Recreate Wubi-installation after formating Windows ?

[dodik4711]

Hi everybody,

is it possible to recreate the whole wubi installation?

Thats the situation: I only have 1 partition on my HD so i installed ubuntu via wubi and it worked perfectly fine. Recently though, i had to format my Windows but i backed up the whole installation folder of wubi/ubuntu.
Now i want to get my wubi installation back. I know i can access the *.disk files with several tools, but im not opting for recovering some folders. I want the complete installation running again. So is there an easy way to recreate it?

Thanks in advance

[Frogs Hair]

It may be possible , but I don't know how you would mount the virtual disk in Windows without the installer . The mbr and wubildr are now missing from Windows and Ubuntu won't boot without these .

[dodik4711]

Well my approach was to install ubuntu with wubi and than simply replace the wohle wubi/ubuntu directory with the backup i made before formating windows.

I knew that it wouldnt work but i hoped it would anyway ^^

So now when i select Ubuntu from the Windows boot loader i get to the grub loader which seems to work correctly. But when i choose a kernel in order to boot ubuntu it says:


error: no such device: 72F08016F07FDF33
error: no such diskAny ideas ?

[Rubi1200]

Hi and welcome to the forums dodik4711 :)

I think we can get this fixed for you, but it will require a few steps.

First thing to do is boot the computer and select Ubuntu but don't attempt to boot because it won't work (as you know).

Instead, highlight the first entry and press "c" to get a command prompt.

Then enter the following commands to find your install:


search -s -f -n /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
echo $rootWhat you should see is an output similar to this:


(hd0,1) = /dev/sda1
(hd0,2) = /dev/sda2
(hd0,5) = /dev/sda5
(hd1,1) = /dev/sdb1In other words, the commands will show you for example that Wubi is on hd0,5

Based on what the output is you can identify the Wubi install.

Then, hit "Esc" to go back to the menu or type "reboot" if for some reason you get stuck.

Once you have the information you need, go back to the main menu and this time press "e" to edit.

Use the arrow keys and find the line that starts with "search".

Now change where it says (hdX,Y) to the correct partition and /dev/sdaY to the correct partition.

Then hit "CTRL"+"X" to boot.

Once back in Ubuntu, open a terminal with "Ctrl+Alt+T" and run this command:


sudo update-grubThat should be it!

If you get stuck or encounter any other issues, feel free to ask.

[dodik4711]

Wow thanks for the detailed instruction Rubi1200! :D

Unfortunately it didnt work completely. This is the output i got.



search -s -f -n /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
echo $root

hd0,msdos3
And when i press "e" in the grub loader i see that.



insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 72F08016F07FDF33
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=72F08016F07FDF33 loop=/u\
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
So the only line i could change was:


set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
into


set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
but when i press "Ctrl+x" i get the old message.


error: no such device: 72F08016F07FDF33 error:
no such disk

[Rubi1200]

Oops, my mistake there :(

Follow the instructions again to edit the menu entry:

this time

for the first set root use

hd0,msdos3
In other words:

set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
Then delete the whole search line:

search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 72F08016F07FDF33Finally, change the value here:

linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=72F08016F07FDF33 loop=/u\to this:

linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=/dev/sda3 loop=/u\Then Ctrl + X to boot and the update-grub command back in Ubuntu.

[dodik4711]

Hmm, that didnt do the trick either.

So i edited the boot parameters from


insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 72F08016F07FDF33
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=72F08016F07FDF33 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
to


insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=/dev/sda3 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic after pressing Ctrl+X i get this message.

error: no such disk

[dodik4711]

Ok my fault. Misunderstood your advice first, but now i was able to boot into linux with these parameters.


insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=/dev/sda3 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
But updating grub with "sudo update-grub" broke the grub-loader somehow. Though "sudo update-grub" didnt fail, i now cannot boot into the grub-loader. So when i pick "Ubuntu" from the Windows bootloader my machine restarts instantly with following error messages.



Try (hd0,0): NTFS5: No wubildr
Try (hd0,1): NTFS5:

[Rubi1200]

Okay, well this is progress...sort of.

The next thing to do is check whether the wubildr and wubildr.mbr files are where they should be, namely at the root the drive where Wubi is installed.

If they are not, copy them from their current location and place them there.

If that still doesn't do the trick, then please do the following:

Boot the Ubuntu Live CD/USB. Choose the option "Try Ubuntu without any changes." Once the desktop loads come back here and do the following:

1. Download the boot info script which is in a zipped file. There is a link in my signature.
2. Once downloaded, move the boot info script by either copying or dragging and dropping the zipped folder onto the desktop and unzip the contents by using right-click Extract here.
3. Open the folder and copy the script to the desktop (you can also drag and drop if you like)
4. Open a terminal and run the following command


sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script.sh

This will create a RESULTS.txt file on the desktop. Paste the entire contents of that file back here in a new post. Once pasted highlight all text and click the # sign on the toolbar to place code tags around the text.

[dodik4711]

Yes the wubildr files are definety present in the root folder.

Here's the content of result.txt. Though i have to say, that i didnt boot from a live cd, but from a working standard wubi installation.


Boot Info Script 0.60 from 17 May 2011


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

=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda.

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: /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 7
Boot files: /Windows/System32/winload.exe /wubildr /wubildr.mbr

sda3: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files: /wubildr /ubuntu/winboot/wubildr /wubildr.mbr
/ubuntu/winboot/wubildr.mbr /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
/ubuntu/disks/swap.disk

sda3/Wubi: __________________________________________________ ___________________

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

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

Drive: sda __________________________________________________ ___________________

Platte /dev/sda: 500.1 GByte, 500107862016 Byte
255 Köpfe, 63 Sektoren/Spur, 60801 Zylinder, zusammen 976773168 Sektoren
Einheiten = Sektoren von 1 × 512 = 512 Bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 206,847 204,800 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda2 206,848 307,202,047 306,995,200 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda3 307,202,048 976,771,071 669,569,024 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS


"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 4c3a4390-70e7-4eae-83b1-ac42fe4fdc0b ext4
/dev/sda1 4A9639D49639C0ED ntfs System-reserviert
/dev/sda2 D0E6473CE6472258 ntfs
/dev/sda3 AEF0840FF083DBC9 ntfs

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/loop0 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)
/dev/sda3 /host fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,relatime,user_id=0,group_id=0,all ow_other,blksize=4096)


======================== sda3/Wubi/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 {
}

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 ###
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_lupin ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.35-22-generic" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set aef0840ff083dbc9
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=/dev/sda3 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set aef0840ff083dbc9
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=/dev/sda3 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_lupin ###

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

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4a9639d49639c0ed
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 ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

============================= sda3/Wubi/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
/host/ubuntu/disks/root.disk / ext4 loop,errors=remount-ro 0 1
/host/ubuntu/disks/swap.disk none swap loop,sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

================= sda3/Wubi: Location of files loaded by Grub: =================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

10.250339508 = 11.006218240 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
2.437500000 = 2.617245696 boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic 2
6.155895233 = 6.609842176 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic 1
2.437500000 = 2.617245696 initrd.img 2
6.155895233 = 6.609842176 vmlinuz 1

[Rubi1200]

Hi and thanks for the script results.

Before we proceed, a quick question:
are these the results from the new wubi install without the old root.disk you wanted to use or the old root.disk copied over the new install?

Did that make sense?

If this is the new wubi install without the root.disk you wanted, then this is what I suggest you do.

Mount the old root.disk from within the working wubi install with this command:

sudo mount -o loop /host/ubuntu/disks/OTHERroot.disk /mntChange to the correct path as needed.

Once mounted, do this to open the grub.cfg file:

gedit /mnt/boot/grub/grub.cfg
Copy and paste the contents of that file into a new post here and wrap with code tags as with the boot script.

Thanks.

[dodik4711]

Yes you guessed it. Its not the root.disk i backed up, but the root.disk from a clean wubi installation (on the formatted windows).

The grub.cfg of the backed up disk looks like this.



#
# 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 video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root AEF0840FF083DBC9
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root AEF0840FF083DBC9
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=
insmod gettext
if [ "${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
if background_color 44,0,30; then
clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_lupin ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.38-8-generic-pae" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root AEF0840FF083DBC9
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic-pae root=UUID=AEF0840FF083DBC9 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic-pae
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.38-8-generic-pae (recovery mode)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root AEF0840FF083DBC9
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic-pae root=UUID=AEF0840FF083DBC9 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic-pae
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.38-8-generic" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root AEF0840FF083DBC9
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=AEF0840FF083DBC9 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.38-8-generic (recovery mode)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root AEF0840FF083DBC9
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=AEF0840FF083DBC9 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_lupin ###

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

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 4A9639D49639C0ED
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 ###

[Rubi1200]

Hi,
well there is a fairly easy way to fix this and a slightly more complex way.

I chose the easy way for you ;)

Simply reinstall wubi 11.04 as a clean install and then copy the root.disk you want over the new one.

That should solve it, although there may be one or two other steps involved.

Let me know how it goes.

(by the way, full credit goes to forum member bcbc who has been helping from behind the scenes)

[dodik4711]

Yes, thank you for your help Rubi1200.
It worked perfectly. :D

[Rubi1200]

Excellent! I am really pleased this worked for you :-)

Please mark this Solved using the Thread Tools near the top of the page.

Enjoy!