Windows 7 disappeared from bootloader

[Quackers]

The Windows repair function can take up to 3 times to repair the installation - if it even finds it .
If you ignore that option and select the command prompt option and run the command quoted earlier, it may fix things. If not, there are other options.

[coffeecat]

Actually, yes, here's a thought. It's the BCD file(s) that is/are missing. Scroll down a bit on that link and have a look at the /RebuildBcd option. I think maybe that's what you need. The problem is getting it to write the BCD files to sda2, which is where they need to be. I'm not sure what that scanning all disks is about. I've never run bootrec /RebuildBcd.

[Jetro]

Okay, I don't know if you'll believe this, but here's what I did:

Since you mentioned that the "boot" flag was on sda2, I went into GParted, removed it, and added one to sda7 (where there was none before).

I then ran 'sudo update grub' and it detected sda2 as Win7 (which I removed?!)

When restarting, Win7/Vista showed on the GRUB menu. I chose it, it asked me to check the disk, once again referring to sda2. (Even though I installed it on sda6!)

I have no idea what I did, but Win7 now works, I am typing this from there.
Maybe it was installed in sda2 all along? It doesn't seem that way, seeing as the C drive is 35,8 GB.


I'm sorry I don't seem to listen to you, but I just wanted to give it a go before trying your options. Windows seem to be working again...

[coffeecat]

Whatever you've done, you've done something clever!

I *believe* grub can get Windows to boot without BCD being there, but the problem is getting grub-update to recognise the Windows OS without BCD there. Whatever, would you mind running the boot script again and posting the new RESULTS.txt? It will be interesting and educational.

Thanks!

[Quackers]

Lol, nice one. I would imagine, though, that somewhere there are Windows boot files which are not in a logical partition. Who knows? Not me

[Jetro]

Heh, sure guys/gals.

I still don't get why it says "Windows Vista/7 loader (sda2)" in the GRUB, when it pretty clearly is in sda6. Anyway.

New boot script:

                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 #7 for (,msdos7)/boot/grub.

sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

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

sda5: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu 10.04.2 LTS
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda6: _________________________________________________________________________

    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

sda7: _________________________________________________________________________

    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

sda8: _________________________________________________________________________

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

sda2: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   /bootmgr /Boot/BCD

=========================== 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
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sda1               4,094   270,542,847   270,538,754   5 Extended
/dev/sda5               4,096   164,118,527   164,114,432  83 Linux
/dev/sda6    *    164,120,576   239,338,269    75,217,694   7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda7         239,339,520   269,139,967    29,800,448  83 Linux
/dev/sda8         269,142,016   270,542,847     1,400,832  82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2         270,542,848   312,580,095    42,037,248   7 HPFS/NTFS


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL                         

/dev/sda1: PTTYPE="dos" 
/dev/sda2        28EF6B7158A8A24B                       ntfs       Staesj                        
/dev/sda5        6ded9daf-6cda-49e8-bb6e-7be687cc5c20   ext4       Ubuntu 10.04                  
/dev/sda6        1A2DF9F30F3157E5                       ntfs       Win7                          
/dev/sda7        5405d59d-41f3-4f64-a84c-88ec359a31f5   ext4                                     
/dev/sda8        c6342592-9b4a-4166-ac0e-848721b29694   swap                                     
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos" 

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

Device           Mount_Point              Type       Options

/dev/sda7        /                        ext4       (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)


=========================== sda5/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/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
  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 ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 6ded9daf-6cda-49e8-bb6e-7be687cc5c20
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
  if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
    # For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
    # understand terminal_output
    terminal gfxterm
  fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 6ded9daf-6cda-49e8-bb6e-7be687cc5c20
set locale_dir=($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_proxy ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-30-generic" --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,5)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 6ded9daf-6cda-49e8-bb6e-7be687cc5c20
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-30-generic root=UUID=6ded9daf-6cda-49e8-bb6e-7be687cc5c20 ro splash quiet vga=769  quiet splash nomodeset video=uvesafb:mode_option=1600x1200-16,mtrr=3,scroll=ywrap
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-30-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux_proxy ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober_proxy ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic (on /dev/sda7)" {
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,7)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 25d4e3ac-04e2-41cd-b13b-12c8ef6d143e
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic root=UUID=25d4e3ac-04e2-41cd-b13b-12c8ef6d143e ro quiet splash
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober_proxy ###

### 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 ###

=============================== 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=6ded9daf-6cda-49e8-bb6e-7be687cc5c20 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# swap was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=dc4f3e6b-0b2d-4fc7-9b51-9691745922fd none            swap    sw              0       0

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


  80.2GB: boot/grub/core.img
  15.3GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
  34.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-29-generic
  24.9GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-30-generic
  28.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-29-generic
  23.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-30-generic
  24.9GB: initrd.img
  34.4GB: initrd.img.old
  23.6GB: vmlinuz
  28.0GB: vmlinuz.old

=========================== sda7/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,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5405d59d-41f3-4f64-a84c-88ec359a31f5
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,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5405d59d-41f3-4f64-a84c-88ec359a31f5
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,msdos7)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5405d59d-41f3-4f64-a84c-88ec359a31f5
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=5405d59d-41f3-4f64-a84c-88ec359a31f5 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,msdos7)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5405d59d-41f3-4f64-a84c-88ec359a31f5
	echo	'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=5405d59d-41f3-4f64-a84c-88ec359a31f5 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/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,msdos7)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5405d59d-41f3-4f64-a84c-88ec359a31f5
	linux16	/boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5405d59d-41f3-4f64-a84c-88ec359a31f5
	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 28ef6b7158a8a24b
	chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-30-generic (on /dev/sda5)" {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 6ded9daf-6cda-49e8-bb6e-7be687cc5c20
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-30-generic root=UUID=6ded9daf-6cda-49e8-bb6e-7be687cc5c20 ro splash quiet vga=769 quiet splash nomodeset video=uvesafb:mode_option=1600x1200-16,mtrr=3,scroll=ywrap
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-30-generic
}
menuentry "Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sdb1)" {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd1,msdos1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7719060e75a54a10
	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 ###

=============================== sda7/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/sda7 during installation
UUID=5405d59d-41f3-4f64-a84c-88ec359a31f5 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# swap was on /dev/sda8 during installation
UUID=c6342592-9b4a-4166-ac0e-848721b29694 none            swap    sw              0       0

=================== sda7: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


 133.4GB: boot/grub/core.img
 131.4GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
 123.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
 133.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
 123.5GB: initrd.img
 133.4GB: vmlinuz
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader  on sda1

00000000  7f f9 67 03 61 0c 26 13  a6 17 e6 1a 18 1d 54 1d  |..g.a.&.......T.|
00000010  8a 1b c5 18 13 17 6a 17  28 18 04 19 6e 1a 2a 1c  |......j.(...n.*.|
00000020  68 1d 6a 1d 55 1c ba 1a  ea 18 3a 16 b9 11 4d 0a  |h.j.U.....:...M.|
00000030  47 00 82 f5 6c eb 34 e2  c8 d8 45 cf 54 c6 0d bf  |G...l.4...E.T...|
00000040  f8 b8 f3 b2 0c ae 70 ab  f2 aa 5f aa c3 a7 e9 a3  |......p..._.....|
00000050  ce a0 b8 9f f8 9f 5b 9e  98 98 f8 8d 2a 86 c6 84  |......[.....*...|
00000060  99 89 40 93 37 a1 7e b2  3f c4 85 d2 11 dc 84 e4  |..@.7.~.?.......|
00000070  2c f0 65 fe 17 0a 74 10  17 14 b0 18 2c 1f 7a 26  |,.e...t.....,.z&|
00000080  11 2c dd 2f 60 32 3d 33  2b 33 ac 32 43 33 27 34  |.,./`2=3+3.2C3'4|
00000090  4e 33 88 2f ab 28 11 20  7b 16 c4 0d b3 06 4e 00  |N3./.(. {.....N.|
000000a0  64 f9 25 f1 8c e8 3d e1  16 db 5e d3 bd ca 19 c3  |d.%...=...^.....|
000000b0  00 be e3 ba 79 b8 a6 b8  61 bb 07 c0 6a c5 55 cb  |....y...a...j.U.|
000000c0  5d d2 29 da d7 e1 69 e9  46 f1 17 f9 18 00 22 06  |].)...i.F.....".|
000000d0  69 0d 25 16 e0 1e ce 26  41 2f 2c 3a fd 45 87 50  |i.%....&A/,:.E.P|
000000e0  16 5a d9 62 32 6a c4 6f  c2 73 25 76 19 77 e5 76  |.Z.b2j.o.s%v.w.v|
000000f0  b7 75 a4 73 4f 71 dd 6e  a8 6b b0 67 b2 62 5c 5b  |.u.sOq.n.k.g.b\[|
00000100  c6 51 d9 48 6e 40 1c 38  a9 31 90 2e e9 2d 51 2e  |.Q.Hn@.8.1...-Q.|
00000110  7e 2e 3f 2e 63 30 2b 35  44 39 5e 3a 40 3c 49 3f  |~.?.c0+5D9^:@<I?|
00000120  13 41 79 40 95 3e ba 3e  9f 3d be 36 71 26 4a 0c  |.Ay@.>.>.=.6q&J.|
00000130  b4 ee ed d2 90 ba 2b a9  85 a1 45 a3 c9 a9 29 af  |......+...E...).|
00000140  3c b3 bd b8 ad c2 29 d2  04 e5 f8 f9 46 0d 72 1b  |<.....).....F.r.|
00000150  23 22 98 20 be 1b ce 16  ee 12 c6 11 85 13 dd 15  |#". ............|
00000160  99 17 c8 19 bd 1d 7c 22  09 28 c5 2d aa 33 c2 3a  |......|".(.-.3.:|
00000170  1c 40 81 42 d6 43 ea 45  09 48 41 46 ee 3f ff 38  |.@.B.C.E.HAF.?.8|
00000180  bb 2f e3 21 ca 10 69 00  2d f2 0a e5 a0 d8 49 cd  |./.!..i.-.....I.|
00000190  ea c2 7c ba da b3 c6 af  6f af 2c b3 ef ba 67 c3  |..|.....o.,...g.|
000001a0  90 cb 92 d3 ac d9 9b dc  a4 dd 8a de d8 de 25 dd  |..............%.|
000001b0  d9 db af dc 0d de 96 df  82 e2 62 e7 ee ed 00 41  |..........b....A|
000001c0  02 00 83 fe ff ff 02 00  00 00 00 30 c8 09 00 fe  |...........0....|
000001d0  ff ff 05 fe ff ff ea 35  c8 09 36 bd 7b 04 00 00  |.......5..6.{...|
000001e0  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

[Quackers]

Can you run the boot script again please?

[Jetro]

Done now!

Thank you so much for your help

[Quackers]

You have moved the boot flag, but the two necessary Windows boot files are in sda2. This is why grub lists that partition. Those files obviously point to sda6 and so Windows is booting (despite your best efforts )
I suspect problems may arise if ever Ubuntu (and grub) are removed. I'm not sure Windows will then boot with the boot flag where it is. I could be wrong though, it's happened before

[coffeecat]

I still don't get why it says "Windows Vista/7 loader (sda2)" in the GRUB, when it pretty clearly is in sda6. Anyway.

Nope. look again

sda2: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   /bootmgr /Boot/BCD

Somewhere along the line you managed to restore /Boot/BCD to sda2, which is what Quackers and I were recommending. That's why it's working now. Your sda2 is now acting as a combination data store and boot partition.

By the way, the boot flag is irrelevant when grub is in control of booting. The boot flag is only needed by Windows and only when Windows code is in the mbr. The normal mbr Windows code simply looks for the partition with the boot flag and hands over the boot process to the boot files there. Grub does the handing over when it is present and the boot flag becomes superfluous.

Good luck! Glad it's working!