BootRec.exe /ScanOs
BootRec.exe /RebuildBcd

apart from the 1st will also replace grub or not?