Dualboot Vista and Ubuntu 10.10

[_Impact_]

I have Vista installed and would like to dualboot with Ubuntu 10.10.

I've used Wubi until now, it failed to upgrade to Ubuntu 10.10 (something went wrong) so I decided it's time to install Ubuntu properly.

The problem is that there is only one hard-drive (Disk 0) with 4 Windows partitions on it.

If I try to shrink C, the Windows Disk Manager says the available shrink space is 0 mb!!! :)

Do I need to delete one partition, like for example Data D?

I would also like to keep Vista intact, I will definitely need it in the future :)

Btw, Ubuntu rocks!!!! \\:D/

Thanx!!!

[oldfred]

You have to decide what partition to delete and then shrink c: and/ or D: to make room for an extended partition with many logical partitions. Do not use Windows to create more partitions as it will convert from basic to SFS which is not compatible with anything.

One partition should be a recovery partition that is an image of your drive as purchased. You should make the recovery DVD(s). If it lets you also make a repair CD you need to do that also. Some vendors only let you make one copy & have to buy any additional, so this is one possibility to delete.

You may have a vendor utilities which you can backup and if you want reinstall into a new logical partitiion. Some portables may have keys tied to certain functions, if you relie on those, you may loose that (or not).

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/working-around-windows-vistas-shrink-volume-inadequacy-problems/
http://www.thpc.info/how/shrink_partition_in_windows_7_vista.html


GParted partitioning software - Full tutorial
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/gparted.html
Partitioning basics with some info on /data, older but still good
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=282018&highlight=separate+%2Fdata+partition

[kansasnoob]

That shows both Acer (C) and Data (D) have significant data stored on them, and of course Acer (C) is the actual OS.

You need to google EISA configuration and then shake your head and rethink things :o

No easy way to deal with that. Just an example:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5037808_remove-eisa-configuration-hard-drive.html

If I were you I'd refer to this thread and rethink Wubi:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1639198

[dirghrabadia]

so I decided it's time to install Ubuntu properly.



+1.


Also, as a precaution, don't go with 'Install alongside' option with 10.10, instead go with manual option for selecting the partition, as 10.10 is known to (a few atleast) wipe Windows when you go with the former option. Enjoy :)

[_Impact_]

That shows both Acer (C) and Data (D) have significant data stored on them, and of course Acer (C) is the actual OS.

You need to google EISA configuration and then shake your head and rethink things :o

No easy way to deal with that. Just an example:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5037808_remove-eisa-configuration-hard-drive.html

If I were you I'd refer to this thread and rethink Wubi:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1639198

Thanks for all the replies.

Ok so what if I backed up all data from partition DATA D, deleted this partition, created a new one instead and installed Ubuntu 10.10 from a LiveCD on it, would that work? Or is there something that I need to understand about EISA?

[Quackers]

Yes, if you backup what you need from D: then delete that partition with the Disk Management utility (right-click on the D: and choose delete).
You can also try defragmenting the C: partition once, or even twice. Then try again to shrink it.
Do not then create any new partitions with that disk management utility.
Instead use either gparted on the live cd, or the actual Ubuntu installer (by selecting the "specify manually" option in the partitioning stage of the installation) to create an extended partition.
Inside this extended partition you can then create your Ubuntu partitions and (if required) a new data partition. All of these new partitions would be created as logical partitions.

Also, as dirghrabadia has stated, it is not safe when using the 10.10 installer, to use the "install alongside" option. It has a nasty habit of eating existing operating systems.

[_Impact_]

One more question: I deleted the D partition (with windows) , created an extended instead and logical inside this extended (done with GParted). Now I'm about to install Ubuntu 10.10 on this logical partition, but it asks me which device to use for the boot loader installation and gives me choices:

dev/sda/ Hitachi etc. (the whole drive)
dev/sda1 Windows Vista (loader)
dev/sda2 Windows Recovery Environment (loader)
dev/sda5
dev/sda3 Windows XP Embedded

Which one should I select?

Thanks!!!

[kansasnoob]

One more question: I deleted the D partition (with windows) , created an extended instead and logical inside this extended (done with GParted). Now I'm about to install Ubuntu 10.10 on this logical partition, but it asks me which device to use for the boot loader installation and gives me choices:

dev/sda/ Hitachi etc. (the whole drive)
dev/sda1 Windows Vista (loader)
dev/sda2 Windows Recovery Environment (loader)
dev/sda5
dev/sda3 Windows XP Embedded

Which one should I select?

Thanks!!!

Definitely /dev/sda

That's what we refer to as the MBR of the drive.

[_Impact_]

The installation went fine, but now GRUB doesn't give me the option to boot Vista. What can I do (I searched for awhile, but didn't find anything understandable for my newbie intellect).

Thanks!

[kansasnoob]

Try running this command from the Terminal:


sudo update-grub

If that fails to find Windows then post the output of the Boot Info Script as described here:

http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/

Alternate instructions:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1291280

Remember the EISA setup scared me, I hope we can figure this out.

[_Impact_]

Thanks for the replies Kansasnoob. I'm enjoying Ubuntu already. Here's the result:



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

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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:

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 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 22,523,129 22,523,067 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/sda2 * 22,523,904 255,698,935 233,175,032 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 255,698,942 481,554,431 225,855,490 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 255,698,944 481,554,431 225,855,488 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 481,554,432 488,394,751 6,840,320 12 Compaq diagnostics


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 6822B84EE49BED2A ntfs PQSERVICE
/dev/sda2 2698BFEC98BFB91F ntfs
/dev/sda3: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda4 16D4F3CBD4F3AADF ntfs
/dev/sda5 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e 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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e 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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-25-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e 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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e 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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 6822b84ee49bed2a
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Embedded (on /dev/sda4)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 16d4f3cbd4f3aadf
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
### 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=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1

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


169.7GB: boot/grub/core.img
242.9GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
132.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
132.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
169.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
169.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
132.1GB: initrd.img
132.1GB: initrd.img.old
169.7GB: vmlinuz
169.7GB: vmlinuz.old

================================ sda4/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=0
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Embedded" /fastdetect /maxmem=768
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sda3

00000000 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000010 1d 01 00 00 1f 00 00 00 1d 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000020 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000030 1e 01 00 00 1f 00 00 00 1e 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000040 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000050 1f 01 00 00 1f 00 00 00 1f 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000060 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000070 20 01 00 00 20 00 00 00 20 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 | ... ... .......|
00000080 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000090 21 01 00 00 21 00 00 00 21 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |!...!...!.......|
000000a0 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
000000b0 22 01 00 00 22 00 00 00 22 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |"..."...".......|
000000c0 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
000000d0 23 01 00 00 23 00 00 00 23 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |#...#...#.......|
000000e0 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
000000f0 24 01 00 00 23 00 00 00 24 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |$...#...$.......|
00000100 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000110 25 01 00 00 24 00 00 00 25 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |%...$...%.......|
00000120 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000130 26 01 00 00 24 00 00 00 26 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |&...$...&.......|
00000140 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000150 27 01 00 00 24 00 00 00 27 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |'...$...'.......|
00000160 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000170 28 01 00 00 24 00 00 00 28 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |(...$...(.......|
00000180 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000190 29 01 00 00 25 00 00 00 29 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |)...%...).......|
000001a0 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
000001b0 2a 01 00 00 26 00 00 00 2a 01 00 00 00 00 00 fe |*...&...*.......|
000001c0 ff ff 83 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 48 76 0d 00 00 |...........Hv...|
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

[_Impact_]

Why do I have a feeling I just wiped my Vista?:-o

[kansasnoob]

Don't panic just yet. I want you to boot into Ubuntu and install Gparted:


sudo apt-get install gparted

You'll then find it in System > Administration. I need you to use it to remove the boot flag on sda2 and place a boot flag on sda1. Sample image:

182604

Then run "sudo update-grub" again and see what happens if you select the boot entry for sda1.

If that's still a no-go please post the output of this command:


sudo parted -l

BTW that's a lower case L at the end.

[kansasnoob]

Just FYI what really puzzles me is this:


sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

Was this perhaps an upgrade from XP to Vista?

[_Impact_]

Changed flags, but still the same, if I boot to Windows Vista Loader (dev/sda1) it goes to Acer eRecovery Management and asks whether I want to:

Repair startup or

Restore system to factory defaults

I tried restore system, it restored, but nothing changed in the GRUB menu.

Here's the output from parted -l:


Model: ATA Hitachi HTS54252 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 32.3kB 11.5GB 11.5GB primary ntfs diag
2 11.5GB 131GB 119GB primary ntfs boot
3 131GB 247GB 116GB extended
5 131GB 247GB 116GB logical ext4
4 247GB 250GB 3502MB primary ntfs diag



I did not upgrade from XP to Vista, I bought the laptop with Vista on it.


By the way, I did the remove flag from sda2 and put it to sda1, I don't know why this doesn't show in the output.

Also I think the Vista is still there, because before doing the Restore from Acer eRecovery Management, Ubuntu would connect to the Router set up on Vista, but after the Restore, the Router is not there. Am I right in assuming that Vista is still alive?

BTW, thanks a lot for your replies!!!

The following screenshot is after I did the system restore after booting into sda1 (Acer eRecovery Management) - now there's 11GB of used space on the second partition (Vista), instead of a few MB as it was before.

The following screenshot is after I booted into Acer eRecovery Management (dev/sda1) and selected System Restore. Notice GParted now shows 11 GB of used space on the second partition, and not a few MB as it was before the System Restore. Unfortunately, GRUB is still not showing Vista.

[Quackers]

Try putting the boot flag back on sda2 (if it's not there now) and try again.
I would have expected Windows to be in the mbr of the drive, if the recovery had worked.
Also please re-run the boot script after moving the boot flag. Thanks.

[oldfred]

The installer definitely saw the window Vista partition. It seem to reverse the descriptions on which is recover and which is the main install. So sda2 was the main install.
dev/sda1 Windows Vista (loader)
dev/sda2 Windows Recovery Environment (loader)

Did you change Vista's partition size? That would make Vista want to run chkdsk and then perhaps the boot script cannot see the boot files in the sda2 partition as it cannot mount it with the chkdsk flag (needed) set.

From Ubuntu can you see the /windows and /Windows/System32 folders? If so just run chkdsk from a Vista repair CD. Or it may not let you mount it either with the chkdsk flag set.
Vista/7 CHKDSK
chkdsk [drive] /f /r
chkdsk C: /r
/f : Fixes errors on the disk.
/r : Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.
Note If you specify the /r option, the /p option is implied. When you specify the chkdsk command without arguments, the command checks the current drive with no options in effect. Rerun until no errors.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/chkdsk.mspx?mfr=true

[kansasnoob]

Going back to post #1 partitions were (in order from left to right):

10.74 GB EISA
111.19 GB System/Boot (44% free)
107.69 GB Data
3.26 GB EISA

Then look at parted -l now:


Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 32.3kB 11.5GB 11.5GB primary ntfs diag
2 11.5GB 131GB 119GB primary ntfs boot
3 131GB 247GB 116GB extended
5 131GB 247GB 116GB logical ext4
4 247GB 250GB 3502MB primary ntfs diag

Now, we have to take into consideration that sizes are read slightly different between Windows and Linux, but consider them proportionately. The old data partition (aka: drive D) was a bit smaller than the system partition (aka: drive C). And that's still true looking at both the parted output and the screenshot in post #15 (in fact the sizes shown in the Gparted screenshot are nearly identical to what Windows disc utility showed in post #1).

Most worrisome! The Boot Info Script showed no OS or boot files in sda2, and the screenshot in post #15 now shows only 11.96 GB used of sda2 as compared to Windows having shown 44% free :(

That indicates to me that sda2 was somehow formatted, eh?

I'm thinking of this from PhotoRec:

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step


For lost/deleted partitions or deleted files from a FAT or NTFS file system, try TestDisk first - it's usually faster and TestDisk can retrieved the original file names.

The link referred to there:

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step

NOTE: I'm not proficient using TestDisk! I have however had very good luck following the step-by-step guide! I've particularly had good luck with this:

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk:_undelete_file_for_NTFS

[_Impact_]

Try putting the boot flag back on sda2 (if it's not there now) and try again.
I would have expected Windows to be in the mbr of the drive, if the recovery had worked.
Also please re-run the boot script after moving the boot flag. Thanks.

OK I changed the flags back. Here's the new output from boot info script:



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

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows Vista
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 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 22,523,129 22,523,067 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/sda2 * 22,523,904 255,698,935 233,175,032 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 255,698,942 481,554,431 225,855,490 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 255,698,944 481,554,431 225,855,488 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 481,554,432 488,394,751 6,840,320 12 Compaq diagnostics


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 6822B84EE49BED2A ntfs PQSERVICE
/dev/sda2 52402B81402B6AC5 ntfs ACER
/dev/sda3: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda4 16D4F3CBD4F3AADF ntfs
/dev/sda5 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e 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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e 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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-25-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e 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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e 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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 6822b84ee49bed2a
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Embedded (on /dev/sda4)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 16d4f3cbd4f3aadf
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
### 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=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1

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


169.7GB: boot/grub/core.img
243.0GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
132.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
132.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
169.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
169.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
132.1GB: initrd.img
132.1GB: initrd.img.old
169.7GB: vmlinuz
169.7GB: vmlinuz.old

================================ sda4/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=0
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Embedded" /fastdetect /maxmem=768
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sda3

00000000 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000010 1d 01 00 00 1f 00 00 00 1d 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000020 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000030 1e 01 00 00 1f 00 00 00 1e 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000040 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000050 1f 01 00 00 1f 00 00 00 1f 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000060 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000070 20 01 00 00 20 00 00 00 20 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 | ... ... .......|
00000080 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000090 21 01 00 00 21 00 00 00 21 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |!...!...!.......|
000000a0 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
000000b0 22 01 00 00 22 00 00 00 22 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |"..."...".......|
000000c0 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
000000d0 23 01 00 00 23 00 00 00 23 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |#...#...#.......|
000000e0 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
000000f0 24 01 00 00 23 00 00 00 24 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |$...#...$.......|
00000100 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000110 25 01 00 00 24 00 00 00 25 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |%...$...%.......|
00000120 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000130 26 01 00 00 24 00 00 00 26 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |&...$...&.......|
00000140 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000150 27 01 00 00 24 00 00 00 27 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |'...$...'.......|
00000160 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000170 28 01 00 00 24 00 00 00 28 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |(...$...(.......|
00000180 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000190 29 01 00 00 25 00 00 00 29 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |)...%...).......|
000001a0 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
000001b0 2a 01 00 00 26 00 00 00 2a 01 00 00 00 00 00 fe |*...&...*.......|
000001c0 ff ff 83 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 48 76 0d 00 00 |...........Hv...|
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

[kansasnoob]

OK I changed the flags back. Here's the new output from boot info script:



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

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows Vista
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 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 22,523,129 22,523,067 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/sda2 * 22,523,904 255,698,935 233,175,032 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 255,698,942 481,554,431 225,855,490 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 255,698,944 481,554,431 225,855,488 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 481,554,432 488,394,751 6,840,320 12 Compaq diagnostics


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 6822B84EE49BED2A ntfs PQSERVICE
/dev/sda2 52402B81402B6AC5 ntfs ACER
/dev/sda3: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda4 16D4F3CBD4F3AADF ntfs
/dev/sda5 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e 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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e 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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-25-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e 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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e 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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
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 00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 6822b84ee49bed2a
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Embedded (on /dev/sda4)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 16d4f3cbd4f3aadf
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
### 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=00f69496-a48e-4720-a4a2-93b4fefd3a2e / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1

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


169.7GB: boot/grub/core.img
243.0GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
132.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
132.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
169.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
169.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
132.1GB: initrd.img
132.1GB: initrd.img.old
169.7GB: vmlinuz
169.7GB: vmlinuz.old

================================ sda4/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=0
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Embedded" /fastdetect /maxmem=768
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sda3

00000000 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000010 1d 01 00 00 1f 00 00 00 1d 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000020 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000030 1e 01 00 00 1f 00 00 00 1e 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000040 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000050 1f 01 00 00 1f 00 00 00 1f 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000060 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000070 20 01 00 00 20 00 00 00 20 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 | ... ... .......|
00000080 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000090 21 01 00 00 21 00 00 00 21 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |!...!...!.......|
000000a0 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
000000b0 22 01 00 00 22 00 00 00 22 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |"..."...".......|
000000c0 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
000000d0 23 01 00 00 23 00 00 00 23 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |#...#...#.......|
000000e0 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
000000f0 24 01 00 00 23 00 00 00 24 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |$...#...$.......|
00000100 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000110 25 01 00 00 24 00 00 00 25 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |%...$...%.......|
00000120 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000130 26 01 00 00 24 00 00 00 26 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |&...$...&.......|
00000140 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000150 27 01 00 00 24 00 00 00 27 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |'...$...'.......|
00000160 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000170 28 01 00 00 24 00 00 00 28 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |(...$...(.......|
00000180 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
00000190 29 01 00 00 25 00 00 00 29 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |)...%...).......|
000001a0 aa aa aa aa bb bb bb bb cc cc cc cc dd dd dd dd |................|
000001b0 2a 01 00 00 26 00 00 00 2a 01 00 00 00 00 00 fe |*...&...*.......|
000001c0 ff ff 83 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 48 76 0d 00 00 |...........Hv...|
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



If you're booted into Ubuntu and look in that partition do you see your data?

Gparted shows that it's gone! I do wish you hadn't selected the restore option, but I believe 90% or more of that data can be recovered!

[_Impact_]

Did you change Vista's partition size? That would make Vista want to run chkdsk and then perhaps the boot script cannot see the boot files in the sda2 partition as it cannot mount it with the chkdsk flag (needed) set.

I did TRY to resize using Disk Management Tool from Vista, but it was not successful. Before trying to resize I did what that post said:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/working-around-windows-vistas-shrink-volume-inadequacy-problems/
However, I did not find any c:\pagefile.sys file (so did not remove it), then used Perfect Disk to defragment, it could only defragment up to 22% then my computer would freeze (I think this freeze has something to do with the fact that I got my vista infected a few days ago trying to install a cracked antivirus which then installed somekind of rootkit. I didn't know there's such thing as a free antivirus :) )





From Ubuntu can you see the /windows and /Windows/System32 folders?

Yep!! The restored Vista, without any application installed by me

If so just run chkdsk from a Vista repair CD. Or it may not let you mount it either with the chkdsk flag set.
Vista/7 CHKDSK
chkdsk [drive] /f /r
chkdsk C: /r
/f : Fixes errors on the disk.
/r : Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.
Note If you specify the /r option, the /p option is implied. When you specify the chkdsk command without arguments, the command checks the current drive with no options in effect. Rerun until no errors.


http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/chkdsk.mspx?mfr=true


When I use the repair repair DVD, the only options I have is to Sartup Repair, System Restore, or Command Prompt. Do I use just write the code above in Command Prompt?
By the way, I did a CHKDSK on Vista before installing Ubuntu. There we 4 errors that could not be repaired, which had something to do with Vista Sidebar.

[_Impact_]

Going back to post #1 partitions were (in order from left to right):

10.74 GB EISA
111.19 GB System/Boot (44% free)
107.69 GB Data
3.26 GB EISA

Then look at parted -l now:


Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 32.3kB 11.5GB 11.5GB primary ntfs diag
2 11.5GB 131GB 119GB primary ntfs boot
3 131GB 247GB 116GB extended
5 131GB 247GB 116GB logical ext4
4 247GB 250GB 3502MB primary ntfs diag

Now, we have to take into consideration that sizes are read slightly different between Windows and Linux, but consider them proportionately. The old data partition (aka: drive D) was a bit smaller than the system partition (aka: drive C). And that's still true looking at both the parted output and the screenshot in post #15 (in fact the sizes shown in the Gparted screenshot are nearly identical to what Windows disc utility showed in post #1).

Most worrisome! The Boot Info Script showed no OS or boot files in sda2, and the screenshot in post #15 now shows only 11.96 GB used of sda2 as compared to Windows having shown 44% free :(

That indicates to me that sda2 was somehow formatted, eh?

I'm thinking of this from PhotoRec:

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step



The link referred to there:

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step

NOTE: I'm not proficient using TestDisk! I have however had very good luck following the step-by-step guide! I've particularly had good luck with this:

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk:_undelete_file_for_NTFS


Kansasbob, I did not actually have any precious data on Vista that I want to recover, I backed up all my personal files to an external drive before installing Ubuntu, so if Vista is already restored from scratch, I'm very happy with that, only if I could access it from GRUB...

Or do you still think I should try to undelete the files?

[_Impact_]

Just in case this helps, these are the options offered by GRUB:

Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25 generic
Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25 recovery mode
Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22 generic
Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22 recovery mode
Memory test (memtest 86+)
Memory test (memtest 86+, serial console 115200)
Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sda1)
Microsoft Windows XP Embedded (on /dev/sda4)

[kansasnoob]

Kansasbob, I did not actually have any precious data on Vista that I want to recover, I backed up all my personal files to an external drive before installing Ubuntu, so if Vista is already restored from scratch, I'm very happy with that, only if I could access it from GRUB...

Or do you still think I should try to undelete the files?

It's up to you really. Since you ran that restore operation I don't know if you'll get boot files back or not. I am curious how that partition got hosed. I mean the size still seems right!

The reason I warned you about EISA configuration is because it's seriously bit me in the nether regions before! I once had to reconfigure the innards of a puter due to that!

In that case the computer was actually using a separate controller for the hard drive and the whole thing blew my mind! I did get the job done but it was a major pain!

[oldfred]

It still cannot see the sda2 partition. I would try running chkdsk from the windows command prompt. And rerun until no errors.

If chkdsk does not run:

If Microsoft's Checkdisk (chkdsk) failed to repair the MFT, run TestDisk, also rebuild boot sector
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/Advanced_NTFS_Boot_and_MFT_Repair

[_Impact_]

It still cannot see the sda2 partition. I would try running chkdsk from the windows command prompt. And rerun until no errors.

If chkdsk does not run:

If Microsoft's Checkdisk (chkdsk) failed to repair the MFT, run TestDisk, also rebuild boot sector
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/Advanced_NTFS_Boot_and_MFT_Repair

I ran
chkdsk C: /r in command prompt and all was fine, it said Windows replaced bad clusters in file 36552 of name \Windows\INSTAL 1\2559d.msp and has made corrections to the file system.

When I wrote this:


chkdsk C: /f

It said: Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Chkdsk may run if this volume is dismounted first. ALL OPENED HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID. Would you like to force a dismount of this volume? (Y/N)

GRUB still does not show the option for Vista.

I'll try testdisk now.



I installed testdisk from Ubuntu Software Center and then Alt+F2 to run it, it now uses 100% of CPU2 but I can't see it!

[_Impact_]

OK it finally worked - I ran sudo update-grub and now the sda2 showed up and booted into Vista!!!

Ho ho I'm so happy, thanks to all of you guys!!!=D>=D>=D>

HOWEVER! You might have guessed it, after Windows configured my computer, the GRUB menu is gone, there is no dualboot menu at all, it boots straight into Vista!!! I'm praying there's a simple solution to that... [-o<

Is there? Cause I'm about to mark this thread as SOLVED...

[Quackers]

It sounds like you need to re-install grub to the mbr of the drive, from the terminal in the live cd desktop.

sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda
This assumes that your Ubuntu root partition is sda5 (I think it is, but check).

When you reboot after the above, Ubuntu will boot directly. When it does, open a terminal and run
sudo update-grub
and watch as grub.cfg is configured to see if the Vista Loader is picked up. If so, reboot and choose vista from the grub menu to see if it boots ok.

[_Impact_]

It sounds like you need to re-install grub to the mbr of the drive, from the terminal in the live cd desktop.

sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda
This assumes that your Ubuntu root partition is sda5 (I think it is, but check).


After I ran
sudo grub-install --root-directory=mnt /dev/sda it said:


usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: cannot find a device for mnt/boot/grub (is /dev mounted?)

And it booted straight to Vista again...:confused:


ooops looks like I missed a /

trying again

[_Impact_]

sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda

Here's what the terminal gave me:

/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Sector 32 is already in use by FlexNet; avoiding it.
This software may cause boot or other problems in future. Please ask its authors not to share data in the boot track..
Installation finished. No error reported.

After restart I was able to see GRUB again, with possibilities to boot Ubuntu as well as Vista on /dev/sda2 -> both booting just fine.

After


sudo update-grub

Instead of the Vista option, now there's Windows Recovery Environment ( on /dev/sda2), but it boots normally to Vista. I think it's just the name that got hijacked.


So now I can officially mark the thread as SOLVED.

Thanks to all of you guys for support!!! God bless Ubuntu [-o<

[oldfred]

Glad it worked.

The flexnet issue is from some proprietary software you have installed in windows. Adobe Photoshop, CAD/CAM, Rosetta Stone, Matlab others. Grub did a workaround for that, but windows 7 particularly has other software with similar issues.

Some have issues with the names in the grub menu and one way to fix it is to copy the Vista entries to 40_custom and edit entry. Then turn off osprober, so old entries are not found. You can turn os prober back on if you add another system someday.

Copy the windows entries from this:
gedit /boot/grub/grub.cfg
Copy them to and edit title:
gksudo gedit /etc/grub.d/40_custom
Then do:
sudo update-grub

#If the new entry works:
#In /etc/default/grub I added this:
gksudo gedit /etc/default/grub
GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=true
#or
sudo chmod a-x /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober
#and another:
sudo update-grub