Grub2 and Windows 7 - Thoroughly confused.

[ed-koala]

Ok, here's my situation. I've done a lot of searching through the forums and everything I've found has left me too confused to know what to do.

I installed Windows 7 to my first hard drive.
I then installed Ubuntu 9.10 via alt-install CD to second hard drive.

I boot 1st HD, 2nd HD in Bios ... I know I may need to change that.

Windows 7 can't be found by Grub2. Here is a copy of bootinfo (run from my current install of Ubuntu, not from LiveCD)


Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks for
(UUID=903f98b5-112a-403e-a8f9-75b7893c2aba)/boot/grub.
=> 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 Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdc1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0fbe8c40

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 976,768,064 976,768,002 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000dbaf8

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdb1 63 937,167,839 937,167,777 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 937,167,840 976,768,064 39,600,225 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 937,167,903 976,768,064 39,600,162 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdc ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdc: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xe8900690

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdc1 63 1,953,520,064 1,953,520,002 7 HPFS/NTFS


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 0A2A092A134EA339 ntfs Windows
/dev/sda nvidia_raid_member
/dev/sdb1 903f98b5-112a-403e-a8f9-75b7893c2aba ext4
/dev/sdb5 89536d05-f423-4796-b1d4-1b63e41757b3 swap
/dev/sdb nvidia_raid_member
/dev/sdc1 610B70B04DE9F32D ntfs My Book

============================ "mount | grep ^/dev output: ===========================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sdb1 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sdc1 /media/My Book fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,default_permissions,b lksize=4096)
/dev/sda1 /media/Windows fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,default_permissions,b lksize=4096)


=========================== sdb1/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s /boot/grub/grubenv ]; then
have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
save_env saved_entry
prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 903f98b5-112a-403e-a8f9-75b7893c2aba
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
if [ ${recordfail} = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/white
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-20-generic" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 903f98b5-112a-403e-a8f9-75b7893c2aba
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic root=UUID=903f98b5-112a-403e-a8f9-75b7893c2aba ro nodmraid quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-20-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-20-generic (recovery mode)" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 903f98b5-112a-403e-a8f9-75b7893c2aba
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic root=UUID=903f98b5-112a-403e-a8f9-75b7893c2aba ro single nodmraid
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-20-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 903f98b5-112a-403e-a8f9-75b7893c2aba
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=903f98b5-112a-403e-a8f9-75b7893c2aba ro nodmraid quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 903f98b5-112a-403e-a8f9-75b7893c2aba
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=903f98b5-112a-403e-a8f9-75b7893c2aba ro single nodmraid
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
if [ ${timeout} != -1 ]; then
if keystatus; then
if keystatus --shift; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=0
fi
else
if sleep --interruptible 3 ; then
set timeout=0
fi
fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

=============================== sdb1/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s 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/sdb1 during installation
UUID=903f98b5-112a-403e-a8f9-75b7893c2aba / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdb5 during installation
UUID=89536d05-f423-4796-b1d4-1b63e41757b3 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd1 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom1 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sdb1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


3.4GB: boot/grub/core.img
13.0GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
3.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
3.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-20-generic
2.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
3.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic
3.6GB: initrd.img
3.3GB: initrd.img.old
3.4GB: vmlinuz
2.3GB: vmlinuz.old
=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

sdd sde sdf sdg sdh

Can anyone give simple, step by step instructions on how to get my Grub list to appear, and have Windows 7 in it?

[Objekt]

Did you already try running:


sudo update-grub

?

That should make GRUB2 search all hard drives for installed operating systems, & put them in the list of choices.

[ed-koala]

Yes, I tried that. It does not "see" windows 7. I'm left with booting straight into Ubuntu.

I would try reinstalling the Windows MBR and then Grub2, but I'm assuming that would just get me right back where I am now, since Grub2 isn't noticing Windows 7.

I've read many posts, but there are so many different things, and most don't seem to work. I'm lost from all the commands.

These are fresh installs. Other than some simple software I haven't made changes, so in theory this should be simple.

[Objekt]

Yes, sometimes GRUB2 does not correctly detect what's installed. I once had a Kubuntu 9.04 install I had erased, but it was still showing up in the GRUB2 list. Even after running "update-grub." Can't remember how I fixed it.

I don't know what to tell you. I am having a similar problem, except in my case I can't boot Windows XP from the Windows 7 loader. I think it must be GRUB2-related, because I can boot XP from the Win 7 bootloader by itself, but not if I run the Win 7 bootloader by going through GRUB2. More details in my thread here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1453080

Like you, I have the different OSs all on separate hard drives. That should make things easier, but it doesn't quite work.

[ed-koala]

I found a solution on the web, though it needed a bit of tweaking to work.

http://erickoo.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/how-to-add-vista-partition-to-grub-2-ubuntu-9-10-karmic-koala/

Ok, now the tweaks ...

If Windows is NOT on your first partition, you will have to change (hd0,1) to whichever partition number it is on. Chance the second number usually.

Grub will return an error if there is a space between "Windows" and "7". I made mine read Windows_7 and it worked fine.

Next, I edited /etc/default/grub (as root, use the sudo nano line from the link above and change the filename) and I put a # in front of GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0 so it reads # GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0. That makes Grub show up.

Windows 7 now boots fine from the list.

[oldfred]

Your windows partition starts at 63 when new installs will start at 2048. Did you install over an XP install as XP started at 63? If the partition originally started at 2048 and now is at 63 you will have to repair it before the grub os-prober will find it.

I also like to have each drive with a different operating system and that operating systems boot loader in the MBR of that drive. Then if ever a drive issue you can still boot the other one. If you want you then could install grub to sdb. I would try booting from sdb (f12 or whatever key to single boot) to make sure it works first. Then you can install windows to the sda MBR and repair it. Then when in BIOS you set sdb as the first boot drive and sudo update-grub will find the windows and add it to your grub.cfg.

reinstall from working system - first find Ununtu drive:
sudo fdisk -l
if it's "/dev/sdb" then just run:
sudo grub-install /dev/sdb
If that returns any errors run:
sudo grub-install --recheck /dev/sdb
Then:
sudo update-grub

Vista or 7 repair
Always run chkdsk and run again until there are no errors, that may be all that is required
How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392
Repair often does not work, some say run 3 times others recommend the command line bootrec.exe

[Objekt]

I used the procedure above to restore the Vista/7 bootloader to the MBR of my first HDD (sda).

What's driving me nuts is that Windows XP can only start when the Vista/7 bootloader starts by itself. If I load the Vista/7 bootloader from GRUB, trying to boot XP only restarts the machine. It isn't how it worked before, and doesn't make any sense.

I also like to have one OS per drive & keep the OS's native bootloader on that drive's MBR (mostly, Windows 7 is actually installed on a different . Before I learned how to deal with GRUB, I used to multi-boot by means of removable hard drive trays. I would simply disconnect the drive with the OS I did not intend to use. GRUB is a more elegant solution, but by keeping various OS's on their own drives with their own bootloaders, I can still boot *something* when I inevitably muck up GRUB.

[oldfred]

If you have multiple windows installs:

To get each MS to have its own boot loader make a partition and set its boot flag on, then install the 2nd product in it. Multibooters, Pictures here worth 1000+ words
http://www.multibooters.co.uk/multiboot.html
A user who installed two windows & it worked to boot from grub directly
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1271600

While it is much easier to set up a new install, there may be ways to fix older installs but not easy if the second install is in a logical partition.

[Objekt]

If you have multiple windows installs:

To get each MS to have its own boot loader make a partition and set its boot flag on, then install the 2nd product in it. Multibooters, Pictures here worth 1000+ words
http://www.multibooters.co.uk/multiboot.html
A user who installed two windows & it worked to boot from grub directly
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1271600

While it is much easier to set up a new install, there may be ways to fix older installs but not easy if the second install is in a logical partition.

Thanks for the links. I'm in the "trying to fix existing installs" category. I don't see any reason I would need to reinstall Windows XP. There is no issue of logical vs. primary partitions, as the disk XP is on (sda) has only two (primary) partitions total.

The real problem is with the Windows 7 bootloader not behaving correctly. I still have no idea what's going on there. Since I just reinstalled the Win 7 bootloader, I don't know what else I can do to make the 7 loader boot XP properly.

[oldfred]

The boot info script showed this:
nvidia_raid_member

Are you running raid? these setting on drives have cause problems if they are not really raid.

[Objekt]

That isn't my bootinfo results above. Mine's posted in this other thread here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1453080

[noletolucas]

For me what worked was: install grub-pc package.

This will remove the default one that shipped with Ubuntu 10.04 -- that didnt seem to work at all.

[v1ad]

this worked for me:


sudo apt-get --purge remove dmraid
sudo update-grub
sudo update-grub2


i put in the first grub just in case you have it too. the second grub update will update grub2.