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freshmeat20
January 18th, 2011, 05:41 PM
So I installed Ubuntu 10.10 without overwriting the Windows partition. It would show up next to File System for awhile and I could read files but now it seemes to have converted itself to SFS. Is there any way I can get the now SFS Windows partition to boot again without reinstalling?

Quackers
January 18th, 2011, 06:07 PM
If Windows has changed the disk partitions to SFS, it often is because a 5th primary partition has been created. Could that be the case?
Please boot from the Ubuntu Live cd/usb and select "try ubuntu" then when the desktop is loaded make sure you have an internet connection and go to the site below and download the boot script to your DESKTOP and then open up a terminal (Applications > Accessories > terminal) and run


sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh

This will produce a results.txt file on your desktop. Please copy the contents of that file and paste them in your next post between CODE tags. For CODE tags click on New Reply (not quick reply)and then click on the # symbol in the toolbar.
This will give a full overview of your current system.
Thanks.

http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/

freshmeat20
January 18th, 2011, 07:06 PM
Here you go. It doesn't seem to even think its a Windows partition.




Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive in
partition #5 for (,msdos5)/boot/grub.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Dell Utility: Fat16
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /COMMAND.COM

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 10.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system:
Boot sector type: Unknown
Boot sector info:
Mounting failed:
mount: unknown filesystem type ''

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 80,324 80,262 de Dell Utility
/dev/sda2 81,918 30,801,919 30,720,002 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 81,920 30,801,919 30,720,000 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 30,801,920 620,974,767 590,172,848 42 SFS
/dev/sda4 620,976,128 625,141,759 4,165,632 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 3030-3030 vfat DellUtility
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda4 ff983208-0921-45ac-84ea-e766da45e6da swap
/dev/sda5 76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a ext4
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda5 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)


=========================== sda5/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

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

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ "${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/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-25-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-24-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-24-generic root=UUID=76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-24-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-24-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-24-generic root=UUID=76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
if [ "x${timeout}" != "x-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 ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

=============================== sda5/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 nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=76f4a356-2d69-43f5-9b91-c6b01520882a / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda4 during installation
UUID=ff983208-0921-45ac-84ea-e766da45e6da none swap sw 0 0

=================== sda5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


10.9GB: boot/grub/core.img
11.1GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
1.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
1.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-24-generic
8.9GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
11.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
11.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-24-generic
11.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
8.9GB: initrd.img
1.3GB: initrd.img.old
11.1GB: vmlinuz
11.0GB: vmlinuz.old
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sda2

00000000 3e e0 a8 ea 82 d9 cb ba 2b 53 bb 7c 73 da 71 cf |>.......+S.|s.q.|
00000010 21 c1 c9 04 93 01 1e a9 14 21 3b 1d 23 5d 95 a3 |!........!;.#]..|
00000020 e1 2c 65 bb b6 da 6e f8 68 4d 46 bb e5 28 72 a9 |.,e...n.hMF..(r.|
00000030 46 dc fd 4c 45 fb 6c e5 63 d5 84 dd 03 5f a0 cd |F..LE.l.c...._..|
00000040 5a c0 f4 b3 2f 76 23 bf 3d 05 6f b8 29 dd d5 29 |Z.../v#.=.o.)..)|
00000050 05 49 ce 33 09 14 44 83 5a 81 07 ce 14 84 74 d6 |.I.3..D.Z.....t.|
00000060 c5 21 08 51 5a 13 e2 fd 9f d1 02 a8 ce e7 4a ed |.!.QZ.........J.|
00000070 9c 19 39 b3 0b 90 9a 0a 92 72 4e ed 93 3a 8c 3d |..9......rN..:.=|
00000080 de 95 4a 60 ae 5d ba 06 c0 c0 9c 3d 08 84 3d e0 |..J`.].....=..=.|
00000090 a5 07 ba c7 da 81 6e d7 05 b9 f0 d8 3b a9 53 9c |......n.....;.S.|
000000a0 3d 00 9c 1c 27 f4 06 ee a9 c7 bd c6 6a 90 db b2 |=...'.......j...|
000000b0 de 9f fb 6c fb 1b 53 d4 2c 77 bb 39 43 f0 f8 43 |...l..S.,w.9C..C|
000000c0 df d7 70 e0 1e f2 fb 9d c7 ca 6e 28 76 c7 bb c6 |..p.......n(v...|
000000d0 6a ce 74 a7 28 eb 93 90 06 f8 67 79 c0 08 4a d1 |j.t.(.....gy..J.|
000000e0 9d f9 84 8c 00 0d 78 0a dc 72 3b 7d 35 f1 a9 e8 |......x..r;}5...|
000000f0 2c 42 ba 45 f3 2d d9 ef 14 ea d4 6e b2 12 9e d8 |,B.E.-.....n....|
00000100 5b 06 41 4e ae 47 75 03 f9 66 c2 1a 22 78 00 5d |[.AN.Gu..f.."x.]|
00000110 a8 55 19 cf 7b 55 fd ce a4 a6 66 ee 7b b5 da b3 |.U..{U....f.{...|
00000120 9c b0 1d 4e 40 77 39 4c a3 ab 23 e0 ac 18 d0 d0 |...N@w9L..#.....|
00000130 53 a9 07 96 a9 3f 15 7d d1 66 b3 80 7d cf 42 e8 |S....?.}.f..}.B.|
00000140 7a 11 dd d8 76 07 a0 c7 55 93 0c fd 55 9d 93 df |z...v...U...U...|
00000150 09 81 60 d7 50 31 5c 1e f3 22 a5 ef 79 1a 18 00 |..`.P1\.."..y...|
00000160 98 c1 76 4e a8 d1 f5 13 a4 0c b0 aa 38 dd 0e 58 |..vN........8..X|
00000170 81 18 12 b9 ae 07 14 97 d0 f0 ce e4 f8 a3 24 08 |..............$.|
00000180 0c 0d 07 98 94 89 17 e5 87 71 8a 53 aa e1 72 67 |.........q.S..rg|
00000190 01 34 ec 4f 42 fa 0b 0b e8 8f 3f 68 19 5d e1 f7 |.4.OB.....?h.]..|
000001a0 80 0a b8 7c 8d 0a d3 dd e0 b5 69 b2 1a 10 bb 4a |...|......i....J|
000001b0 bb c3 39 d2 dc ab 95 40 4f 60 58 67 41 6e 00 19 |..9....@O`XgAn..|
000001c0 15 05 83 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 c0 d4 01 00 00 |................|
000001d0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
*
000001f0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 55 aa |..............U.|
00000200

Unknown BootLoader on sda3

00000000 33 c0 8e d0 bc 00 7c 8e c0 8e d8 be 00 7c bf 00 |3.....|......|..|
00000010 06 b9 00 02 fc f3 a4 50 68 1c 06 cb fb b9 04 00 |.......Ph.......|
00000020 bd be 07 80 7e 00 00 7c 0b 0f 85 0e 01 83 c5 10 |....~..|........|
00000030 e2 f1 cd 18 88 56 00 55 c6 46 11 05 c6 46 10 00 |.....V.U.F...F..|
00000040 b4 41 bb aa 55 cd 13 5d 72 0f 81 fb 55 aa 75 09 |.A..U..]r...U.u.|
00000050 f7 c1 01 00 74 03 fe 46 10 66 60 80 7e 10 00 74 |....t..F.f`.~..t|
00000060 26 66 68 00 00 00 00 66 ff 76 08 68 00 00 68 00 |&fh....f.v.h..h.|
00000070 7c 68 01 00 68 10 00 b4 42 8a 56 00 8b f4 cd 13 ||h..h...B.V.....|
00000080 9f 83 c4 10 9e eb 14 b8 01 02 bb 00 7c 8a 56 00 |............|.V.|
00000090 8a 76 01 8a 4e 02 8a 6e 03 cd 13 66 61 73 1c fe |.v..N..n...fas..|
000000a0 4e 11 75 0c 80 7e 00 80 0f 84 8a 00 b2 80 eb 84 |N.u..~..........|
000000b0 55 32 e4 8a 56 00 cd 13 5d eb 9e 81 3e fe 7d 55 |U2..V...]...>.}U|
000000c0 aa 75 6e ff 76 00 e8 8d 00 75 17 fa b0 d1 e6 64 |.un.v....u.....d|
000000d0 e8 83 00 b0 df e6 60 e8 7c 00 b0 ff e6 64 e8 75 |......`.|....d.u|
000000e0 00 fb b8 00 bb cd 1a 66 23 c0 75 3b 66 81 fb 54 |.......f#.u;f..T|
000000f0 43 50 41 75 32 81 f9 02 01 72 2c 66 68 07 bb 00 |CPAu2....r,fh...|
00000100 00 66 68 00 02 00 00 66 68 08 00 00 00 66 53 66 |.fh....fh....fSf|
00000110 53 66 55 66 68 00 00 00 00 66 68 00 7c 00 00 66 |SfUfh....fh.|..f|
00000120 61 68 00 00 07 cd 1a 5a 32 f6 ea 00 7c 00 00 cd |ah.....Z2...|...|
00000130 18 a0 b7 07 eb 08 a0 b6 07 eb 03 a0 b5 07 32 e4 |..............2.|
00000140 05 00 07 8b f0 ac 3c 00 74 09 bb 07 00 b4 0e cd |......<.t.......|
00000150 10 eb f2 f4 eb fd 2b c9 e4 64 eb 00 24 02 e0 f8 |......+..d..$...|
00000160 24 02 c3 49 6e 76 61 6c 69 64 20 70 61 72 74 69 |$..Invalid parti|
00000170 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 61 62 6c 65 00 45 72 72 6f 72 |tion table.Error|
00000180 20 6c 6f 61 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 | loading operati|
00000190 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 00 4d 69 73 73 69 6e |ng system.Missin|
000001a0 67 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 |g operating syst|
000001b0 65 6d 00 00 00 63 7b 9a 73 73 69 6e 67 00 0d 0a |em...c{.ssing...|
000001c0 42 4f 4f 54 4d 47 52 20 69 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 72 |BOOTMGR is compr|
000001d0 65 73 73 65 64 00 0d 0a 50 72 65 73 73 20 43 74 |essed...Press Ct|
000001e0 72 6c 2b 41 6c 74 2b 44 65 6c 20 74 6f 20 72 65 |rl+Alt+Del to re|
000001f0 73 74 61 72 74 0d 0a 00 8c a9 be d6 00 00 55 aa |start.........U.|
00000200

Quackers
January 18th, 2011, 07:53 PM
I really don't know what to suggest for the best here.
sda3 (which seems to be your Windows partition) is now shown as unmountable. This is probably as a result of the SFS file system. However, as it is unmountable, we can't see what is in it, which is a problem.
I would suggest you restore the mbr of the drive by using the Windows repair disc and then see if Windows boots at all. What I would do first is to make the Windows partition the active partition using diskpart from the command prompt in the Windows recovery console.

diskpart
select disk 0
select partition 3
active
exit

However, I'm not 100% sure that partition 3 will be your sda3. We'll see.
When that's done I would run this form the same command prompt

bootrec.exe /fixmbr
If all runs without errors please reboot and see if Windows boots. If not, please boot from the Ubuntu live cd/usb again and re-run the boot script, posting the new results, so we can see what has changed, if anything.

It may also be wise to wait for any other opinions first :wink:

oldfred
January 18th, 2011, 08:04 PM
Windows asks you if you want to convert to SFS and tells you that you cannot convert back.

SFS converting:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26829-convert-dynamic-disk-basic-disk.html
You can use a third-party tool, such as Partition Wizard 4.2. to convert a convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk without having to delete or format them.
The Partition Wizard software for Windows is supposed to be able to convert dynamic disks to regular partitions without data loss, so it may be what you need to get around this problem; however, I've never used it and so I can't be sure it will work.
Dynamic volume is a Microsoft proprietary format developed together with Veritas (now acquired by Symantec)

freshmeat20
January 18th, 2011, 09:04 PM
I don't have a cdrom to boot off of :(. I have a flash drive but am unable to use the Windows disk.

Quackers
January 18th, 2011, 10:04 PM
Deleted.

Quackers
January 18th, 2011, 10:05 PM
I would look into the possibility of creating a Windows repair usb flash drive. I don't know whether it is possible, but I would think so.
Or buy a usb cd drive?

freshmeat20
January 18th, 2011, 11:47 PM
thanks making the boot usb now. Think I can convert the partition like I can in Windows with part magic if it doesnt work?

oldfred
January 19th, 2011, 12:31 AM
It is a logical volume and a totally different way to format as it can hold many partitions. The only way windows recommends is to back up all the data & reformat, then restore data.

See post above for only third party tool, that was found to maybe work. Or Still backup.

Quackers
January 19th, 2011, 01:38 AM
It's worth seeing if Windows boots if the mbr is repaired. That will make backing up much easier. If it does boot, don't use a backup image to back it up, as that is likely to replace the partition as it is now (SFS).

freshmeat20
January 19th, 2011, 01:57 AM
Ok so I ran into a little problem. I downloaded the WIn7 recovery disk for my 64 version. And when I boot the usb it keeps looking for the ethernet controller and says OS not found. What do I need to make the usb boot?!? (I put the .ISO directly in the drive, used Unetbootin, and extracted the ISO contents to the drive. None of which worked.) *seperatly*

Quackers
January 19th, 2011, 02:03 AM
If the iso is in a compressed format when you download it you extract it first. That should leave you with a file called Windows.............iso You then open unetbootin and point the program to that .iso with the "browse" button, yes?

freshmeat20
January 19th, 2011, 02:20 AM
The ISO itself has a boot and sources file. And a bootmgr;1. Thats what I used with unetbootin.

Quackers
January 19th, 2011, 02:38 AM
I haven't used it, but that doesn't sound right to me. AS I understand it you select disk image, then browse to your iso file and double click on that, which puts that iso in the field within the unetbootin window. Then click on make the usb or whatever it's called.
Are you following a guide?

Maybe somebody else could clear this up for us?

freshmeat20
January 19th, 2011, 02:54 AM
Maybe the wrong ISO. Gunna go to Microsoft.com to see if they have a different one.

Quackers
January 19th, 2011, 03:00 AM
If you have another computer running the same version of Windows 7 (I presume that's what you are runnin) and the same architecture (32 bit or 64 bit) you can make a repair cd (or maybe usb, not sure) from the Backup & Restore Centre in Control Panel. In the left pane click on "make a recovery cd" (they call it a recovery cd, everybody else calls it a repair cd)

srs5694
January 19th, 2011, 03:53 AM
I'll tackle an ancillary issue, which might eventually provide another avenue to recovery: In Linux, are there any files in /dev/mapper, other than /dev/mapper/control? If so, they may correspond to the new Windows logical volumes that used to be Windows partitions. In principle, you could access these files in various ways to make backups, then delete the SFS partition, rejigger your partition table, and restore Windows. This path to recovery would not be simple, though, for various reasons. I won't go into details, since you might not even have those files, and it might be preferable to get Windows booting and then install a Windows boot loader that will allow you to boot back into Linux.

To that end, before you mess with your MBR to make Windows bootable again, make a backup of the MBR:



sudo dd if=/dev/sda of=sda.mbr bs=512 count=1


Put the resulting sda.mbr file on a USB flash drive, floppy disk, CD-R, or some other safe removable medium. You may be able to use it with a Windows boot loader to get GRUB booting again, should you rework your existing boot loader configuration.

freshmeat20
January 19th, 2011, 04:16 PM
nope the only file in /dev/mapper is the control file. But Ive gotten the windows boot loader to load and even start ubuntu from that. But whwenever I try to load Windows I get an invalid partition table error. i also noticed I can't start cfdisk because of bad primary partition 3. And says it ends on the wrong cylinders. I also tried the Unetbootin way. I only get the Unetbootin loader with a single default selection that loops back to the same menu when I try it. And I'm sure I have the right recovery ISO. lol Any ideas?

Is there anything like partition wizard I can use in ubuntu?

oldfred
January 19th, 2011, 05:13 PM
I do not have win7, but wanted to see if I could make a recovery USB to help friends & family if need be. I tried all the ways from Ubuntu, but the only one that worked for me was to create the CD and then use the CD to copy itself to the USB flash following the windows instructions on making a USB.

That worked & I was able to boot the windows 7 repair CD. I then installed grub2 and added a boot stanza & was still able to boot the win7 repair, but then could have several other ISO's copied onto the flash drive & loop mount them from another partition I created on the flash drive.

It was my understanding that Vista/7 will not work from FAT but have to have NTFS partition boot sector. So something windows does for a USB flash drive creates a special FAT partition boot sector that works with win7.

freshmeat20
January 19th, 2011, 06:22 PM
The repair will convert the sfs right? So making the USB in Windows instead of Ubuntu should work?

oldfred
January 19th, 2011, 06:56 PM
No windows tools fix SFS. The official windows way is to copy the data, erase partition, recreate partition as basic and copy data back.

Only some (we think) third party tools work to undo SFS partitions.

freshmeat20
January 19th, 2011, 08:07 PM
gone.