Grub vs Windows bootloader D: NOOOooo...

[*^kyfds(]

I've got a windows 7 OEM installation on my Dell 1018 mini-netbook that i'm trying to install ubuntu 12.04 alongside.

Whenever i finish the installation, it'll use the grub bootloader for the first one or two boots, but for some reason it just reverts back to the windows boot loader after that.

I'm getting very frustrated with this as the only guides i've read to try to fix this issue involve reformatting my entire drive, which i can't do, because it has a recovery partition, which i can't move.

help?

[darkod]

Dell probably installed some sort of software that detects changes in the MBR and restores the previous one, thinking that maybe a virus was doing the changes. Or simply to help MS keep dominance. :)

You will need to investigate about your exact model, and whether any kind of software of this type is running.

[*^kyfds(]

the only software i can think of that's visibly running all of the time is the dell maintenance centre.

Is there any way to get ubuntu to work with the windows bootloader without using wubi?

[darkod]

For that you would need to force grub2 to install on the root partition, not the MBR.
Then use EasyBCD or similar to add it to windows bootloader.

In this kind of setup grub2 can break sometimes on updates because they can move the location of some grub2 files. That's why installing on partition is not recommended, but you can go for it if you want to.

I would rether sort out the MBR thing because you need to know what you have controlling your computer. Dell support can probably help you with that, after all you paid for their product.

[oldfred]

Places to start looking for issues.

In Windows 7, had to remove Windows 7 DataSafe.
HP ProtectTools, Dell Recovery, flexnet and a few others write into MBR meierfra.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+bug/441941
https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+bug/441941?comments=all
Dell Media direct or Uninstall Dell DataSafe issues with MBR
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=9330849&postcount=9
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=923576
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1344828
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=8433673

I also prefer grub2.

[*^kyfds(]

if it's relevant, whenever i boot from windows after i install ubuntu, chkdsk always runs automatically.

[cwsnyder]

I don't know of a fix to the problem other than using the Windows bootloader, but I think I can identify the problem: Windows 7 security always checks the MBR and restores the Windows MBR from a copy kept in the C:\ folder if Windows 7 is installed as the first operating system on the drive.:confused: This clobbers the GRUB boot loader if GRUB writes to the MBR.

This is part of the security system of Windows 7 to block some viruses.

[*^kyfds(]

http://www.ubuntu.com/certification/hardware/201010-6646/


"certified for ubuntu"

:(

[*^kyfds(]

I don't know of a fix to the problem other than using the Windows bootloader, but I think I can identify the problem: Windows 7 security always checks the MBR and restores the Windows MBR from a copy kept in the C:\ folder if Windows 7 is installed as the first operating system on the drive.:confused: This clobbers the GRUB boot loader if GRUB writes to the MBR.

This is part of the security system of Windows 7 to block some viruses.


i really don't want to use wubi again

-_-

[darkod]

I don't know of a fix to the problem other than using the Windows bootloader, but I think I can identify the problem: Windows 7 security always checks the MBR and restores the Windows MBR from a copy kept in the C:\ folder if Windows 7 is installed as the first operating system on the drive.:confused: This clobbers the GRUB boot loader if GRUB writes to the MBR.

This is part of the security system of Windows 7 to block some viruses.

This is not true, except if you are talking about some third party software or some win7 component that is not activated by default and you need to activate it yourself.

I have both my desktop and netbook installed with win7 first and ubuntu second, and they are happily running dual boot for years with different versions of ubuntu. Not once has win7 deleted grub2 from the MBR.

This is a software that Dell has installed. Few years back there was a period when both HP and Dell were doing this and I remember there were many threads from people complaining they are losing grub after they boot windows once. Since then, they seem to have stopped installing this rubbish, but maybe Dell has started again.

I say again, talk to their support. After all, you paid for their product and now it's yours. They are obligated to help you remove such rubbish from it. What's next, tomorrow they will enter your computer remotely to check if everything is running OK?

And for the future, you know to avoid their products, especially if they don't want to assist. I assume you were never told you can't use that machine in a dual boot so they don't have the right to do that.

PS. Did you read and checked the information oldfred posted? Usually there is a way to disable this software.

[cwsnyder]

It may be the Microsoft Security Essentials, but I have seen this problem before.

[*^kyfds(]

i'm going ahead with this from oldfred's post.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=9330849&postcount=9

[*^kyfds(]

i still can't boot from the grub bootloader.

would it be possible to completely get rid of the windows partition, but leave the recovery partition intact if i want to restore it?

[oldfred]

Often the system lets you write the recovery to a set of DVDs so you can recover to a new drive when the old drive fails. Then you do not have to save the recovery partition.

The vendor recovery DVDs are just an image of your drive as purchased. If you have housecleaned a lot of cruft normally included, run many updates with many reboots, and added software you may want a full back up.
Backup windows before install - post by Mark Phelps
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2040149
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1626990
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp
Another suggestion by srs5694
http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm

Make your own Windows repairCD (not vendor recovery):
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/Create-a-system-repair-disc
http://forums.techarena.in/guides-tutorials/1114725.htm

Windows 7 repair USB, Also Vista if service pack installed
http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-repair-windows-7-from-usb-flash-drive-repair-without-installation-dvd-disc/
http://www.webupd8.org/2010/10/create-bootable-windows-7-usb-drive.html

[*^kyfds(]

Considering how slowly windows 7 was running of this netbook, i just decided to wipe out all of the partitions, apart from the recovery partition, and install ubuntu 12.04

marking as solved.