Dual boot Ubuntu-Win XP. Now single boot Ubuntu!!

[danp451]

Hi All,

I know this is a common thread and I've traced several with no luck so hoping someone can help.

I have created a dual boot machine of Windows XP (Home) and Ubuntu 9.04. Now when I try to boot into Windows I get an error telling me that Windows cannot boot and I need the installation disk. I can no longer even access the Recovery partition.

I can still see the files on the Windows partition and all of the boot files that are on there.

I don't mind too much if I have to lose Windows completely but would be very satisfied if I can (with your help) solve this and keep a small Windows partition on here for the bare necessities.

As a starter here's the output of sudo fdisk -l followed by the non-commented bits of menu.lst - Am a bit disturbed by the partition on cylinder boundry bit......

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00028941

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 638 5120000 12 Compaq diagnostics
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sda2 * 638 12340 93992869 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 12341 19457 57167302+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 12341 13621 10289601 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 13622 19457 46877638+ 83 Linux

Menu (minus comments)
## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid 23d1f966-72bd-48e7-9e31-6909b6f68bae
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=23d1f966-72bd-48e7-9e31-6909b6f68bae 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 23d1f966-72bd-48e7-9e31-6909b6f68bae
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=23d1f966-72bd-48e7-9e31-6909b6f68bae ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid 23d1f966-72bd-48e7-9e31-6909b6f68bae
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/sda2
title Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
savedefault
chainloader +1




Many thanks,

Dan

[Darkaiser]

check this out bro
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot

[danp451]

THanks. I have seen this one already. Will have another look through to see if I missed anything.

D.

[presence1960]

I have created a dual boot machine of Windows XP (Home) and Ubuntu 9.04. Now when I try to boot into Windows I get an error telling me that Windows cannot boot and I need the installation disk. I can no longer even access the Recovery partition.

you probably need to fix windows bootloader : http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708 after doing this check to see if your machine boots directly into windows. If it does then you will need to boot off the Ubuntu Live CD to restore GRUB; Boot the CD and choose "try Ubuntu without any changes." Follow this guide to restore GRUB:

1. Boot your computer up with Ubuntu CD
2. Open a terminal window or switch to a tty.
3. Type sudo grub. Should get text of which last line is grub>
4. Type "find /boot/grub/stage1". You'll get a response like "(hd0,1)".
Use whatever your computer spits out for the following lines.
5. Type "root (hd0,1)", or whatever your hard disk + boot partition
numbers are for Ubuntu.
6. Type "setup (hd0)", to install GRUB to MBR, or "setup (hd0,1)" or
whatever your hard disk + partition # is, to install GRUB to a
partition.
7. Quit grub by typing "quit".
8. Reboot and remove the bootable CD.

#4 should say (hd0,5)
#5 type root (hd0,5)
#6 type setup (hd0) to place GRUB in the MBR

After rebooting without the Live CD :

To access your recovery partition add this to menu.lst after the windows entry by running in terminal
gksu gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Microsoft Windows Recovery
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

[danp451]

Thanks.

Only problem is that this is an Advent netbook with no CD drive. You've given me some more threads to pursue though!

Can boot off USB fine.

Any experience of Super Grub?

D.

[presence1960]

Thanks.

Only problem is that this is an Advent netbook with no CD drive. You've given me some more threads to pursue though!

Can boot off USB fine.

Any experience of Super Grub?

D.

Well having a netbook definitely puts a damper on things since you have no CD drive. If you create a bootable usb for Ubuntu you will be able to edit the menu.lst file to add the recovery partition entry. As a last resort you can recover from there, but then you will have a lot of work to do after the recovery. I would try a USB Cd drive and try to borrow a windows install disc to run fixmbr in recovery console, then boot off the Ubuntu USB or CD and restore GRUB before I use the factory recovery partition.

No experience with Super Grub Disk, have never had to use it, always have been able to solve my GRUB problems without it. But I am sure others can help you with that.

[danp451]

Thanks. I am going to pursue this method now as a friend has the same as me so will create a recovery disc from her and boot into RC via USB - am sceptical about this and am sure will end up having to find USB CD drive and installation disc.

Will post back with outcome in case it helps others.

D.

[raisinglinux]

I didn't read the post in full but can't the UBCD on USB key provide a quick solution?

http://raisinglinux.com/2009/utilities/ultimate-boot-cd-free-computer-repair-toolkit/