Problems with double booting laptop

[Rockman36]

Hi all!! I have a dual boot laptop, with Windows Vista and Ubuntu 9.10, I had issues with Vista and had to reinstall it, in the process I lost GRUB (because of this I am not even sure that the Ubuntu install is still there), does anyone know what can I do to get GRUB to work again? Thanks!!! Best Regards

[raymondh]

Hi all!! I have a dual boot laptop, with Windows Vista and Ubuntu 9.10, I had issues with Vista and had to reinstall it, in the process I lost GRUB (because of this I am not even sure that the Ubuntu install is still there), does anyone know what can I do to get GRUB to work again? Thanks!!! Best Regards


Hello and welcome to the forums.

When you re-installed Vista, it (windows) overwrote the MBR with its' own bootloader. Now, did you re-install Vista to the WHOLE hd or, did you re-install over the existing Vista?

Let's check:

- boot into the liveCD and go live session (try ubuntu....)
- access a terminal (applications > accessories) and type


sudo fdisk -l

small L, not one (1).

Paste the results in your next post.

If you re-installed Vista OVER the existing windows partition, then all you have to do is re-install GRUB2. Instructions here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=7505203&postcount=1), number 13. Remember, after re-installing GRUB2, to do an update (just to be sure). From terminal


sudo update-grub2

Regards,

raymond

[Rockman36]

Hi Raymond!!, thanks for your help!, followed your instructions sudo fdisk -land got this message:

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xfa47a1f4

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 18403 147819488+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 18403 19457 8466432 7 HPFS/NTFS

Regards
Rodrigo

[oldfred]

Did you have a wubi install that was inside the windows partition. If so you seem to have overwritten it as you only have 2 windows partitions. wubi could be inside your second partition and then you may just need to update the widnows boot file to see it. Do you have root.disk somewhere?

Since it is wubi do not follow any directions for installing grub to the MBR. You still need windows boot loader in the MBR and then you choose windows or wubi.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wubi
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WubiGuide

[raymondh]

Since it is wubi do not follow any directions for installing grub to the MBR. You still need windows boot loader in the MBR and then you choose windows or wubi.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wubi
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WubiGuide

@ OP,

as OldFred says, IF YOU HAD A WUBI-INSTALLED ubuntu, do not follow the instructions to re-install grub as that will overwrite the windows bootloader. Sorry to have linked it. 'wish I had know you may have had a wubi install.

Raymond

[Rockman36]

It seems that will need to reinstall Ubuntu, oh well!!, thank you both for your help!!!