Vista Ubuntu Acer 2930

[retrodans]

I have recently got a new laptop (Acer 2930). It came with Vista, which I want to keep for various gaming reasons, as well as for quick setup by the work IT team that aren't Linus savvy.

Anyway, Vista works fine, so I install Ubuntu on a new partition, Ubuntu then works fine. BUT when I log back into vista, it takes me to a vista recovery page, and if it recovers, I can no longer access vista. So it seems I can only have one or the other.

I have mounted my c:, and the windows system is still there, as is the user account I was using, so it has not been removed. Acer comes with a recovery partition, and I have a feeling grub is pointing to this rather than my real Vista account, although I don't know for sure. anCan anyone help, as of course, I would like to have both, and currently whilst I sort this, I haven't set up either.

Thankyou for your help,
Dan

[logos34]

post the output of

sudo fdisk -l

and

cat /boot/grub/menu.lst

that should tell us where grub is pointing

[retrodans]

sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x6a47d0d0

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 1306 10490413+ 27 Unknown
/dev/sda2 * 1307 20110 151041024 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 20110 20502 3145796 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda4 20503 38913 147886357+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 20503 38913 147886326 83 Linux


cat /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 use 'savedefault' 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=ae8ebe98-8b37-41b0-be08-72f803ec8894 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=ae8ebe98-8b37-41b0-be08-72f803ec8894

## 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

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic
uuid ae8ebe98-8b37-41b0-be08-72f803ec8894
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=ae8ebe98-8b37-41b0-be08-72f803ec8894 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid ae8ebe98-8b37-41b0-be08-72f803ec8894
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=ae8ebe98-8b37-41b0-be08-72f803ec8894 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
uuid ae8ebe98-8b37-41b0-be08-72f803ec8894
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=ae8ebe98-8b37-41b0-be08-72f803ec8894 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
uuid ae8ebe98-8b37-41b0-be08-72f803ec8894
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=ae8ebe98-8b37-41b0-be08-72f803ec8894 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
uuid ae8ebe98-8b37-41b0-be08-72f803ec8894
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/sda1
title Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda2
title Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)
root (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

[logos34]

well, you've got two vista entries. Are they both appearing on the menu screen and can you choose the second? (the latter is the one you want, it points to 'hd0,1', which is sda2, the vista c: partition)

maybe rename them 'Windows Vista (Recovery)' and 'Windows Vista (on /dev/sda2)' to distinguish them

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

[retrodans]

Awesome, thankyou for that, it solved my problem a dream. How did you know the c: was hd0,1 though, just so I understand in the future.

Cheers,
Dan

[ratmandall]

Awesome, thankyou for that, it solved my problem a dream. How did you know the c: was hd0,1 though, just so I understand in the future.

Cheers,
Dan
The grub line

root (hd0,1)

Is pointing to the second partition on your hard-disk which is.


/dev/sda2 * 1307 20110 151041024 7 HPFS/NTFS
NOTE:grub counts from 0 on-wards

And windows file-systems in this day and age are usually "NTFS", so I'm assuming that's how 'logos34' figured it out.

[retrodans]

I have now got a similar problem on an XP machine at work. I have installed Ubuntu, and got GRUB to display, but it isn't showing my XP boot.

I don't know what disk to put for XP, or whether all the other values are the same. I can see that my NTFS drive is on sdb2, which is a seperate unpartitioned drive, but what do I put into grub to run this?

sudo fdisk -l


Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160000000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19452 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x41ab2316

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 18657 149862321 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 18658 19452 6385837+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 18658 19452 6385806 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 80.0 GB, 80000000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9726 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000081

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 9725 78116031 7 HPFS/NTFS




grub

# 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 use 'savedefault' 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=99a61784-4670-4e0f-9c50-7df0e09acf01 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=99a61784-4670-4e0f-9c50-7df0e09acf01

## 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

## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
## indomU=true
## indomU=false
# indomU=detect

## 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

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid 99a61784-4670-4e0f-9c50-7df0e09acf01
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=99a61784-4670-4e0f-9c50-7df0e09acf01 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 99a61784-4670-4e0f-9c50-7df0e09acf01
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=99a61784-4670-4e0f-9c50-7df0e09acf01 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
uuid 99a61784-4670-4e0f-9c50-7df0e09acf01
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=99a61784-4670-4e0f-9c50-7df0e09acf01 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 99a61784-4670-4e0f-9c50-7df0e09acf01
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=99a61784-4670-4e0f-9c50-7df0e09acf01 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid 99a61784-4670-4e0f-9c50-7df0e09acf01
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

I tried adding the below, but if I try it, it just shows 'Starting Up ...' on screen and doesn't do anything. I hope it hasn't messed up my XP install, as I really do need it for all my Adobe CS4 apps.


title Windows XP
root (hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


Thankyou for your help,
Dan

[logos34]

Booting Windows on a separate disk requires some trickery---need to fool XP into thinking it's the boot disk, otherwise it refuses to start. So add this to your entry:


title Windows XP
root (hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

[retrodans]

I am now getting an error message when I try the XP login saying


NTLDR is missing
Press CTRL + ALT + DEL to restart

This is a windows error message, a bit concerned my XP install is fried, will continue to look, but if you know of any info on this, that would be great.

[logos34]

relax, windows can't be fried

http://tinyempire.com/notes/ntldrismissing.htm

[retrodans]

Thankyou for your help, sadly I had to leave the office so wont be able to continue till wednesday, but I have managed to get into XP via safemode (with 2nd option) and copied the files. I then went to reboot with 2nd, and got an error, I was trying again with the 1st when I had leave.

Thankyou again for your help, will keep you updated with whether it was all successful.

Cheers,
Dan