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jumblepod
August 24th, 2009, 04:34 PM
Through the the uni i go to they give us subscription to msdn which through i obtained a full copy of windows 7 pro 64bit. I thought it was about time to upgrade from xp. My current set up at the time was xp and ubuntu dual booting using the grub loader. i thought it was time for a fresh start so I formatted the whole hard drive. I then proceeded to install windows 7, after which i install all my programs and everything back to normal like my xp installation was. I then decided to put ubuntu on so i created some unallocated free space of 30gb using the disk tool in windows 7 i then put in the cd restarted my computer and booted up the ubuntu installation. When it got to the formatting tools part of the installation where you say where you want to install it i selected use largest continuous free space i then pressed next and waited for the installation to complete. It finished and the computer restarted i then noticed there wasnt any grub menu appearing or any boot manager menu for that matter. It just loaded up windows 7. I restarted the computer to see if i could have missed it and it did the same again. For some reason it wont install or use the grub boot manager. So i thought something may have gone wrong with the installtion of ubuntu so i have installed it again the same as before. Again no boot menu it just loads up windows 7. Anyone know why ubuntu isnt installing the grub boot menu or is windows 7 stopping it some how i had no issuses with xp and ubuntu dual boot. Its not like im trying to install ubuntu then windows 7. It should be easy this way round!!!! remember i am using an actual version of windows 7 pro 64bit not a beta or rc one.

Sorry this is a long winded explaination i thought it would be necessary to explain in full.

dstew
August 24th, 2009, 06:23 PM
Boot the Live CD, and see if you can verify that Ubuntu was installed to a new partition. The command
sudo fdisk -lwill at least show you if the Linux file system is there. Post the output of the command to the forum so we can verify the disk partition structure.

If the Linux file system is there, try to mount it and see if there is a /boot/grub/menu.lst file in the hard-disk installation. If so, see if you can open the file with a text editor. Make sure you are looking at the file on the hard disk, not on the CD. Post the file contents to the forum.

As far as Windows protecting the MBR, and not allowing it to be overwritten, it would need to have this implemented in the BIOS, since the MBR is read by the BIOS before the operating system gets loaded. And, Windows could not have protected the MBR during your installation attempt, since when the Ubuntu CD is booted, it is the only operating system. Check your BIOS to see if it has some feature that protects the MBR of the boot disk.

jumblepod
August 24th, 2009, 10:56 PM
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 81.9 GB, 81964302336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x1d261d25

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 9963 80027766 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 81.9 GB, 81964302336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x1d261d26

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 9963 80027766 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdc: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xea5bea5b

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 * 1 13 102400 7 HPFS/NTFS
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdc2 13 26485 212635345+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdc3 26486 30401 31449600 5 Extended
Partition 3 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdc5 26486 30234 30103888+ 83 Linux
/dev/sdc6 30234 30401 1345648+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris


i have tryed gedit /boot/grub/menu.1st and its blank.

philcamlin
August 24th, 2009, 11:01 PM
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 81.9 GB, 81964302336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x1d261d25

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 9963 80027766 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 81.9 GB, 81964302336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x1d261d26

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 9963 80027766 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdc: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xea5bea5b

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 * 1 13 102400 7 HPFS/NTFS
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdc2 13 26485 212635345+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdc3 26486 30401 31449600 5 Extended
Partition 3 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdc5 26486 30234 30103888+ 83 Linux
/dev/sdc6 30234 30401 1345648+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris


i have tryed gedit /boot/grub/menu.1st and its blank.

you have to have a menu.lst did you open it with text editor?

raymondh
August 24th, 2009, 11:03 PM
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

i have tryed gedit /boot/grub/menu.1st and its blank.


gksudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

small L not 1 not I.

jumblepod
August 24th, 2009, 11:11 PM
gksudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
this is what i typed and its a blank document

jumblepod
August 24th, 2009, 11:30 PM
I found it now i was trying to find it through the live cd files instead of the partition my installed linux is on.

ive opened it and theres loads of stuff in it.

# 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=8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566

## 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 8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566 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 8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid 8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566
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/sdc1
title Windows Vista (loader)
rootnoverify (hd2,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd2)
map (hd2) (hd0)
chainloader +1

presence1960
August 25th, 2009, 12:16 AM
Let's get a better look at your setup. Boot the Ubuntu Live CD. Choose "try ubuntu without any changes", when the desktop loads come back here and use the link in my signature to download the Boot Info Script 0.32 to the desktop. Once on desktop open a terminal and run this command
sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh This will create a RESULTS.txt file on the desktop. Paste the entire contents of that file back here. Once pasted highlight all text and click the # sign on the toolbar to place code tags around the text.

jumblepod
August 25th, 2009, 12:36 AM
============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

=> Grub0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on boot drive #3 in
partition #5 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sdc1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD

sdc2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdc3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdc5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.04
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sdc6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 81.9 GB, 81964302336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders, total 160086528 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x1d261d25

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 160,055,594 160,055,532 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 81.9 GB, 81964302336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders, total 160086528 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x1d261d26

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdb1 * 63 160,055,594 160,055,532 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdc ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdc: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xea5bea5b

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdc1 * 2,048 206,847 204,800 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdc2 206,848 425,477,538 425,270,691 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdc3 425,491,920 488,391,119 62,899,200 5 Extended
/dev/sdc5 425,491,983 485,699,759 60,207,777 83 Linux
/dev/sdc6 485,699,823 488,391,119 2,691,297 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"
/dev/sda1: UUID="56ECE5F7ECE5D0F3" LABEL="Media" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="CC8014DB8014CE38" LABEL="Software" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdc1: UUID="4E68E6F168E6D6AD" LABEL="System Reserved" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdc2: UUID="A430EA2030E9F8E6" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdc5: UUID="8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sdc6: TYPE="swap" UUID="0c78d4b1-55db-43f7-82ad-36e1cc54840d"

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

proc on /proc type proc (rw)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw)
tmpfs on /lib/modules/2.6.28-11-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /lib/modules/2.6.28-11-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /lib/init/rw type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
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)
rootfs on / type rootfs (rw)
/dev/sr0 on /cdrom type iso9660 (ro,noatime)
/dev/loop0 on /rofs type squashfs (ro,noatime)
fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
tmpfs on /tmp type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/ubuntu/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=ubuntu)


=========================== sdc5/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=8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566

## 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 8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566 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 8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid 8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566
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/sdc1
title Windows Vista (loader)
rootnoverify (hd2,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd2)
map (hd2) (hd0)
chainloader +1


=============================== sdc5/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'vol_id --uuid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# / was on /dev/sdc5 during installation
UUID=8c36413f-c3ff-4d3a-9c44-843b61b4d566 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdc6 during installation
UUID=0c78d4b1-55db-43f7-82ad-36e1cc54840d none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sdc5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


242.8GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
242.8GB: boot/grub/stage2
242.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
242.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic
242.8GB: initrd.img
242.9GB: vmlinuz

presence1960
August 25th, 2009, 12:48 AM
simple fix do this:


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 "(hd2,4)".
Use whatever your computer spits out for the following lines.
5. Type "root (hd2,4)", or whatever your hard disk + boot partition
numbers are for Ubuntu.
6. Type "setup (hd2)", to install GRUB to MBR
7. Quit grub by typing "quit".
8. Reboot and remove the bootable CD.

Reboot and then go into BIOS and set sdc (250GB) as first in boot order of hard disks. This will bring up GRUB when you boot. Choose Ubuntu when GRUB comes up. Then open a terminal and run this command
gksu gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Change this:

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sdc1
title Windows Vista (loader)
rootnoverify (hd2,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd2)
map (hd2) (hd0)
chainloader +1

to :

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sdc1
title Windows 7 (loader)
rootnoverify (hd2,0)
chainloader +1


click save on the toolbar and close that file. reboot & try booting into windows 7 when GRUB appears.

jumblepod
August 25th, 2009, 01:01 AM
thank you so much it worked. Did this problem occur because im using 3 hard drives. Could you explain to me why it didnt just work when i installed linux like it has many times in the past when ive installed it and had no problem with the grub loader.

presence1960
August 25th, 2009, 04:15 AM
thank you so much it worked. Did this problem occur because im using 3 hard drives. Could you explain to me why it didnt just work when i installed linux like it has many times in the past when ive installed it and had no problem with the grub loader.

The problem is that GRUB was installed to sda but sda was not set as first boot in BIOS. So when your machine booted GRUB did not take over. Since a windows bootloader did either sdb or sdc was booting first. I find it better if Ubuntu and windows are installed on the same hard disk to keep GRUB on that disk.

A bootloader can only do it's job if it is on the MBR of the first hard disk that boots. Or if it is installed to the first sector of the partition of that OS and chainloaded from the GRUB on MBR.

When you try to boot Windows 7 you may need to change the windows 7 entry to this:

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sdc1
title Windows 7 (loader)
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

Because sdc is now the first booting hard disk it is actually (hd0). Sometimes Ubuntu reads the order of disks differently than BIOS. When entering (hdx,y) in GRUB it is the order in BIOS that is required. When you get a chance try to boot windows 7 from GRUB and see if it works. if it does not just edit menu.lst to the above.