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Thread: Grub installed to my Windows drive!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    52

    Grub installed to my Windows drive!

    I plugged a drive into my computer through USB, booted to a Ubuntu 12.10 DVD I made and installed Ubuntu 12.10 to the USB drive. Everything went as planned. I unplugged the USB hard drive and now, when I try to boot to my original Windows install on a totally separate drive, it says "grub error" and won't boot...

    I REALLY need a fix to this.

    A - I never saw this coming
    B - I have things I REALLY need on the drive
    C - the drive is encrypted with TrueCrypt. Otherwise, I'd just plug it in and pull off what I need...

    Please, please, please...any and all info and/or help is greatly appreciated.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    England / U.S.
    Beans
    277
    Distro
    Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal Quetzal

    Re: Ubuntu killed my Windows drive!

    Ubuntu hasn't killed your Windows drive. Please amend the thread title.

    You installed Ubuntu on an external drive. It installed Grub menu. You removed the drive. Grub can't find the information it needs.

    Have you tried plugging the drive back in?

    Have you tried putting the UbuntuDVD back in the DVD drive, booting into a live session and reinstalling grub to the Windows drive?

    Again, please amend your thread title.
    Last edited by Mr_JMM; November 19th, 2012 at 04:30 AM.
    Linux is not windows // Ubuntu (Quantal:12.10) Guide
    Use descriptive thread titles // Linux... is... not... windows // OSX... is... not... Linux

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    52

    Re: Ubuntu tried to kill my Windows drive!

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr_JMM View Post
    Ubuntu hasn't killed your Windows drive. Please amend the thread title.

    You installed Ubuntu on an external drive. It installed Grub menu. You removed the drive. Grub can't find the information it needs.

    Have you tried plugging the drive back in?

    Have you tried putting the UbuntuDVD back in the DVD drive, bbooting into a live session and reinstalling grub to the Windows drive?

    Again, please amend your thread title.
    I use the thread title as a bit of a joking affront. Definitely not to be taken 100% literally. I will change it.

    Anyway...yes, I plugged a SATA drive into my laptop through USB and installed Ubuntu on it.

    No, I haven't tried plugging the external SATA drive into it again, nor have I tried booting to the DVD again. I will do this.

    How can I remedy this issue should either of these things help?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    England / U.S.
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    277
    Distro
    Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal Quetzal

    Re: Ubuntu killed my Windows drive!

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr_JMM View Post
    ...booting into a live session and reinstalling grub to the Windows drive?
    10char
    Linux is not windows // Ubuntu (Quantal:12.10) Guide
    Use descriptive thread titles // Linux... is... not... windows // OSX... is... not... Linux

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    52

    Re: Ubuntu killed my Windows drive!

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr_JMM View Post
    10char
    What?

    Not sure how to change thread title. If a mod wants to change it, have at it.

    I plugged the USB drive back in...nothing. Neither booted. Black screen. Nothing happened.

    So I put the DVD back in and booted to it. It booted...not sure what to do now.

    Local Windows HDD is in, Ubuntu USB drive is plugged in, booted to DVD now.

    Words of wisdom GREATLY appreciated...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Beans
    52

    Re: Ubuntu killed my Windows drive!

    Really wish I could change the thread title...don't know how to.

    But yea...anyone? Hint, tip or trick to get me back into the old Windows drive?



    On a side note...I'm by no means a Linux n00b but, admittedly it's been a month or 2 since checking out Ubuntu and...uh...when did Ubuntu get so awesome?! It was really good before but wow...on a live CD, it found my wireless NIC, bluetooth, keyboard, trackpad WITH scrolling, battery, sound card, everything...AND it has thunderbird pre-installed.

    This is very, very good. I'm legitimately impressed. But...just as when I used Ubuntu Netbook Remix forever ago, it comes down to power management. If only the power control was better (the thing is SCREAMING along right now and I'm not doing anything but typing here...) I would easily happily run this day to day. (PC is an HP DV6T w/ an i7-2720QM, bluetooth, blu-ray drive, 500GB Momentus XT, 8GB RAM, AMD 6770M if you're wondering.)
    Last edited by lisati; November 19th, 2012 at 05:13 AM. Reason: Correct spelling of Windows

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    52

    Re: Ubuntu killed my Windows drive!

    Got a GRUB editor...not sure what to do still...lol

    http://askubuntu.com/questions/10023...rub-boot-order

    Again...any help appreciated...

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    SW Forida
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    Hidden!
    Distro
    Kubuntu

    Re: Grub installed to my Windows drive!

    Changed title.

    When doing a full install to any second drive internal or external, you have to use manual install as grub defaults to installing to sda with all the auto install options. With manual install you get the option to install to the MBR of the second drive.

    Encrypted Windows could be a big issue. Grub not only installs to the MBR, but grub's core.ing is in the next 30 plus sectors after the MBR. Encryption code may be in that same area. Not sure if just installing a Windows boot loader will work or not. Do not know Windows encryption and how it works. Supposed Windows boot partition was separate so you could encrypt the main partition, so it then should be repairable. But other encryption tools verify MBR and other things that may then not be ok??

    Boot repair can restore a standard Windows like boot loader or you can use your Windows install DVD or recovery CD to repair Windows.

    How to restore the Ubuntu/XP/Vista/7 bootloader (Updated for Ubuntu 9.10 - grub2) - talsemgeest
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Re...ta/7Bootloader


    Boot Repair can install a Windows work alike (but not encryption based) boot loader to the internal drive and install grub2's boot loader to the external drive.

    Post the link to the BootInfo report that this creates.

    Boot Repair -Also handles LVM, GPT, separate /boot and UEFI dual boot.:
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair
    You can repair many boot issues with this or 'Create BootInfo' report (Other Options) & post the link it creates, so we can see your exact configuration and diagnose advanced problems.Install in Ubuntu liveCD or USB or:
    Full RepairCD with Boot-Repair (for newer computers)
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuSecureRemix

    If you are getting black screen, that may also be separate video issue. Boot-Repair can change grub's default to get menu to show, but Ubuntu may need some boot parameters to boot. What video card/chip do you have?

    Boot-Repair --> Advanced options --> GRUB options tab --> tick the "Uncomment GFXMODE" option --> Apply

    How to set NOMODESET and other kernel boot options in grub2
    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions
    UEFI boot install & repair info - Regularly Updated :
    https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2147295
    Please use Thread Tools above first post to change to [Solved] when/if answered completely.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Beans
    52

    Re: Grub installed to my Windows drive!

    Quote Originally Posted by oldfred View Post
    Changed title.

    When doing a full install to any second drive internal or external, you have to use manual install as grub defaults to installing to sda with all the auto install options. With manual install you get the option to install to the MBR of the second drive.

    Encrypted Windows could be a big issue. Grub not only installs to the MBR, but grub's core.ing is in the next 30 plus sectors after the MBR. Encryption code may be in that same area. Not sure if just installing a Windows boot loader will work or not. Do not know Windows encryption and how it works. Supposed Windows boot partition was separate so you could encrypt the main partition, so it then should be repairable. But other encryption tools verify MBR and other things that may then not be ok??

    Boot repair can restore a standard Windows like boot loader or you can use your Windows install DVD or recovery CD to repair Windows.

    How to restore the Ubuntu/XP/Vista/7 bootloader (Updated for Ubuntu 9.10 - grub2) - talsemgeest
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Re...ta/7Bootloader


    Boot Repair can install a Windows work alike (but not encryption based) boot loader to the internal drive and install grub2's boot loader to the external drive.

    Post the link to the BootInfo report that this creates.

    Boot Repair -Also handles LVM, GPT, separate /boot and UEFI dual boot.:
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair
    You can repair many boot issues with this or 'Create BootInfo' report (Other Options) & post the link it creates, so we can see your exact configuration and diagnose advanced problems.Install in Ubuntu liveCD or USB or:
    Full RepairCD with Boot-Repair (for newer computers)
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuSecureRemix

    If you are getting black screen, that may also be separate video issue. Boot-Repair can change grub's default to get menu to show, but Ubuntu may need some boot parameters to boot. What video card/chip do you have?

    Boot-Repair --> Advanced options --> GRUB options tab --> tick the "Uncomment GFXMODE" option --> Apply

    How to set NOMODESET and other kernel boot options in grub2
    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions
    Thank you. I will look into this this afternoon.

    The drive is encrypted with True Crypt if that tells anyone anything.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    France
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Ubuntu Development Release

    Re: Grub installed to my Windows drive!

    Quote Originally Posted by rmp5s View Post
    I plugged a drive into my computer through USB, booted to a Ubuntu 12.10 DVD I made and installed Ubuntu 12.10 to the USB drive. Everything went as planned. I unplugged the USB hard drive and now, when I try to boot to my original Windows install on a totally separate drive, it says "grub error" and won't boot...

    I REALLY need a fix to this.
    Please run Boot-Repair. It should ask you if the Ubuntu disk is removable or not. Answer "Yes".
    Then click the "Recommended Repair" button, and reboot the pc.

    If any problem, please indicate the URL that will appear.

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