Dual-Booting with Windows (Ubuntu installed first)

[presence1960]

Yea I don't think it's the optical drive since the installer program is giving me that message.

IDK it just sounds like because I didn't partition the disk originally and just installed Ubuntu over all of it I'm screwed and will need to wipe my disk to get it to dual boot. Is this what it's gonna come down to?

I know things can be a real pain when you can't get stuff to work. But to get a clearer picture of your setup and boot process can you boot into Ubuntu and download to your desktop the Boot Info Script 0.32
Once downloaded to desktop open a terminal and run this command

sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh

This will create a RESULTS.txt file on your desktop. paste the entire contents of that file back here. Once pasted here highlight all text pasted and click the # sign on the toolbar to place code tags around the text. This will give us way more infoabout your set up & boot process than individual commands.

[PooAvenger]

============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

 => Grub0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive 
    in partition #1 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.
 => Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc

sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext3
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu 8.10
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda2: _________________________________________________________________________

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

sda5: _________________________________________________________________________

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

sda3: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

sdc1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       vfat
    Boot sector type:  MSWIN4.1: Fat 32
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

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

Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders, total 312581808 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xeb02f3de

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sda1    *             63   201,920,984   201,920,922  83 Linux
/dev/sda2         300,479,760   312,576,704    12,096,945   5 Extended
/dev/sda5         300,479,823   312,576,704    12,096,882  82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3         201,920,985   300,479,759    98,558,775   7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdc ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sdc: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x41ffc810

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sdc1    *             63   625,121,279   625,121,217   c W95 FAT32 (LBA)


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

/dev/sda1: UUID="e6e6c703-6039-4208-a9de-12955f01ce38" TYPE="ext3" 
/dev/sda3: UUID="57C09EAC16D48B60" TYPE="ntfs" 
/dev/sda5: UUID="fa81b8b6-0ad0-47d4-864c-cd5152afd77f" TYPE="swap" 
/dev/sdc1: LABEL="My Book" UUID="3495-3602" TYPE="vfat" 

=============================== "mount" output: ===============================

/dev/sda1 on / type ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)
tmpfs on /lib/init/rw type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
/proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
varrun on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
varlock on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=1777)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=620)
fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
lrm on /lib/modules/2.6.27-14-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=755)
securityfs on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/ben/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=ben)
/dev/sdc1 on /media/My Book type vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=hal,shortname=mixed,uid=1000,utf8,umask=077,flush)
/dev/sda3 on /media/disk type fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096)


=========================== sda1/boot/grub/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		3

## 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=e6e6c703-6039-4208-a9de-12955f01ce38 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,0)

## 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 2.6.27-14-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-14-generic root=UUID=e6e6c703-6039-4208-a9de-12955f01ce38 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-14-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-14-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-14-generic root=UUID=e6e6c703-6039-4208-a9de-12955f01ce38 ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-14-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=e6e6c703-6039-4208-a9de-12955f01ce38 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)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=e6e6c703-6039-4208-a9de-12955f01ce38 ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic root=UUID=e6e6c703-6039-4208-a9de-12955f01ce38 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)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic root=UUID=e6e6c703-6039-4208-a9de-12955f01ce38 ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.24-22-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-22-generic root=UUID=e6e6c703-6039-4208-a9de-12955f01ce38 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.24-22-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-22-generic root=UUID=e6e6c703-6039-4208-a9de-12955f01ce38 ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

=============================== sda1/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
proc            /proc           proc    defaults        0       0
# /dev/sda1
UUID=e6e6c703-6039-4208-a9de-12955f01ce38 /               ext3    relatime,errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /dev/sda5
UUID=fa81b8b6-0ad0-47d4-864c-cd5152afd77f none            swap    sw              0       0
/dev/scd0       /media/cdrom0   udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0       0

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


   5.1GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
   8.8GB: boot/grub/stage2
   8.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic
   8.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic.bak
   8.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
  86.7GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-14-generic
   8.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic
   8.8GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-22-generic
   8.8GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic
  85.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-14-generic
   8.8GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic
  86.7GB: initrd.img
   8.8GB: initrd.img.old
  85.6GB: vmlinuz
   8.8GB: vmlinuz.old
=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

sdb

[merlinus]

Try adding this to the end of menu.lst

title Vista
rootnoverify (hd0,2)
makeactive
chainloader +1

and restart.

[presence1960]

everything looks in order except maybe one thing. Did you format sda3? It says windows vista. I am wondering how it knows which windows is on your machine if you haven't got windows installed. I don't have any unallocated space or unused partition I can format as NTFS to see how it would look plus I have windows 7 which would show as vista.

I know this is probably obvious and I shouldn't even ask, but did you click apply (green check mark) in gparted after choosing to format the partition?

Is the windows install disk an original or a burned copy. Test it in another machine to see if it boots.

Did you try deleting sda3 and leaving it as unallocated space when installing windows?

I am at a loss here.

I just noticed something, which may mean nothing. I was comparing my boot info script output to yours. My data NTFS & my win 7 partition are unmounted in mine, but yours is mounted for some reason. Did you mount it prior to running the boot info script? Just a thought there.

[merlinus]

I also noticed that sda3 was listed as vista, which is why I suggested adding that stanza to menu.lst to see if it could be booted into. It just may be that windows is indeed installed there.

Sorry if I interrupted the thread.

[presence1960]

I also noticed that sda3 was listed as vista, which is why I suggested adding that stanza to menu.lst to see if it could be booted into. It just may be that windows is indeed installed there.

Sorry if I interrupted the thread.

I thought that also until I reread that he couldn't get the installer to do it's thing. Maybe if mounts that in ubuntu and looks to see if an OS structure is installed. He is missing boot files, but can restore them if the rest of the OS is installed.

What is weird is he is trying to install XP though. I just went back & reread the entire thread. Why the partition type says vista is really weird to me.

[PooAvenger]

Vista was installed on this laptop before I put Ubuntu on it but that was like 4 partitions of this hdd ago and like a year in actual time. The partition is mounted on my desktop but I didn't mount it, I didn't really do anything to it except format it. I did try just leaving it unformatted space and still no dice, the xp disk is a burn but it works on other computers as well as a virtual machine I have installed. How do I add the command to Menu.lst? I figure I'll try that and see what comes up.

Any other ideas? I need this computer for college so I don't want to have to wipe the hdd without being absolutely sure that it is unworkable that's why I'm trying to be thourough here.

Thanks again!

[merlinus]

gksudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

I don't expect adding this will actually boot vista, but perhaps will give some useful error messages.

Also, change this

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

to this

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

so the grub menu will appear.

[PooAvenger]

Ok no dice, the boot loader comes up but when I hit the Vista one it just says BOOTMGR is missing. So I'm guessing I formatted it correctly but XP still is being a skank and won't see it when I load everything for set up. Any guesses?

[merlinus]

Try to mount the partition.

sudo mkdir /media/windows
sudo mount -t ntfs /dev/sda3 /media/windows