dual boot Laptop trouble booting Vista Business

[IQRules]

I installed Ubuntu first, then Vista 2nd.
So the Vista overwrote the boot sector.
I was able to recover with Ubuntu 8.10 DVD and booted up Ubuntu.

The problem is I can't boot Vista now.

# on /dev/sda1
title Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)
root (hd0,0)
# savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

root@linux64:/boot/grub# fdisk -l /dev/sda

Disk /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x7062b4db

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 5219 41921586 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 * 5220 5255 289170 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 5463 30401 200322517+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda4 5256 5291 289170 83 Linux

/dev/sda2 is the /boot partition.
Any idea to make Vista bootable?

Thanks

[Mark Phelps]

You said /sda2 is the boot partition, but Vista can't boot from a Linux partition; it has to boot from an NTFS partition.

I presume when you "fixed" the Linux boot, you wrote GRUB to the MBR, right?

I've got a similar arrangement (Vista + Ubuntu) on a laptop and your menu.lst entries match mine -- and mine work OK.

You didn't say what happens when you attempt to boot Vista, but the only way to repair a Vista boot problem is to boot from a Vista DVD, or from a recovery CD, and run startup repair.

If you don't have a Vista DVD, go to the Neosmart Forums. They have a downloadable Vista recovery CD image you can download through torrents.

[IQRules]

I have this setup, sorry not /dev/sda2 here.

$ df -k .
Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda4 279999 42545 222996 17% /boot

I did "fixed" the Linux boot, with GRUB to the MBR.

When I choose to boot Vista, I got $5$5, then hangs.
I do have Vista DVD here, so I do not need neosmart, is it?

[mhgsys]

try:


title Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)
root (hd0,1)
makeactive
chainloader +1

[IQRules]

Now I got this,

"Error 13: Invalid or unsupported executable format"

Should I use Vista DVD and run fixmbr?
I am thinking reinstall Vista Home again. If I do this way, do I need Ubuntu DVD and run grub-install later?

[merquis]

i am new to all this, but i also had many problems installing a dual ubuntu/vista system.

I sorted it by installing vista first and then ubuntu, i don't know if that helps but i thought id post anyway :)

[Mark Phelps]

Using (hd0,1) is going to force Vista to try to boot from the second partition -- which is Ubuntu and won't work -- as you found out.

The entry (hd0,0) is the correct one, Don't know why that doesn't work.

If you're going to reinstall, would be best to do Vista first, Ubuntu second -- and have the first partition be Vista, not Ubuntu.

Ubuntu should detect Vista when you install it and automatically create a stanza in menu.lst for it.

[IQRules]

I wish I can totally avoid re-install Ubuntu 8.10 here.
Is it possible just reload Vista and fix grub with grub-install?

[Mark Phelps]

I wish I can totally avoid re-install Ubuntu 8.10 here.
Is it possible just reload Vista and fix grub with grub-install?

Thought you said Vista won't boot. I'm getting the impression that Vista never booted? Is that correct? If so, it's unlikely that you can fix the Vista boot problem with GRUB because GRUB only invokes the Vista boot loader. The info you had in your menu.lst stanza for Vista looked correct.

If Vista won't boot, you have to fix that by running Startup Repair booting from the Vista DVD.

We're going in circles here ... If the Vista repair doesn't work because it can't write the boot loader files to the Ext3 partition, we're back where we started.

[IQRules]

Here is what I did last month
1. install 32-bit 8.10 with /boot in /dev/sda2
2. install Vista OS; Vista works just fine
3. wipe out /dev/sda2, and recreate /dev/sda4 as /boot
4. install 8.10 64-bit
5. trouble begins

[Mark Phelps]

Here is what I did last month
1. install 32-bit 8.10 with /boot in /dev/sda2
2. install Vista OS; Vista works just fine
3. wipe out /dev/sda2, and recreate /dev/sda4 as /boot
4. install 8.10 64-bit
5. trouble begins

Ok, so Vista booted OK after the install, and so did Ubuntu.

And, sda4 is NOW the boot partition for Linux. Run Partition Editor in Ubuntu and see what flags are set for sda2 and sda4. From Fdisk, it looks like sda2 has the boot flag set.

If you can mount your Vista OS partition (Use Places and double-click the Vista icon), look for a directory "boot" in sda1, and in that directory, look for a "BCD" program. Just look, don't change anything. If those are there (which I suspect), it means that Vista DID write the boot loader files to its own partition (which it probably did because it couldn't write them to sda1).

[meierfra.]

When I choose to boot Vista, I got $5$5, then hangs

Very strange. Does it looks like Vista is starting to boot? Or does it hang immediately?

In order to get a clearer picture of your setup, I suggest to boot into
Ubuntu and download the Boot Info Script to your desktop:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/bootinfoscript/

Then open a terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and type:


sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh

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 the RESULTS.txt file to your next post, highlight the copied text, and click the pound/hash sign "#" graphic button 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 the solution to your booting problem might be.

[IQRules]

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

=> Grub0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive
in partition #4 for /grub/stage2 and /grub/menu.lst.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows Vista
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe
/ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 8.10
Boot files/dirs: /etc/fstab

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda7: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda8: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda9: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda10: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 8.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda11: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /grub/menu.lst

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x7062b4db

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 63 83,843,234 83,843,172 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 * 83,843,235 84,421,574 578,340 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 87,747,030 488,392,064 400,645,035 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 87,747,093 107,282,069 19,534,977 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 107,282,133 165,871,124 58,588,992 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 165,871,188 177,582,509 11,711,322 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda8 177,582,573 236,171,564 58,588,992 83 Linux
/dev/sda9 236,171,628 255,706,604 19,534,977 83 Linux
/dev/sda10 255,706,668 276,687,494 20,980,827 83 Linux
/dev/sda11 276,687,558 488,392,064 211,704,507 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 84,421,575 84,999,914 578,340 83 Linux


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

/dev/sda1: UUID="829844BB9844B009" LABEL="Local Disk" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda2: UUID="180901e7-3d94-48c8-823c-4dc70398d95b" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda4: UUID="cf5b554e-e9c5-49cd-8660-a467c787ba00" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda5: UUID="80020093-9ef3-4c28-9bb1-e4e7edeb7afb" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda6: UUID="d44849e2-85b4-4116-8812-62d6a1560c5e" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda7: UUID="b535c6f3-7b74-487a-bde1-42e3168b132a" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sda8: UUID="cb413b57-fb11-445d-a3ed-d5da4099c646" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda9: UUID="23b45f7a-7b36-40e3-88b7-288fe2f06ef0" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda10: UUID="b1a9d02c-235e-4f27-9726-dc7d246e799b" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda11: UUID="bb50d685-ac24-4ba9-aaa8-5edd45ae9921" TYPE="ext3"

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

/dev/sda10 on / type ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)
tmpfs on /lib/init/rw type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
/proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
varrun on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
varlock on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=1777)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=620)
fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
lrm on /lib/modules/2.6.27-11-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=755)
/dev/sda4 on /boot type ext3 (rw,relatime)
/dev/sda6 on /home type ext3 (rw,relatime)
/dev/sda8 on /opt type ext3 (rw,relatime)
/dev/sda11 on /data type ext3 (rw,relatime)
/dev/sda5 on /32bitroot type ext3 (rw,relatime)
/dev/sda2 on /srv type ext3 (rw,relatime)
securityfs on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/dba/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=dba)


=================== sda2: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


43.1GB: grub/stage2
42.9GB: initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
42.9GB: initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
42.9GB: vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic
42.9GB: vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic

=============================== sda5/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sda5
UUID=80020093-9ef3-4c28-9bb1-e4e7edeb7afb / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/sda2
UUID=96ec90ee-65bc-4c7d-ad28-8df2a6c8f2d7 /boot ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda10
UUID=f163762d-faec-491f-a1ef-e9b7174ff68a /data ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda6
UUID=d44849e2-85b4-4116-8812-62d6a1560c5e /home ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda8
UUID=cb413b57-fb11-445d-a3ed-d5da4099c646 /opt ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda9
UUID=23b45f7a-7b36-40e3-88b7-288fe2f06ef0 /usr/local ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda7
UUID=b535c6f3-7b74-487a-bde1-42e3168b132a none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sda8: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


117.2GB: boot/grub/stage2
117.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
117.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
117.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic
117.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic

========================== sda10/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=b1a9d02c-235e-4f27-9726-dc7d246e799b ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,3)

## 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
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=b1a9d02c-235e-4f27-9726-dc7d246e799b ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=b1a9d02c-235e-4f27-9726-dc7d246e799b ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=b1a9d02c-235e-4f27-9726-dc7d246e799b ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=b1a9d02c-235e-4f27-9726-dc7d246e799b ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
root (hd0,3)
kernel /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 (hd0,1)
# savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


=============================== sda10/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sda10
UUID=b1a9d02c-235e-4f27-9726-dc7d246e799b / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/sda4
UUID=cf5b554e-e9c5-49cd-8660-a467c787ba00 /boot ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda6
UUID=d44849e2-85b4-4116-8812-62d6a1560c5e /home ext3 relatime 0 2
/dev/sda8 /opt ext3 relatime 0 2
/dev/sda11 /data ext3 relatime 0 2
/dev/sda5 /32bitroot ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda2
UUID=180901e7-3d94-48c8-823c-4dc70398d95b /srv ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda7
UUID=b535c6f3-7b74-487a-bde1-42e3168b132a none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
###
/dev/sda1 sda1 ntfs-3g force 0 0

=================== sda10: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


131.1GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
131.2GB: boot/grub/stage2
130.9GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
130.9GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic.bak
130.9GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
130.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic
130.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic
130.9GB: initrd.img
130.9GB: initrd.img.old
130.9GB: vmlinuz
130.9GB: vmlinuz.old

============================= sda4/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=b1a9d02c-235e-4f27-9726-dc7d246e799b ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,3)

## 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
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=b1a9d02c-235e-4f27-9726-dc7d246e799b ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=b1a9d02c-235e-4f27-9726-dc7d246e799b ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=b1a9d02c-235e-4f27-9726-dc7d246e799b ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=b1a9d02c-235e-4f27-9726-dc7d246e799b ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
root (hd0,3)
kernel /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 (hd0,1)
# savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


=================== sda4: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


43.5GB: grub/menu.lst
43.5GB: grub/stage2
43.2GB: initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
43.2GB: initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic.bak
43.2GB: initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
43.2GB: vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic
43.2GB: vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic
=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

sed: can't read sda9/etc/issue: No such file or directory

And no files under Vista c:/boot/ subdir.

/32bitroot# find . -name BCD\* -print
root@:/32bitroot#

[meierfra.]

sda1:
Boot sector type: Windows XP


This is your problem. You also have the XP boot files on the vista partition. Did you try to fix your booting problem with an XP CD?

Try this

Step 1 Fix menu.lst

Use

title Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

for your Vista item in menu.lst

Step 2 Put the boot flag on the Vista partition.


sudo sfdisk -A1 /dev/sda
(the "1" after -A is the number one)


Step 3 Fix the boot sector of your Vista partition:

Boot from the Vista DVD, select "Repair Computer" and then "command line".

Type


bootrec /fixboot

Reboot and see whether you can boot into Vista

If this did not work:


Step 4 Run Vista Start Up Repair.

Boot from the Vista DVD, select "Repair Computer" and then "Start Up Repair.


If this still did not work, report any error messages you got.

[IQRules]

Thanks to meierfra, I fixed it finally. Good part is no need to run grub install at all.
Good job.

[meierfra.]

I fixed it finally.
Great, have fun with Vista and Ubuntu.