Deleted Windows Partition and Now Grub Does not Load

[teknodude]

I have a dual boot with ubuntu 8.04 and windows xp. I had some problems with windows xp, so I decided to start over (reinstall it).

I booted from the windows xp install cd and it showed 4 partitions . I deleted the partition labeled C, because this is where I had windows xp installed. However when I tried to install xp in the unpartitioned space, it gave me an error saying that I already have the max amount of partitions on my drive. I did notice that when I deleted partition C, the other three partitions had their drive letters changed.

Now when I start up my computer, the dual boot screen does not show up. It just says no bootable drive.

[Pumalite]

Boot your Live CD and post:


sudo fdisk -lu

[teknodude]

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -lu

Disk /dev/sda: 60.0 GB, 60011642880 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7296 cylinders, total 117210240 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x20da20da

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 86477895 90381689 1951897+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2 90381690 90767249 192780 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 90767250 117210239 13221495 83 Linux
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$


this is what shows up when i run the command sudo fdisk -lu

[caljohnsmith]

Have you tried using Ubuntu's partition editor gparted to make an NTFS partition for Windows to install to? I would try that. If you boot your Live CD, just go to System > Admin > Partition Editor. Also, make sure you create a primary NTFS partition for Windows and not a logical one. How about giving that a shot and let us know how it goes.

[teknodude]

Thanks for the help. Using the partition editor fixed the problem with installing windows xp again. All I have to do now is fix the boot menu problem. I think I just need to get GRUB back on the master boot record again.

[Partyboi2]

You can boot a ubuntu live cd and restore grub. See this (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351)