Vista doesn't boot after Ubuntu install

[eatingorange]

I know this sounds like an odd solution but it has worked for me each time I've done it. I had the same problem. Installed Ubuntu 6.10 on a working Vista system only to find that Vista would not boot.

This solution requires that you have an XP CD, since Vista CD/DVD will not boot the system either. Go figure.

Boot from the XP CD and choose the system repair option (not the recovery console). It will scan your disk and ask you which installation you want to repair. Choose 1 since it will probably be the only option. It will prompt you for the administrator password for the account. Type in anything as it will certainly fail anyway. Enter the password three times. This will force the XP installer to make a write attempt to the NFTS partition. At this point, the system is as good as fixed.

Next, reboot, choose your Vista installation from Grub. Do the safe mode with command prompt option. The system will load a bunch of drivers and stop at crcdisk.sys. Leave it here for a minute. The drive should light up for a couple of minutes then the system will reboot. Choose Vista again and do a normal boot from the Vista boot menu.

All fixed! Of course, ymmv. But this has worked for me several times. Only gotcha is that you do need an XP CD.

[Kenetack]

This article was very helpful in making my Vista/Ubuntu system boot without errors.

http://apcmag.com/5046/how_to_dual_b...nstalled_first

These guys are great. They take you step by step with screen shots.

[Amalthea]

Originally Posted by eatingorange I know this sounds like an odd solution but it has worked for me each time I've done it. I had the same problem. Installed Ubuntu 6.10 on a working Vista system only to find that Vista would not boot. This solution requires that you have an XP CD, since Vista CD/DVD will not boot the system either. Go figure. Boot from the XP CD and choose the system repair option (not the recovery console). It will scan your disk and ask you which installation you want to repair. Choose 1 since it will probably be the only option. It will prompt you for the administrator password for the account. Type in anything as it will certainly fail anyway. Enter the password three times. This will force the XP installer to make a write attempt to the NFTS partition. At this point, the system is as good as fixed. Next, reboot, choose your Vista installation from Grub. Do the safe mode with command prompt option. The system will load a bunch of drivers and stop at crcdisk.sys. Leave it here for a minute. The drive should light up for a couple of minutes then the system will reboot. Choose Vista again and do a normal boot from the Vista boot menu. All fixed! Of course, ymmv. But this has worked for me several times. Only gotcha is that you do need an XP CD.

Hi, I am new to this forum (and also to ubuntu). I had the same problem. I tried thousands methods but it seems that yours is the only one that works! I admit that I thought it was strange and probably useless, but I tried and I was wrong (and at this point I am happy I was wrong)
The only negative point is that you must have an xp cd.
However, since I saw this problem unsolved in a lot of forums, I recommend that you tell this method to everyone. Nice done!

[Kangming]

Using an Xp cd worked like a charm--thanks, eatingorange!

[robbydek]

Originally Posted by eatingorange Boot from the XP CD and choose the system repair option (not the recovery console). It will scan your disk and ask you which installation you want to repair. Choose 1 since it will probably be the only option. It will prompt you for the administrator password for the account. Type in anything as it will certainly fail anyway. Enter the password three times. This will force the XP installer to make a write attempt to the NFTS partition. At this point, the system is as good as fixed. Next, reboot, choose your Vista installation from Grub. Do the safe mode with command prompt option. The system will load a bunch of drivers and stop at crcdisk.sys. Leave it here for a minute. The drive should light up for a couple of minutes then the system will reboot. Choose Vista again and do a normal boot from the Vista boot menu.

Other than the fact that to Repair Windows is to use the Recovery Console and that I didn't have to boot into safe mode to get this to work. It's a great solution. Microsoft told me to use my upgrade DVD and that it would fix the problem, but of coarse it's Microsoft and that didn't work.

[eap1935]

I really want to like Ubuntu, I really do, but the community on these forums doesn't help much. To my regret, I installed Ubuntu on a machine already running Windows 2000, thinking the dual boot bugs would have been worked out by now. So after installing, I select Windows from the grub menu, Windows starts loading and then throws an inaccessible boot device blue screen at me. The only changes I made to the partition table were the ones the Ubuntu installer made when I selected a pre-existing swap partition and a pre-existing ext3 partition for /.

So I come here for help, and I see you fricking idiots blaming Microsoft and suggesting moronic things like get rid of Windows. This is not an option in the real world, sorry, I need it for work. (You know, to make money so I don't have to live in my parents' basement writing stupid irresponsible crap about how Linux rules and Windows sucks.) This is not a Microsoft problem, this is a serious problem with the Ubuntu installer that basically blows away an existing operating system.

One of the threads that comes up when you search the forums for "inaccessible" is on how to reply to people who say Linux isn't ready for the desktop. You know what would help? Make an installer that actually lets you dual boot and doesn't fry other OSs.

Ubuntu has come a long way in the past couple of years, and I might even try it again next time around. Till then, forum-morons, keep jacking in your parents' basement.

[hayim]

Thanks eatingorange!! I dunno about this dude above me, but orange you must be the smartest forum-moron alive.

I dunno how you came up with that ridiculous solution, but it worked. I stupidly let Dapper LiveCD fumble around with my Vista partition, and that new NTFS had a meltdown. And *why* exactly should this prevent the Vista DVD from booting properly?? Who knows..

Just to reiterate: Orange's solution worked for me!!

Thx!

[ebrahim01]

Hi guys,

I have the same problem, Vista does not boot after I installed Ubuntu.

I tried what orange said above, but he said to only choose the 'system repair' option, not the 'recovery console' option. Theres only 3 options for me, to install XP, to repair with recovery console, or to exit install. Do i just use recovery console?

Please help guys. I really need to get back into Vista to get my files back. Some important files I need for work tomorrow.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks people

[ebrahim01]

Someone please help!

In desperate need of Help here..

I tried recovery console last night but this command prompt window came up and did not know what to type in so just typed exit.

Can someone please help?

[skydog2004]

I found a solution that worked great for me. I just installed gutsy on a new vaio vgn-nr160e laptop, and when I tried to reboot into vista it hung up at crcdisk.sys. (safe boot mode).

After a bit of cursing at the boys in redmond, a bit of googling, more cursing...

I rebooted back into linux and downloaded ntfsprogs and ran ntfsfix on vista partition. It resets journal and forces a file system check next time windows boots.
no problems since.
I can hibernate in both OS's and life is good...