Recover Windows with Testdisk?

[freshmeat20]

So when I installed Ubuntu apparently I made 5 partitions and the Windows partition converted itself to
SFS. Im able to change type to NTFS to read the files but have no idea how to boot Windowes from this point. Any ideas?

heres my output of fdisk



Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 5 40129+ 6 FAT16
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sda2 6 1918 15360000 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 * 1918 38654 295086424 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4 38654 38914 2082817 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 38654 38914 2082816 82 Linux swap / Solaris


And heres what Testdisk says.



TestDisk 6.11, Data Recovery Utility, April 2009
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org

Disk /dev/sda - 320 GB / 298 GiB - CHS 38913 255 63

Partition Start End Size in sectors
1 P FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 4 254 60 80259 [DellUtility]
2 P Linux 5 25 21 1917 84 23 30720000
3 * HPFS - NTFS 1917 84 24 38653 227 22 590172848 [OS]
4 E extended 38653 248 58 38913 70 5 4165634
5 L Linux Swap 38653 248 60 38913 70 5 4165632


But when I do quick search in testdisk it says this



TestDisk 6.11, Data Recovery Utility, April 2009
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org

Disk /dev/sda - 320 GB / 298 GiB - CHS 38914 255 63
Partition Start End Size in sectors
D FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 4 254 60 80259 [DellUtility]
D Linux 5 25 21 1917 84 23 30720000
D HPFS - NTFS 1917 84 24 38653 227 22 590172848 [OS]
D Linux Swap 38653 227 23 38913 48 15 4165616

[Quackers]

You currently appear to have 3 primary partitions and an extended partition, which holds a swap partition. That's fine. Why do you think that Windows has been converted to SFS?
Have you run
sudo update-grub in a terminal and watched to see if the Windows Loader is picked up?
If that doesn't pick up Windows please 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]

it USED to be SFS, until I changed type but couldnt really be for sure if thsts what it did.

It still sess the Windows partition as unknown.

Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Testdisk is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda

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

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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 80,321 80,259 6 FAT16
/dev/sda2 81,920 30,801,919 30,720,000 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 * 30,801,920 620,974,767 590,172,848 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4 620,976,126 625,141,759 4,165,634 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 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 469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935 ext4
/dev/sda3 0975AA55FB810F72 ntfs OS
/dev/sda4: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 72f07cda-c209-412e-86a0-3c231351887c swap
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda2 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)
/dev/sda3 /media/OS fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096,default_ permissions)


=========================== sda2/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-legacy-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 3

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
## indomU=true
## indomU=false
# indomU=detect

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.35-22-generic
uuid 469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic

title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic

title Chainload into GRUB 2
root 469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935
kernel /boot/grub/core.img

title Ubuntu 10.10, memtest86+
uuid 469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

=========================== sda2/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,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935
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,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935
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 2.6.35-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935 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,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935 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,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935
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 ###

=============================== sda2/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/sda2 during installation
UUID=469f5028-988c-4d8e-b107-0b42ff7af935 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=72f07cda-c209-412e-86a0-3c231351887c none swap sw 0 0

=================== sda2: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


9.0GB: boot/grub/core.img
8.8GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
8.8GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
1.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
9.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
1.1GB: initrd.img
9.1GB: vmlinuz
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sda3

00000000 33 c0 8e 4e 54 46 53 20 20 20 20 00 02 08 00 00 |3..NTFS .....|
00000010 00 00 00 00 00 f8 00 00 3f 00 ff 00 00 00 d6 01 |........?.......|
00000020 00 00 00 00 7e 00 00 7c af 52 2d 23 00 00 00 00 |....~..|.R-#....|
00000030 00 00 0c 00 00 00 00 00 ff 2f 75 00 00 00 00 00 |........./u.....|
00000040 f6 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 72 0f 81 fb 55 aa 75 09 |........r...U.u.|
00000050 00 00 00 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]

The boot sector is unknown, but the file system is reported correctly
/dev/sda3 * 30,801,920 620,974,767 590,172,848 7 HPFS/NTFS
Does the Windows partition mount ok? Can you view its files?
You also have a mixture of grub legacy and grub2 files which will not help things.

[oldfred]

What version of Windows? If XP you can do all the repairs from Ubuntu except chkdsk which may also be required. You can use any windows repair CD to run chkdsk on any NTFS partition.

Testdisk also has a function to recover backup boot sector or RebuildBS to fix a NTFS boot sector. If you have a full windows install but any of the 3 boot files are missing or corrupt you can copy them from the XP cd or from locations in the install.

Restore PBR boot sector for windows from linux using testdisk
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/bootinfoscript/index.php?title=Boot_Problems:Boot_Sector

How to fix XP when the boot files are missing & info on windows in logical partitions
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=813628
missing boot files meieifra - post 10
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1241394

[freshmeat20]

I can view the files in testdisk but when I try to open the filesystem icon in Places it has a DELL, Python and a chkdsk folder in a System Volume Info folder but I cant view any of my main files(program files etc). Im running Windows 7 but Cant use the recovery disk because I dont have a cd drive. I have the option to boot from usb but cant load the ISO from linux.I restored the boot sector. Lol and how can i remove the grub legacy?

[Quackers]

It may be better to try to recover that partition with testdisk, then look at oldfred's links.
Depending on whether all of Windows boot files are present, it may be possible to get it booting without a Windows repair disc - possibly.
oldfred also has a working Windows repair usb, I believe. He may be able to advise on that.

[oldfred]

I did download the window repair CD from neo and tried to make a USB version of it from Ubuntu. I tried several ways to copy to USB, unetbootin, extract to USB, extract and try to repair to make it bootable, but the only one that worked was to create the CD and use the CD to copy to the USB with windows USB create commands.


Use unetbootin to copy windows iso to partition and install:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1480974

Create Windows 7 USB
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd535816.aspx
http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool
http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/
http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-repair-windows-7-from-usb-flash-drive-repair-without-installation-dvd-disc/

If your PC did not come with a complete Vista or Win7 installation CD, you can download a Repair Disc at the following links:
Windows Vista Disc - for repairs only
http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/
Windows 7 Disc - for repairs only
http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/
Vista/7 will not repair XP (they create the boot sectors differently) but can run chkdsk on any NTFS partition.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392

[freshmeat20]

Damn, theres no way to make the recovery USB in Ubuntu at all? I have no access to a Windows system...

[freshmeat20]

Ok so I loaded the Windows 7 recovery disk via USB. But when I ran it it couldnt find my windows install. now when I try to boot the same recovery disk it says theres a BCD error. Would this have something to do with Windows not being recognized as an OS in my boot info script?

Edit: The BCD error came up after attemping to repair the windows files?

[oldfred]

Boot sector has to be a windows boot sector. If windows will not repair boot sector then you can use testdisk to recover from back up or create one.

As described, it has an option to "Recover NTFS boot sector from its backup"
Instructions
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step

If you cannot recover the backup boot sector:

Choose "proceed" on the first screen, then
"intel"
"advanced",
Select the Windows partition (although it should be selected already) and choose
"boot"
"RebuildBS"
"Write"

then press "q" a few times to quit testdisk

Then try the windows repair disk USB again. How did you create Flash drive version?

[freshmeat20]

I had to format the drive to NTFS to get it to boot (weird) and just with the contents of the ISO file not the file itself. on a 8g sandisk cruzer.

So testdisk says the boot sector is fine. theres nothing to do but I noticed it thinks the partition is bigger than it really is. From what I remember it was around <280GB not 300. I installed Ubuntu via wubi the first time and thats what caused this mess. I can find the individual boot files if need be via testdisk but I dont know what they are. Still wondering how to get it to realize the files its viewing is actually my C:/

Edit: tried again. the boot manager came up (YAY) but says the error is 0xc0000098 and has to do with /boot/BCD? says no valid OS selection

[freshmeat20]

bump...

[oldfred]

You are really into Windows fixes, which we know only a little about in trying to dual boot.

The window repair CD normally replaces/repairs BCD. Is the rest of your windows showing correctly in the windows partition - /Windows/System32 & /Windows/System?

How to fix Vista/Window 7 when the boot files are missing - rebuild BCD with bcdedit
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=5726832&postcount=4
Some advanced BCD rebuild, Vista:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1426103
http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/Recovering+the+Vista+Bootloader+from+the+DVD

[freshmeat20]

Sure is, Everything is untouched and I can view every individual file with testdisk as if I was already in Windows. Its when I try to boot the USB it gets the boot/BCD error. It can start the windows boot manager but the 0xc000098 error is where it stops. Im thinking its because the BCD in the flash drive somehow is shot.

[Mark Phelps]

If you're really trying to fix a Win7 boot problem, not to belittle the support you get here -- but you really need to take that problem to a Win7 forum. Suggest sevenforums.com.

They have lots of tutorials you can read through that help solve various kinds of boot problems.

BTW, if you're trying to boot Win7 from USB, AFAIK, that can NOT be done. MS does not want folks walking around with portable versions of their OS's.

If you've copied the contents of the Win7 Repair CD to USB, AFAIK, that should boot, but again, I'd check on the Win7 forums to see what advice they will give you. It may be a simple change to make that workable.

[freshmeat20]

Lol I know. Sorry about the mostly Win7 question but I have a thread started at sevenforums too to help me with the recovery software itself. I didnt think you could build the USB in ubuntu but you can boot it if its NTFS formatted. Thats what I thought was weird because shouldnt it be FAT? Anyway I think Ive got it covered from this point in Ubuntu thanks for the help all.