windows 7 boot failure after installing Ubuntu 10.10

[bars123]

Hi,


I installed Ubuntu Maverick Meerkat (10.10) on my HP G72 B66US laptop, which came with windows 7 preloaded.

I reduced the partition size in windows using disk management and later using GParted, I created partitions for installing Ubuntu.

The installation was successful and I was able to log on to Ubuntu. However, When I try to log on to windows, I get "Starting Windows" for a few seconds and then the system restarts. GRUB shows windows 7 loader and windows vista loader on sda 2 and sda 3 respectively ( I dont have vista on my laptop).

I can access the windows 7 drive (c: ) from ubuntu, though i can't log on to windows 7. Please help me regain access to windows.

I am attaching a screenshot of my partitions

Thanks,
Bharadwaj.

[oldfred]

Post this from Ubuntu to see if something looks out of place. But normally if grub has passed control to windows then it is a windows issue.

Boot Info Script courtesy of forum members meierfra & Gert Hulselmans
Page with instructions and download:
http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/
Paste contents of results.txt in a New Reply, then highlight entire file and click on # in edit panel(code tags) to make it easier to read.
Or You can generate the tags first by pressing the # icon in the New Reply Edit toolbar and then paste the contents between the generated [ code] paste here [ /code] tags.
V60 has improved formating and requires code tags to make it legible. New Version is a zip file that you have to extract to get .sh to run.

[bars123]

thanks oldfred for responding. here is the output.



Boot Info Script 0.60 from 17 May 2011


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

=> Grub2 (v1.97-1.98) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector
1 of the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and
looks in partition 7 for (,msdos7)/boot/grub.

sda1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

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: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD

sda3: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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: /bootmgr /boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda4: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files:

sda6: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

sda7: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 10.10
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

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

Drive: sda __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 63 2,047 1,985 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda2 * 2,048 409,599 407,552 42 SFS
/dev/sda3 409,600 479,401,983 478,992,384 42 SFS
/dev/sda4 479,404,030 976,773,119 497,369,090 f W95 Extended (LBA)
/dev/sda5 479,404,032 929,964,031 450,560,000 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 929,966,080 934,062,079 4,096,000 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 934,064,128 976,773,119 42,708,992 83 Linux


"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda2 4AFC0060FC0048A1 ntfs SYSTEM
/dev/sda3 EE2E10DB2E109F21 ntfs
/dev/sda5 be124fef-b574-4188-9c11-c095a7ef9779 ext3
/dev/sda6 5f7028c9-6639-4176-aaa2-de11f9d8d577 swap
/dev/sda7 920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c ext3

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda5 /home ext3 (rw,commit=0)
/dev/sda7 / ext3 (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)


=========================== sda7/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,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c
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,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c
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 2.6.39.3-candela' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.39.3-candela root=UUID=920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c ro acpi_backlight=vendor quiet splash acpi_backlight=vendor
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.39.3-candela
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.39.3-candela (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.39.3-candela ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.39.3-candela root=UUID=920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c ro single acpi_backlight=vendor
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.39.3-candela
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic root=UUID=920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c ro acpi_backlight=vendor quiet splash acpi_backlight=vendor
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-28-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic root=UUID=920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c ro single acpi_backlight=vendor
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-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,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c ro acpi_backlight=vendor quiet splash acpi_backlight=vendor
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,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c ro single acpi_backlight=vendor
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,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda2)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4AFC0060FC0048A1
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sda3)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set EE2E10DB2E109F21
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 ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sda7/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/sda7 during installation
UUID=920bd46d-8dc1-4e81-a9d8-6a3ac366cd5c / ext3 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /home was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=be124fef-b574-4188-9c11-c095a7ef9779 /home ext3 defaults 0 2
# swap was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=5f7028c9-6639-4176-aaa2-de11f9d8d577 none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda7: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

451.341907501 = 484.624683008 boot/grub/core.img 1
451.349987030 = 484.633358336 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
451.383232117 = 484.669054976 boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic 5
451.393417358 = 484.679991296 boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic 5
451.407360077 = 484.694962176 boot/initrd.img-2.6.39.3-candela 11
451.361495972 = 484.645715968 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic 3
451.368072510 = 484.652777472 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic 4
451.332408905 = 484.614483968 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.39.3-candela 3
451.393417358 = 484.679991296 initrd.img 5
451.383232117 = 484.669054976 initrd.img.old 5
451.368072510 = 484.652777472 vmlinuz 4
451.361495972 = 484.645715968 vmlinuz.old 3

[oldfred]

It looks like you have boot files in both sda2 & sda3. You might try booting sda3.

But you used windows to create more than 4 partitions. It then converted to dynamic which per windows cannot be converted back without full backups and total reinstall. Some third party tools may work if you have not used the dynamic to work across actual physical partitions. Dynamic or SFS partitions are like LVM in Linux or logical partitions.

Posts by oldfred & srs5694
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1705481
SFS converting:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26829-convert-dynamic-disk-basic-disk.html
Post 96 using sfdisk - must have only 4 partitions
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26829-convert-dynamic-disk-basic-disk-10.html

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

Post 96 using sfdisk - must have only 4 partitions
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26829-convert-dynamic-disk-basic-disk-10.html
One user used these two:
MiniTool Partition Wizard Professional Edition 5.2 to convert without loss of data the disk from dynamic disk to a basic disk.
also used Partition Wizard to set an existing partition logical instead of primary
http://www.partitionwizard.com/convertpartition/convert-to-basic-disk.html
Converted from dynamic with MiniTool, & repaired windows
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1779529

[bars123]

But you used windows to create more than 4 partitions. It then converted to dynamic which per windows cannot be converted back without full backups and total reinstall.

Some third party tools may work if you have not used the dynamic to work across actual physical partitions. Dynamic or SFS partitions are like LVM in Linux or logical partitions.



I used Gparted to create the partitions, not windows 7. all i did in windows was shrinking the c: drive.

regarding 3rd party tools, i am not able to log on to windows 7, how can i use them. i tried repairing using windows 7 dvd, but to no avail.

when i tried commands like scanOS, etc in windows recovery console, it says that there is no OS. i even tried installing windows 7 again, the dvd is not able to detect any hard disk to install the OS
:(

[oldfred]

Some windows tools do not work with window proprietary SFS/dynamic logical volume system.

If you have good backups as this is more risky.

Used testdisk but see caveats in Post#7:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1669418
Used EASEUS Partition Master
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1692248
Also used testdisk
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1675420

[bars123]

how can i install them if i am not able to log on to windows OS?

Can i run this from CD at system boot?




Some windows tools do not work with window proprietary SFS/dynamic logical volume system.

If you have good backups as this is more risky.

Used testdisk but see caveats in Post#7:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1669418
Used EASEUS Partition Master
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1692248
Also used testdisk
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1675420

[oldfred]

Testdisk is easily run from an Ubuntu liveCD or is already installed in many Linux based computer repairCDs.

enable the "universe" repository to download testdisk
System>Administration>Software Sources>Ubuntu Software.
Maverick the software sources is System, Administration, Update Manager, settings button on lower left.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DataRecovery

repairs including testdisk info & link to testdisk, testdisk is in repository and on most repairCDs
http://members.iinet.net.au/~herman546/p21.html
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntucat/recoverdeletedfiles/

Instructions
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/Menu_Analyse
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk:_undelete_file_for_NTFS

[bars123]

i ran testdisk. please guide me.

please take a look at the screenshots.

[oldfred]

I am not sure what sda1 is/was. Perhaps a vendor recovery partition? I might try the rebuild BS to see it that will put a valid boot sector in sda1.

But the boot issues are with the boot partition sda2 and the main partition sda3. What does testdisk say about them? Same second screen that shows boot sector & backup bs.

[bars123]

I am not sure what sda1 is/was. Perhaps a vendor recovery partition? I might try the rebuild BS to see it that will put a valid boot sector in sda1.

But the boot issues are with the boot partition sda2 and the main partition sda3. What does testdisk say about them? Same second screen that shows boot sector & backup bs.

rebuildOS does nothing :(

i tried changing it from dynamic to HPFS-NTFS but it does not happen. Please see "screenshot1". At the bottom of the console it says that "Change Type,this setting cannot be saved on disk"

How can i make a permanent change from SFS to HPFS-NTFS?

[oldfred]

We have seen several users use the Minitool I have linked to in post #4. You might want to try that. You convert from SFS or Dynamic to Basic.