Can i get my vista back after ubuntu 10.10 is installed?

[jacarandansw]

hello friends
i had Windows Vista Ultimate SP2
160 GB HDD, 1GB RAM,INTEL DUAL CORE
One of my friend told that UBUNTU is also a better OS and is an open source programme and u can use alternately both Ubuntu or VISTA,so i downloaded the disk image for Ubuntu 10.10 and burned it on a CD. i played it first on Windows Vista so it asked some 3 options of that i chose an option which downloaded Ubuntu Cd helper ,then i selected the first option something 'demo and install' it said to reboot the computer i reboooted it by selecting option reboot now and finishing it,after the computer was restarted.it asked me options for selecting Ubuntu or Windows Vista,i selected Ubuntu, i saw ubuntu is started which was the least time i could see a new Os is started, then i tought i should install it ,after selecting install it ,there came an option to drag option window's vertical line to right or left to increase or decrease the partition for ubuntu and on another side where something 'NTFS' was written i thought it must be for windows i dragged Ubuntu to maximum(5.23GB) left 37.3 GB for NTFS dev and i continued forward, left it for some process going on, the ubuntu was installed i think ,it also asked for some softwares to be installed i let them be installed and let all process finish after looking some featuers of Ubuntu ,i wanted to go back to windows vista but when i restarted computer it didnt asked me an option for selecting OS 'Ubuntu' or 'Vista' as it had asked me before. it directly started Ubuntu and asked for same options of software to installed ,i removed th CD and Tried again but still i couldnt see anything for Vista,when i checked properties of 'File System' it was written that 2.3 GB is covered and rest 157 GB is free,i m scared that i have deleted all the data of VIsta and Vista OS too,Can i get my VISTA BACK?,it is ok if i dont get anything of Ubuntu,i had many of important files too in my vista.is really my pc been formatted completely,?
from last week i m searching for its solution on internet i m frustrated a lot, many of the contain particular solution but for before versions of Ubuntu,i just want My vista and vista files back .One of the solutions also contained inserting DVD of vista and some procedure but my DVD player isnt working but CD player is working.i hope some of my inernet friends come to me as a saviour please.
and one note i don't know what is GRUB or all other stuffs as i m knowing very bit of installing OS

[Thund3rstruck]

I'll do my best to make sense on this jumbled mess of a comment :).

Open the terminal and run the command:



sudo fdisk -l


There should be a line that says NTFS: (something like this)


/dev/sda1 * 1 9729 78145494 7 HPFS/NTFS


Which indicates that I have a 75GB Windows partition on device /dev/sda1.

If you don't see any NTFS/FAT32 partitions in your partition list then yea, Vista is gone.

Not to preach here but installing an Operating System is major surgery and it should be done first on virtual machines or spare computers lying around; not on your primary production system.

Live and learn :)

[Quackers]

In Ubuntu, open up a terminal and run
sudo update-grub and watch as grub.cfg is run. Is a Windows Loader found? If so reboot and you should get a grub menu this time.
If the Windows loader is not found please go to the site below and download the boot script to your DESKTOP and then open up a terminal (Applications > Accessories > terminal) and run


sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh

This will produce a results.txt file on your desktop. Please copy the contents of that file and paste them in your next post between CODE tags. For CODE tags click on New Reply (not quick reply)and then click on the # symbol in the toolbar.
This will give a full overview of your current system.
Thanks.

http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/

[jacarandansw]

Disk /dev/sda: 40.0 GB, 40007761920 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4864 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: 0x00055a04

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 4659 37419008 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 4659 4864 1648641 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 4659 4864 1648640 82 Linux swap / Solaris
jimmylee@jimmylee-A3L:~$


hi there, what does this mean? sorry about the late reply.
busy on work. does the above message mean i lost my Windows?

[Grenage]

Disk /dev/sda: 40.0 GB, 40007761920 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4864 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: 0x00055a04

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 4659 37419008 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 4659 4864 1648641 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 4659 4864 1648640 82 Linux swap / Solaris
jimmylee@jimmylee-A3L:~$


hi there, what does this mean? sorry about the late reply.
busy on work. does the above message mean i lost my Windows?

That means that Vista is gone; unfortunately.

[jacarandansw]

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.

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:

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 40.0 GB, 40007761920 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4864 cylinders, total 78140160 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 74,840,063 74,838,016 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 74,842,110 78,139,391 3,297,282 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 74,842,112 78,139,391 3,297,280 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 1ac6a640-69c0-4597-9f03-ea2ea3c62eac ext4
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 8e422bb5-d50b-45a0-af1f-f22058b8bef4 swap
/dev/sda: 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 1ac6a640-69c0-4597-9f03-ea2ea3c62eac
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 1ac6a640-69c0-4597-9f03-ea2ea3c62eac
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-pae' --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 1ac6a640-69c0-4597-9f03-ea2ea3c62eac
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic-pae root=UUID=1ac6a640-69c0-4597-9f03-ea2ea3c62eac ro splash quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic-pae (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 1ac6a640-69c0-4597-9f03-ea2ea3c62eac
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-28-generic-pae ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic-pae root=UUID=1ac6a640-69c0-4597-9f03-ea2ea3c62eac ro single splash
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic-pae
}
### 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 1ac6a640-69c0-4597-9f03-ea2ea3c62eac
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 1ac6a640-69c0-4597-9f03-ea2ea3c62eac
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 ###

=============================== 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
/dev/sda5 none swap sw 0 0

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


2.4GB: boot/grub/core.img
11.0GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
11.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic-pae
2.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic-pae
11.4GB: initrd.img
2.4GB: vmlinuz
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sda2

00000000 30 2e ee c9 0d 89 93 d6 c0 97 41 d8 43 db 8f 3e |0.........A.C..>|
00000010 f8 ba e8 44 fa b4 d0 d8 3e 17 f0 80 72 96 82 c8 |...D....>...r...|
00000020 fb d6 cc 82 13 dd c6 03 5e 95 89 86 40 53 a0 98 |........^...@S..|
00000030 c6 0e 0f 48 79 bf 92 ed 8c e3 71 d5 27 1f 28 1e |...Hy.....q.'.(.|
00000040 2f 2e bb 63 79 15 46 fe f8 3f dc c3 2a 09 c1 0e |/..cy.F..?..*...|
00000050 95 09 b1 28 1b 66 78 0f 78 7a 8f 10 f1 e3 a5 76 |...(.fx.xz.....v|
00000060 4d ed 20 f6 fe 63 aa ab 07 d9 4c 64 c7 0c c9 84 |M. ..c....Ld....|
00000070 19 e1 fd 92 28 97 59 d7 80 78 f8 4a 06 cb 53 b2 |....(.Y..x.J..S.|
00000080 b2 2a 39 1a 89 34 7f 9c 97 eb 1a 2f 53 f3 74 e8 |.*9..4...../S.t.|
00000090 14 f1 21 11 98 f8 18 7e 5c 25 c2 f8 25 8f bb 15 |..!....~\%..%...|
000000a0 cc f8 f1 90 2b 9a 7b 73 f3 77 76 76 3f bb a7 cb |....+.{s.wvv?...|
000000b0 a7 ac b2 48 07 22 16 f3 b5 93 76 58 cf a5 74 fc |...H."....vX..t.|
000000c0 b8 3a fe 3c 29 a8 50 58 d8 9c fa 50 25 5b 39 64 |.:.<).PX...P%[9d|
000000d0 e1 2c e9 00 29 fd 94 9d 7a 49 7b 8e 79 30 51 12 |.,..)...zI{.y0Q.|
000000e0 ee 19 39 72 ec 76 3b 5e 0a 31 2e bb cb d8 f2 fd |..9r.v;^.1......|
000000f0 f8 21 4a ae 73 d6 c8 ae 77 2d 85 55 cf 3c de 75 |.!J.s...w-.U.<.u|
00000100 8c 50 49 92 f3 07 09 03 21 5a 59 83 dc c5 d2 34 |.PI.....!ZY....4|
00000110 49 99 f1 dc ef 9e e2 7b b4 f9 27 ae 91 0e 9e c5 |I......{..'.....|
00000120 92 87 21 6a 98 23 32 52 34 4a 03 54 d9 4b 4c 82 |..!j.#2R4J.T.KL.|
00000130 cd 85 e1 e0 a4 c9 46 ab 24 80 ed 47 48 42 33 02 |......F.$..GHB3.|
00000140 1e 88 17 38 40 6e 1e 63 29 e1 6f 40 6a ba 70 4c |...8@n.c).o@j.pL|
00000150 5c e8 2b f5 bb 8f 87 a7 88 9e df dd 35 f9 83 bf |\.+.........5...|
00000160 f7 62 8e 4a 86 a2 b1 a8 44 a6 e4 91 91 ec e2 d2 |.b.J....D.......|
00000170 af 0a 0c 85 3e b7 a9 50 9f 4f 98 d1 6d 75 6a be |....>..P.O..muj.|
00000180 59 dd 4a 11 b6 42 03 93 ca 31 9e 54 74 4d 8b 12 |Y.J..B...1.TtM..|
00000190 62 1c e8 b8 a1 2a 1e 23 17 a7 af d3 db 84 2c eb |b....*.#......,.|
000001a0 2c 9f 1a 25 c1 c8 86 92 23 70 d5 26 92 11 69 c5 |,..%....#p.&..i.|
000001b0 93 d2 c3 c9 ec 69 53 23 09 8d 44 f1 e9 99 00 fe |.....iS#..D.....|
000001c0 ff ff 82 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 50 32 00 00 00 |...........P2...|
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

[Rasa1111]

Yep, No windows OS in there.
Im sorry you lost your data. :(
I have lost all my data to once before, and it's not fun.
I feel for you.

Maybe it is a blessing in disguise though! lol
Have you been using the ubuntu thats installed?
If so, how do you like it?

Good luck. <3

[jacarandansw]

i didn't use it much. but the interface is good. not quite familiar with the system, it's a bit different from windows. don't like it for some aspect. firstly, when new user try to install ubuntu, it should provide a better protection for the existing system, like windows 7 does. the installation procedure is a bit confused. it seems like it was protecting the existing system, but actually, it does not. it delete all my old system without get my permission. i think ubuntu team should think about this, otherwise it won't attract more users, and it is not a successful product.


Yep, No windows OS in there.
Im sorry you lost your data. :(
I have lost all my data to once before, and it's not fun.
I feel for you.

Maybe it is a blessing in disguise though! lol
Have you been using the ubuntu thats installed?
If so, how do you like it?

Good luck. <3

[Mark Phelps]

i think ubuntu team should think about this, otherwise it won't attract more users, and it is not a successful product.

Several folks have notified CANONICAL about this serious flaw in their new installer -- but they have yet (as far as I know) to pay any attention to our concerns. Evidently, they are too busy using new desktop interfaces and integrating Cloud Computing.