Help with removing/replacing GRUB on dying harddrive

[The Real Napsta]

Here's my situation:

I have an Ubuntu/Windows Xp dual boot. Each OS has it's own physical harddrive. Xp is on a 100gb HDD and ubuntu is my on 20gb.

The 20gb has the GRUB bootloader on it. The 20gb HD is also dying. (I can still get it to work after multiple tries as of now)

I need help getting Windows to boot on it's own without the GRUB and the 2nd (ubuntu harddrive).

Keep in mind that the GRUB is on the lunux harddrive and not the XP drive.

I can access the Xp drive from ubuntu but I don't think i can access the ubuntu drive from Xp.

Any help would be great, thanks for reading.

[caljohnsmith]

Have you tried changing your BIOS to boot the Windows drive? If so, what happens? Do you have a Ubuntu Live CD you can use for troubleshooting? If you do, how about booting that, open a terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and do:

sudo xxd -l 2 -p /dev/sda
sudo xxd -l 2 -p /dev/sdb
That will help determine if Grub is maybe in the MBR (Master Boot Record) of your Windows drive. Please post the output and we can work from there if you want.

[The Real Napsta]

sudo xxd -l 2 -p /dev/sda
fa33
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo xxd -l 2 -p /dev/sdb
xxd: /dev/sdb: No such file or directory


That's the output I got. Thanks for the help so far.

[caljohnsmith]

OK, I see I'm going to need a bit more info about your setup since your sdb drive was not even found; how about running:

cd ~/Desktop && wget 'http://home.comcast.net/~ubuntu_grub/boot_info_script.txt' && sudo bash boot_info_script.txt
That will create a "RESULTS.txt" file in the same directory from where the script is run, namely your desktop; please copy/paste the contents of that file to your next post, highlight the copied text, and click the pound sign # graphic in the Ubuntu forum message box so that the text will get "code" tags put around it. The results of that script will help clarify your setup and hopefully what your problem might be.

[donkyhotay]

It's only showing one drive, lets see if we can find it. What are the results of

ls -la | grep 'sd'
?

//edit: never mind, caljohnsmith's script should provide us with the information we need better then grepping your devices.

[The Real Napsta]

Sorry I took so long to respond.

Here's the results.txt:


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

=> Grub is installed in the MBR of /dev/hda and looks on boot drive #2 in
partition #1 for its boot files.
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/hdb
=> No boot loader is installed in the MBR of /dev/hdc
=> No known boot loader is installed in the MBR of /dev/hdd
=> No boot loader is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda

hda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows XP
Boot files/dirs: /boot.ini /ntldr /NTLDR /NTDETECT.COM /ntdetect.com

hda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Unknown
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /ntldr /NTLDR /NTDETECT.COM /ntdetect.com

hdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: Win_98
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, hdb1 has
39100257 sectors, but according to the info from
fdisk, it has 37431386 sectors.
Operating System: Ubuntu 7.04
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab /boot /boot/grub

hdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: Extended Partition

hdb5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: swap

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: MSDOS5.0: Fat 16
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

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

Drive hda: __________________________________________________ ___________________

fdisk -lu /dev/hda:

Disk /dev/hda: 100.0 GB, 100030242816 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 12161 cylinders, total 195371568 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 9767520 195366464 92799472+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda2 63 9767519 4883728+ b W95 FAT32

Partition table entries are not in disk order

sfdisk -V /dev/hda:

/dev/hda: OK

Drive hdb: __________________________________________________ ___________________

fdisk -lu /dev/hdb:

Disk /dev/hdb: 20.0 GB, 20020396032 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 2434 cylinders, total 39102336 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdb1 * 63 37431449 18715693+ 83 Linux
/dev/hdb2 37431450 39102209 835380 5 Extended
/dev/hdb5 37431513 39102209 835348+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris

sfdisk -V /dev/hdb:

Warning: extended partition does not start at a cylinder boundary.
DOS and Linux will interpret the contents differently.
Warning: partition 1 does not end at a cylinder boundary

Drive hdc: __________________________________________________ ___________________

fdisk -lu /dev/hdc:
Note: sector size is 2048 (not 512)

Disk /dev/hdc: 732 MB, 732293120 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 22 cylinders, total 357565 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 2048 = 2048 bytes


sfdisk -V /dev/hdc:


sfdisk: ERROR: sector 0 does not have an msdos signature
/dev/hdc: unrecognized partition table type

sfdisk: no partition table present.

Drive hdd: __________________________________________________ ___________________

fdisk -lu /dev/hdd:

sfdisk -V /dev/hdd:

read: Input/output error

sfdisk: read error on /dev/hdd - cannot read sector 0
/dev/hdd: unrecognized partition table type

sfdisk: no partition table present.

Drive sda: __________________________________________________ ___________________

fdisk -lu /dev/sda:

Disk /dev/sda: 256 MB, 256900608 bytes
16 heads, 32 sectors/track, 979 cylinders, total 501759 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 99 501247 250574+ 6 FAT16

sfdisk -V /dev/sda:

Warning: no primary partition is marked bootable (active)
This does not matter for LILO, but the DOS MBR will not boot this disk.
/dev/sda: OK

blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

/dev/hda1: TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/hda2: LABEL=" FAT32 ‹ÐÁâ€æ
fÁèf;Føt*f‰FøfFôf¶^(€ãt:^ƒ�" UUID="423B-2BDF" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/hdb1: UUID="54afcc28-e1a5-4429-841b-b0ff036752c9" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/hdb5: TYPE="swap" UUID="a3483db5-f5af-4686-b546-f8429a2eea14"
/dev/sda1: SEC_TYPE="msdos" UUID="3B69-1AFD" TYPE="vfat"

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

unionfs on / type unionfs (rw)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
/sys on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
varrun on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=0755)
varlock on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=1777)
procbususb on /proc/bus/usb type usbfs (rw)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
devshm on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,gid=5,mode=620)
lrm on /lib/modules/2.6.17-10-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw)
tmpfs on /tmp type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw)
/dev/sda1 on /media/usbdisk type vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,quiet,shortname=mixed,uid=999,gid =999,umask=077,iocharset=utf8)

================================ hda1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

=========================== hdb1/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 change this entry to 'saved' 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 10

## 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=54afcc28-e1a5-4429-841b-b0ff036752c9 ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd1,0)

## 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

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-16-generic
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic root=UUID=54afcc28-e1a5-4429-841b-b0ff036752c9 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic
quiet
savedefault

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-16-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic root=UUID=54afcc28-e1a5-4429-841b-b0ff036752c9 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-12-generic
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-12-generic root=UUID=54afcc28-e1a5-4429-841b-b0ff036752c9 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-12-generic
quiet
savedefault

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-12-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-12-generic root=UUID=54afcc28-e1a5-4429-841b-b0ff036752c9 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-12-generic

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-11-generic
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-11-generic root=UUID=54afcc28-e1a5-4429-841b-b0ff036752c9 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-11-generic
quiet
savedefault

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-11-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-11-generic root=UUID=54afcc28-e1a5-4429-841b-b0ff036752c9 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-11-generic

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-generic
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic root=UUID=54afcc28-e1a5-4429-841b-b0ff036752c9 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic
quiet
savedefault

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic root=UUID=54afcc28-e1a5-4429-841b-b0ff036752c9 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic

title Ubuntu, memtest86+
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/hda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/hda2
title Windows NT/2000/XP
root (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


=============================== hdb1/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/hdb1
UUID=54afcc28-e1a5-4429-841b-b0ff036752c9 / ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/hdb5
UUID=a3483db5-f5af-4686-b546-f8429a2eea14 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/cdrom /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto 0 0
================================== hdb1/boot: ==================================

total 47484
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 2008-04-10 14:40 .
drwxr-xr-x 21 root root 4096 2007-07-26 17:36 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 285721 2006-12-05 22:47 abi-2.6.17-10-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 285721 2007-05-18 23:57 abi-2.6.17-11-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 285721 2007-07-16 19:57 abi-2.6.17-12-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 414274 2008-02-12 06:19 abi-2.6.20-16-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 74707 2006-12-05 21:20 config-2.6.17-10-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 74707 2007-05-18 22:31 config-2.6.17-11-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 74707 2007-07-16 18:30 config-2.6.17-12-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 83217 2008-02-12 02:45 config-2.6.20-16-generic
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2008-04-10 14:40 grub
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5455011 2007-04-06 19:53 initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5454826 2007-05-28 14:55 initrd.img-2.6.17-11-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6836572 2007-07-26 17:33 initrd.img-2.6.17-12-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5514966 2007-07-26 16:41 initrd.img-2.6.17-12-generic.bak
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6914322 2008-04-10 14:40 initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6913417 2008-01-12 18:37 initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic.bak
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 94600 2006-10-20 11:44 memtest86+.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 728778 2006-12-05 22:47 System.map-2.6.17-10-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 729932 2007-05-18 23:57 System.map-2.6.17-11-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 729954 2007-07-16 19:57 System.map-2.6.17-12-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 807071 2008-02-12 06:20 System.map-2.6.20-16-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1636700 2006-12-05 22:47 vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1636016 2007-05-18 23:57 vmlinuz-2.6.17-11-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1636514 2007-07-16 19:57 vmlinuz-2.6.17-12-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1747532 2008-02-12 06:19 vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic

=============================== hdb1/boot/grub: ===============================

total 204
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2008-04-10 14:40 .
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 2008-04-10 14:40 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 197 2007-04-04 22:16 default
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 30 2007-04-04 22:16 device.map
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 7508 2007-04-04 22:16 e2fs_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 7332 2007-04-04 22:16 fat_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16 2007-04-04 22:16 installed-version
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8128 2007-04-04 22:16 jfs_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5939 2008-04-10 14:40 menu.lst
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5939 2008-04-10 14:40 menu.lst~
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6804 2007-04-04 22:16 minix_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 9076 2007-04-04 22:16 reiserfs_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 512 2007-04-04 22:16 stage1
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 105652 2007-04-04 22:16 stage2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8764 2007-04-04 22:16 xfs_stage1_5

=========================== Unknown MBRs or Boot Sectors =======================

Unknown MBR on /dev/hdd


Unknown BootLoader on /dev/hda2

00000000 e9 a7 00 52 45 43 4f 56 45 52 59 00 02 08 20 00 |...RECOVERY... .|
00000010 02 00 00 00 00 f8 00 00 3f 00 ff 00 3f 00 00 00 |........?...?...|
00000020 20 0a 95 00 30 25 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 | ...0%..........|
00000030 01 00 06 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000040 80 00 29 df 2b 3b 42 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 |..).+;B |
00000050 20 20 46 41 54 33 32 20 20 20 8b d0 c1 e2 02 80 | FAT32 ......|
00000060 e6 01 66 c1 e8 07 66 3b 46 f8 74 2a 66 89 46 f8 |..f...f;F.t*f.F.|
00000070 66 03 46 f4 66 0f b6 5e 28 80 e3 0f 74 0f 3a 5e |f.F.f..^(...t.:^|
00000080 10 0f 83 90 00 66 0f af 5e 24 66 03 c3 bb e0 07 |.....f..^$f.....|
00000090 b9 01 00 e8 cf 00 8b da 66 8b 87 00 7e 66 25 ff |........f...~f%.|
000000a0 ff ff 0f 66 3d f8 ff ff 0f c3 33 c9 8e d9 8e c1 |...f=.....3.....|
000000b0 8e d1 66 bc f4 7b 00 00 bd 00 7c 66 0f b6 46 10 |..f..{....|f..F.|
000000c0 66 f7 66 24 66 0f b7 56 0e 66 03 56 1c 66 89 56 |f.f$f..V.f.V.f.V|
000000d0 f4 66 03 c2 66 89 46 fc 66 c7 46 f8 ff ff ff ff |.f..f.F.f.F.....|
000000e0 66 8b 46 2c 66 50 e8 af 00 bb 70 00 b9 01 00 e8 |f.F,fP....p.....|
000000f0 73 00 bf 00 07 b1 0b be a9 7d f3 a6 74 2a 03 f9 |s........}..t*..|
00000100 83 c7 15 81 ff 00 09 72 ec 66 40 4a 75 db 66 58 |.......r.f@Ju.fX|
00000110 e8 47 ff 72 cf be b4 7d ac 84 c0 74 09 b4 0e bb |.G.r...}...t....|
00000120 07 00 cd 10 eb f2 cd 19 66 58 ff 75 09 ff 75 0f |........fX.u..u.|
00000130 66 58 bb 00 20 66 83 f8 02 72 da 66 3d f8 ff ff |fX.. f...r.f=...|
00000140 0f 73 d2 66 50 e8 50 00 0f b6 4e 0d e8 16 00 c1 |.s.fP.P...N.....|
00000150 e1 05 03 d9 66 58 53 e8 00 ff 5b 72 d8 8a 56 40 |....fXS...[r..V@|
00000160 ea 00 00 00 20 66 60 66 6a 00 66 50 53 6a 00 66 |.... f`fj.fPSj.f|
00000170 68 10 00 01 00 8b f4 b8 00 42 8a 56 40 cd 13 be |h........B.V@...|
00000180 cc 7d 72 94 67 83 44 24 06 20 66 67 ff 44 24 08 |.}r.g.D$. fg.D$.|
00000190 e2 e3 83 c4 10 66 61 c3 66 48 66 48 66 0f b6 56 |.....fa.fHfHf..V|
000001a0 0d 66 f7 e2 66 03 46 fc c3 53 54 4c 44 52 20 20 |.f..f.F..STLDR |
000001b0 20 20 20 20 0d 0a 49 6e 76 61 6c 69 64 20 53 79 | ..Invalid Sy|
000001c0 73 74 65 6d 20 44 69 73 6b 20 6f 72 0d 0a 44 69 |stem Disk or..Di|
000001d0 73 6b 20 49 2f 4f 20 65 72 72 6f 72 0d 0a 50 72 |sk I/O error..Pr|
000001e0 65 73 73 20 61 20 6b 65 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 |ess a key to res|
000001f0 74 61 72 74 0d 0a 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 55 aa |tart..........U.|
00000200


=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

Warning: extended partition does not start at a cylinder boundary.
DOS and Linux will interpret the contents differently.
Warning: extended partition does not start at a cylinder boundary.
DOS and Linux will interpret the contents differently.
Warning: extended partition does not start at a cylinder boundary.
DOS and Linux will interpret the contents differently.
Disk /dev/hdc doesn't contain a valid partition table

[caljohnsmith]

OK, to restore a Windows MBR to your Windows hda drive, how about doing:

sudo apt-get install lilo
sudo lilo -M /dev/hda mbr
Then reboot, try to boot the hda Windows drive, and you should be able to boot straight into Windows. Let me know how it goes or if you run into problems.

[The Real Napsta]

Do that using my live cd correct?

[caljohnsmith]

Do that using my live cd correct?
You could actually run those commands from your Ubuntu install, but considering that you said your 20 GB Ubuntu drive is dying, I would recommend using the Live CD instead. :)

[The Real Napsta]

Okay I'll try it and let you know what happens. Thanks again for all the help.

[The Real Napsta]

It didn't work, it failed to grab the files from the ubuntu site.

[caljohnsmith]

Did you try running the second lilo command anyway? The Intrepid CD comes with lilo, so you actually don't have to install it if you are using an Intrepid Live Cd; I'm not sure whether previous Ubuntu Live CDs come with lilo, so that's why I included the apt-get command in case the Live CD you were using didn't have it all ready. Also, you were able to download the script from the internet and run that OK from the Live CD, so I'm wondering why apt-get would fail.

If you have a Windows Install CD though, you could just use that, go to the "recovery console", and run:

fixmbr
And that should do the trick. Or another option is to download the Super Grub Disk (http://www.supergrubdisk.org) and use it to install a Windows MBR. Let me know how it goes or if you run into problems.

[The Real Napsta]

sudo apt-get install lilo
sudo lilo -M /dev/hda mbr

Tried that code again with my LIVE CD today and it worked. Windows boots without the dead/dying harddrive. Thank you so much for all of your help and dealing with a newb like me lol.

Again, Thanks.

[caljohnsmith]

Glad to hear that worked OK and you can boot Windows now. Cheers and Happy New Year. :)