“How to” Dual boot Ubuntu and Windows 7 (Ubuntu installed first)

[dmber]

It seems like that's taking me in a circle. I got to this point because installing Windows 7 wiped my grub. Then I re-installed grub and now I get this BOOTMGR thing.

I'll give it a shot, just letting you know my whole story. Thanks.

Ok, I "repaired" Windows 7 -- which did say that I "had a problem with my startup" but I still get the same "missing bootmgr" message in GRUB.

Any new ideas?

[dmber]

i'm trying to figure out what the problem is. Windows 7 made two partitions (both of which I can mount in Ubuntu). One is 200 mb and houses a file called "bootmgr". The other is 40some gigs and is my actual install of Windows 7. When I open GParted in Ubuntu to see if my Windows 7 partition for Grub is HD0,1/2/3/etc., this is what it looks like:



Originally the "boot" flag was on the 40+ gig partition, but I keep getting errors, so I moved it to the 200gig partition (that has the bootmgr file). Tried booting again, didn't work. When I booted into Ubuntu, the boot flag had been moved back to the 40gig partition, though.

Can someone help me with this, please? As of right now, I can't get back into Windows 7. Not a huge deal as I like Ubuntu better, but I can't sync up my iPhone or Nike+ Sportband without Windows 7.

Thanks.

[dmber]

Ok, got it working. Now, how do I make Windows 7 the default boot option?

Here's my menu.lst:

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
#            grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
#            grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
#            and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default		0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout		5

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line)  and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
#      password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title		Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root		(hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader	+1
#
# title		Linux
# root		(hd0,1)
# kernel	/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=1250986f-e033-47c8-b5ae-fbb9cabe0dd2 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,2)
# groot=1250986f-e033-47c8-b5ae-fbb9cabe0dd2

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
##      alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
##      lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
##      lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
##      altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
##      howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
##      memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic
uuid		1250986f-e033-47c8-b5ae-fbb9cabe0dd2
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic root=UUID=1250986f-e033-47c8-b5ae-fbb9cabe0dd2 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic (recovery mode)
uuid		1250986f-e033-47c8-b5ae-fbb9cabe0dd2
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic root=UUID=1250986f-e033-47c8-b5ae-fbb9cabe0dd2 ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
uuid		1250986f-e033-47c8-b5ae-fbb9cabe0dd2
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=1250986f-e033-47c8-b5ae-fbb9cabe0dd2 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
uuid		1250986f-e033-47c8-b5ae-fbb9cabe0dd2
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=1250986f-e033-47c8-b5ae-fbb9cabe0dd2 ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
uuid		1250986f-e033-47c8-b5ae-fbb9cabe0dd2
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

title		windows 7 beta (loader)
root		(hd0,2)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader	+1

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

Thanks.

[easybake]

Ok, got it working. Now, how do I make Windows 7 the default boot option?

Here's my menu.lst:

Thanks.

change this

default		0

to 6 or the # of the listing you want to be the default boot.

[Randy3011]

Hey all:
Just tried this and for the most part worked. Win7 has two partitions it creates during install. The boot mgr is in (HD0,0). Once I pointed to that, everything works. Still want to have Ubuntu be the default. Big Thanks to hyperdude111 for taking the time to work this out.

Randy3011

[natsukashi]

I have a problem, everything worked flawlessly until I tried to boot windows. The computer just kind of restarts itself. I've checked and Windows haven't made a separate partition, and I've also checked that I'm using the appropriate partition in my menu.lst

I'll give you my menu.lst and the result of fdisk -l and hopefully you'll be able to help me. :)

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
#            grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
#            grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
#            and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default		0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout		10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line)  and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
## password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title		Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root		(hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader	+1
#
# title		Linux
# root		(hd0,1)
# kernel	/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=5f9c3de4-5742-4eff-98c9-a1d9e84c2652 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=5f9c3de4-5742-4eff-98c9-a1d9e84c2652

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
##      alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
##      lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
##      lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
##      altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
##      howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
##      memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic
uuid		5f9c3de4-5742-4eff-98c9-a1d9e84c2652
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=5f9c3de4-5742-4eff-98c9-a1d9e84c2652 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid		5f9c3de4-5742-4eff-98c9-a1d9e84c2652
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=5f9c3de4-5742-4eff-98c9-a1d9e84c2652 ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
uuid		5f9c3de4-5742-4eff-98c9-a1d9e84c2652
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=5f9c3de4-5742-4eff-98c9-a1d9e84c2652 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
uuid		5f9c3de4-5742-4eff-98c9-a1d9e84c2652
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=5f9c3de4-5742-4eff-98c9-a1d9e84c2652 ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
uuid		5f9c3de4-5742-4eff-98c9-a1d9e84c2652
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet
### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

title windows 7 beta (Loader)
root (hd0,2)
savedefault
chainloader +1
makeactive

fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x6c083d8a

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1               1        5099    40957686   83  Linux
/dev/sda2   *        5100        9567    35889210    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3            9568       29646   161284567+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4           29647       30401     6064537+   5  Extended
/dev/sda5           29647       30401     6064506   82  Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x1bef3585

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1               2       30401   244188000    f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sdb5               2       30401   244187968+   7  HPFS/NTFS

sda2 is my Windows partition. (It seems that something, probably Windows 7) has removed all my labels on the NTSF-drives.

[easybake]

I have a problem, everything worked flawlessly until I tried to boot windows. The computer just kind of restarts itself.

sda2 is my Windows partition. (It seems that something, probably Windows 7) has removed all my labels on the NTSF-drives.

root (hd0,2)

In your menu.lst should be

root (hd0,1)

[natsukashi]

I tried it and it didn't work. :/

I'm going to try to restore Windows and reinstall grub. Otherwise I'll just have to format the drive and reinstall Windows.

[silvinator]

Hi all,

Excuse my newbness but here's my question: I already have Vista dual booted with Ubuntu 8.10 but I would like to install Windows 7 over the Vista partition (i.e. I don't want Vista anymore as I cannot stand it) while keeping Intrepid in tact. Is there a way to do this? I've tried googling and browsing this forum for some clues but I can't seem to find anything that might help me with this. I thought maybe I could use the ubuntu "gparted" thing, which I've never used before, to just delete the contents of the vista partition? I would think that's possible because I can delete the ubuntu partition from the windows hard drive manager. Presumably, then, Windows 7 would install itself in the empty partition? Or am I just talking nonsense? Any help would be greatly appreciated

Cheers,
Silvie

[wadeweldon]

I would highly recommend booting to the live CD, when resizing a partition as this allows you to access the internet where you can return to this article as I have done. I was also able to watch "Family Guy" and listen to Pandora radio. Thank you for the information.
Peace
Wade