Installed ubuntu but wheres windows?!

[zenon809]

Hello, Today i wanted to dual boot ubuntu 13.10 with my existing Windows 7 Home Premium system.

Now when i installed Ubuntu 13.10 i told it to use "LVM with the new ubuntu installation" cause i thought it would just install alongside windows 7, There wasn't an option to install alongside windows 7 so i chose that option.

Then once Ubuntu 13.10 was installed i could use that no problem but then i couldn't figure out what happened to windows 7 so i started googling and then i tried multiple tutorials that i found on the ubuntu site(s) and i even went as far as following a tutorial on using the terminal to erase GRUB and install GRUB again as that was supposed to allow it to detect windows 7 but it's not listing windows 7 in GRUB only "Ubuntu" and "Advanced Ubuntu Options"

So how do i get to windows 7 or did i erase it or what?

Its not a big deal if i accidentally erased it as i can just download the ISO for Home Premium later and use my license key on it and go back to that at some point if i so choose but i didn't want to erase windows 7, I wanted to get my music, pics, and some other stuff and i wanted to use Windows 7 for gaming also as Steam isn't available on Ubuntu yet.

EDIT: I had also tried the bootinfoscript tutorial and here are the results from it.

Boot Info Script 0.61 [1 April 2012]


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

=> Grub2 (v1.99) 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 94 for .

sda1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext2
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files: /grub/grub.cfg

sda2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: LVM2_member
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

ubuntu-vg-root': __________________________________________________ _____________

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

ubuntu-vg-swap_1': __________________________________________________ ___________

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

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

Drive: sda __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sda: 750.2 GB, 750156374016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 91201 cylinders, total 1465149168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 499,711 497,664 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 501,758 1,465,147,391 1,464,645,634 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 501,760 1,465,147,391 1,464,645,632 8e Linux LVM


"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root 35de878c-ca9e-41ec-a4bb-8b4ba5595623 ext4
/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-swap_1 dd05b9d2-038b-42ee-ad1c-1348ca876906 swap
/dev/sda1 f8de89fc-19fc-4f44-be58-22e9b8d101bd ext2
/dev/sda5 Y9r0Ai-wEQ1-e4CZ-z7k6-S3IN-86JX-xW8JYk LVM2_member

========================= "ls -R /dev/mapper/" output: =========================

/dev/mapper:
control
ubuntu--vg-root
ubuntu--vg-swap_1

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sda1 /boot ext2 (rw)


============================= sda1/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 [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

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 [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
insmod all_video
else
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod ieee1275_fb
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod lvm
insmod ext2
set root='lvm/ubuntu--vg-root'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint='lvm/ubuntu--vg-root' 35de878c-ca9e-41ec-a4bb-8b4ba5595623
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 35de878c-ca9e-41ec-a4bb-8b4ba5595623
fi
font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
set lang=en_CA
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
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 ###
function gfxmode {
set gfxpayload="${1}"
if [ "${1}" = "keep" ]; then
set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
else
set vt_handoff=
fi
}
if [ "${recordfail}" != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'Ubuntu' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-35de878c-ca9e-41ec-a4bb-8b4ba5595623' {
recordfail
load_video
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 f8de89fc-19fc-4f44-be58-22e9b8d101bd
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f8de89fc-19fc-4f44-be58-22e9b8d101bd
fi
linux /vmlinuz-3.11.0-12-generic root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /initrd.img-3.11.0-12-generic
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Ubuntu' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-35de878c-ca9e-41ec-a4bb-8b4ba5595623' {
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.11.0-12-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-3.11.0-12-generic-advanced-35de878c-ca9e-41ec-a4bb-8b4ba5595623' {
recordfail
load_video
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 f8de89fc-19fc-4f44-be58-22e9b8d101bd
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f8de89fc-19fc-4f44-be58-22e9b8d101bd
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 3.11.0-12-generic ...'
linux /vmlinuz-3.11.0-12-generic root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-3.11.0-12-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.11.0-12-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-3.11.0-12-generic-recovery-35de878c-ca9e-41ec-a4bb-8b4ba5595623' {
recordfail
load_video
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 f8de89fc-19fc-4f44-be58-22e9b8d101bd
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f8de89fc-19fc-4f44-be58-22e9b8d101bd
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 3.11.0-12-generic ...'
linux /vmlinuz-3.11.0-12-generic root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-3.11.0-12-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/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###

### 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 ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)


======================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc: ========================

Unknown BootLoader on sda2

00000000 ff ba f4 00 00 00 e8 fd 53 fc ff bf 01 00 00 c0 |........S.......|
00000010 48 8b cb e8 7c 3d 00 00 8b c7 eb 2b 49 3b cf 74 |H...|=.....+I;.t|
00000020 21 44 84 71 2c 74 1b 80 79 29 02 72 15 48 8b 49 |!D.q,t..y).r.H.I|
00000030 18 4c 8d 05 a8 cc fc ff ba f0 00 00 00 e8 c6 53 |.L.............S|
00000040 fc ff b8 01 00 00 c0 48 8b 5c 24 40 48 8b 6c 24 |.......H.\$@H.l$|
00000050 48 48 8b 7c 24 50 4c 8b 64 24 58 48 83 c4 20 41 |HH.|$PL.d$XH.. A|
00000060 5f 41 5e 41 5d c3 cc cc cc cc cc cc 48 89 5c 24 |_A^A].......H.\$|
00000070 08 48 89 7c 24 10 4c 89 64 24 18 41 55 48 83 ec |.H.|$.L.d$.AUH..|
00000080 20 48 8b d9 48 8b 0d c5 04 fd ff 4c 8d 25 be 04 | H..H......L.%..|
00000090 fd ff 4c 8d 2d 47 cc fc ff 49 3b cc 74 28 f6 41 |..L.-G...I;.t(.A|
000000a0 2c 40 74 22 80 79 29 04 72 1c 44 8b 4b 7c 48 8b |,@t".y).r.D.K|H.|
000000b0 49 18 ba fd 00 00 00 4d 8b c5 e8 6d 53 fc ff 48 |I......M...mS..H|
000000c0 8b 0d 8a 04 fd ff 33 ff 40 38 bb 24 02 00 00 0f |......3.@8.$....|
000000d0 84 93 01 00 00 40 38 bb 25 02 00 00 0f 84 86 01 |.....@8.%.......|
000000e0 00 00 48 8b cb e8 f2 3b 00 00 84 c0 75 33 48 8b |..H....;....u3H.|
000000f0 0d 5b 04 fd ff 49 3b cc 74 1d f6 41 2c 40 74 17 |.[...I;.t..A,@t.|
00000100 80 79 29 02 72 11 48 8b 49 18 ba ff 00 00 00 4d |.y).r.H.I......M|
00000110 8b c5 e8 f1 52 fc ff b8 2a 00 00 c0 e9 6e 01 00 |....R...*....n..|
00000120 00 40 38 bb 24 02 00 00 0f 84 07 01 00 00 40 38 |.@8.$.........@8|
00000130 bb 25 02 00 00 0f 84 fa 00 00 00 83 8b d0 01 00 |.%..............|
00000140 00 01 40 88 bb 9f 02 00 00 40 38 bb a7 02 00 00 |..@......@8.....|
00000150 74 09 48 39 bb a8 02 00 00 75 0d 40 38 bb a4 02 |t.H9.....u.@8...|
00000160 00 00 0f 84 94 00 00 00 48 8b 8b 10 02 00 00 48 |........H......H|
00000170 85 c9 74 42 8a 93 20 02 00 00 80 fa ff 74 37 e8 |..tB.. ......t7.|
00000180 b0 47 fe ff 8b f8 85 c0 79 2c 48 8b 0d bf 03 fd |.G......y,H.....|
00000190 ff 49 3b cc 74 20 f6 41 2c 40 74 1a 80 79 29 02 |.I;.t .A,@t..y).|
000001a0 72 14 48 8b 49 18 ba 01 01 00 00 44 8b c8 4d 8b |r.H.I......D..M.|
000001b0 c5 e8 76 52 fc ff 48 8b 8b 00 02 00 00 48 00 3b |..vR..H......H.;|
000001c0 1d 1f 8e fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 b8 4c 57 00 00 |............LW..|
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

Unknown BootLoader on ubuntu-vg-root'


Unknown BootLoader on ubuntu-vg-swap_1'



=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

cat: /tmp/BootInfo-QaMRtTfH/Tmp_Log: No such file or directory
skip_dev_dir: Couldn't split up device name ubuntu-vg-root'
Volume group name ubuntu-vg-root' has invalid characters
Skipping volume group ubuntu-vg-root'
skip_dev_dir: Couldn't split up device name ubuntu-vg-root'
Volume group name ubuntu-vg-root' has invalid characters
Skipping volume group ubuntu-vg-root'
skip_dev_dir: Couldn't split up device name ubuntu-vg-root'
Volume group name ubuntu-vg-root' has invalid characters
Skipping volume group ubuntu-vg-root'
hexdump: /dev/mapper/ubuntu-vg-root': No such file or directory
hexdump: /dev/mapper/ubuntu-vg-root': No such file or directory
skip_dev_dir: Couldn't split up device name ubuntu-vg-swap_1'
Volume group name ubuntu-vg-swap_1' has invalid characters
Skipping volume group ubuntu-vg-swap_1'
skip_dev_dir: Couldn't split up device name ubuntu-vg-swap_1'
Volume group name ubuntu-vg-swap_1' has invalid characters
Skipping volume group ubuntu-vg-swap_1'
skip_dev_dir: Couldn't split up device name ubuntu-vg-swap_1'
Volume group name ubuntu-vg-swap_1' has invalid characters
Skipping volume group ubuntu-vg-swap_1'
hexdump: /dev/mapper/ubuntu-vg-swap_1': No such file or directory
hexdump: /dev/mapper/ubuntu-vg-swap_1': No such file or directory

Thanks for the support, Any help is greatly appreciated.

[oldfred]

LVM is an entire disk Logical Volume Manager that overlays the physical partitions. It is for more advanced installs.

If you had a standard Windows 7 install, then you had all four primary partitions used and any install then overwrites the entire hard drive. You show no Windows partitions, so it was erased.

You did make good backups before your install and have a separate Vendor recovery DVD set??
Some vendors will ship you a Vendor recovery image for your system for a nominal charge, otherwise you have to buy a new Windows full install.

[zenon809]

LVM is an entire disk Logical Volume Manager that overlays the physical partitions. It is for more advanced installs.

If you had a standard Windows 7 install, then you had all four primary partitions used and any install then overwrites the entire hard drive. You show no Windows partitions, so it was erased.

You did make good backups before your install and have a separate Vendor recovery DVD set??
Some vendors will ship you a Vendor recovery image for your system for a nominal charge, otherwise you have to buy a new Windows full install.

Ah ****.... I didn't make a backup and of course i had the windows install files on the USB that i wiped to use for Ubuntu... :facepalm:
Ok, Ill have to download the Home Premium ISO later once i get internet that doesn't have a data cap and use my license key and whatever.

So are you saying that i can recover the data from where Windows 7 was installed or is that completely wiped when i installed Ubuntu?

Im hearing that it's all been wiped entirely but you say its recoverable so can i recover the data or is it wiped?

Thanks

[oldfred]

Not sure what level LVM has complicated it.

Parts of drive were overwritten with Linux code, but it is a lot smaller than Windows and it typically written to entire drive with lots of spaces in between. So you may be able to recover data.

First try testdisk, it may see old partitions and deeper search may see files. If not then try photorec. I have used photorec. It it slow as it scans entire hard drive looking for anything that resembles a file. It only finds extensions or file types as file table with names is gone. And in my case I had saved some text files many times. It found all of them, so I had a lot of effort to sort thru and try to see which was last saved version.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DataRecovery
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk
repairs including testdisk info & links
http://members.iinet.net.au/~herman546/p21.html
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DataRecovery#Lost_Partition


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


Testdisk & photorec
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntucat/recoverdeletedfiles/
http://ubuntu4beginners.blogspot.com/2011/01/recover-deleted-data-using-photorec-in.html

Use scripts to help sort and rename files:
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/After_Using_PhotoRec
use flac tags to rename files
http://lglinux.blogspot.com/2008/10/use-flac-tags-to-rename-files.html
http://system-tricks.com/index.php/datarecovery/sort-testdisk-photorec-data-recovery-results/
Best GUI Indexing/Search Tool for Local Files?
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1739701

[zenon809]

Not sure what level LVM has complicated it.

Parts of drive were overwritten with Linux code, but it is a lot smaller than Windows and it typically written to entire drive with lots of spaces in between. So you may be able to recover data.

First try testdisk, it may see old partitions and deeper search may see files. If not then try photorec. I have used photorec. It it slow as it scans entire hard drive looking for anything that resembles a file. It only finds extensions or file types as file table with names is gone. And in my case I had saved some text files many times. It found all of them, so I had a lot of effort to sort thru and try to see which was last saved version.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DataRecovery
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk
repairs including testdisk info & links
http://members.iinet.net.au/~herman546/p21.html
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DataRecovery#Lost_Partition


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


Testdisk & photorec
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntucat/recoverdeletedfiles/
http://ubuntu4beginners.blogspot.com/2011/01/recover-deleted-data-using-photorec-in.html

Use scripts to help sort and rename files:
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/After_Using_PhotoRec
use flac tags to rename files
http://lglinux.blogspot.com/2008/10/use-flac-tags-to-rename-files.html
http://system-tricks.com/index.php/datarecovery/sort-testdisk-photorec-data-recovery-results/
Best GUI Indexing/Search Tool for Local Files?
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1739701

OK this is driving me nuts. I've been using "testdisk" and i keep running it. I've ran it 4 or 5 times now and every time it runs fine until it gets to a certain point and then everything on my computer disappears and its just my background and the screen flashes every so often. I think the partition i have to be scanning is the same partition is Ubuntu is on and it gets so far then everything disappears but the background and the screen flashes and then i have to force shut it off and turn it back on to do anything.

Im following this. http://members.iinet.net.au/~herman546/p21.html

Heres the code i get when i run "sudo fdisk -l"



alex@alex-Aspire-E1-531:~$ sudo fdisk -l
[sudo] password for alex:

Disk /dev/sda: 750.2 GB, 750156374016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 91201 cylinders, total 1465149168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xa3753dbc

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2048 499711 248832 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 501758 1465147391 732322817 5 Extended
Partition 2 does not start on physical sector boundary.
/dev/sda5 501760 1465147391 732322816 8e Linux LVM

Disk /dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root: 743.6 GB, 743641710592 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 90409 cylinders, total 1452425216 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-swap_1: 6253 MB, 6253707264 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 760 cylinders, total 12214272 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-swap_1 doesn't contain a valid partition table
alex@alex-Aspire-E1-531:~$


So what im taking is that i have to be using testdisk to scan "/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root" but then it gets so far and as i said before everything disappears and the background is the only thing there and to do anything i have to force restart my computer.

Am i doing something wrong here? I'm not too familiar with doing this type of stuff in ubuntu / linux yet as i just started to use Ubuntu today but i have learned a lot today on how it works and just have small things like this to learn.

Would love to get this fixed and hopefully recover my data.

Thanks

EDIT: I catch on pretty quick with computer / technology related things once i can get help on doing something that i can't figure out the first time then i'm usually pretty good and i do learn quick it's just figuring out if im doing something correctly or not and preventing myself from getting confused when im doing it to do it correctly. I just get confused sometimes when i do something like this that i've never done before and then i don't know if im doing it right or not. But i do usually catch on pretty quick http://ubuntuforums.org/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

[Gordonbp531]

I think it's a bug in the 13.10 installer.
Here's my HDD setup on Windows 8.1 ready to install Ubuntu:

http://sdrv.ms/1cbTCd5


If I boot from the 13.06 Live CD, it sees all the windows partitions, and the installer asks me if I want to install alongside Windows or instead of Windows as usual.
If I boot from the 13.10 live CD on the same machine, it does exactly as the OP states - it does NOT see the Windows OS at all.
See these two:

13.04 installer
http://sdrv.ms/1dcOoyS


13.10 installer on same setup:

http://sdrv.ms/1ezOHYC

[oldfred]

Testdisk may then not work with LVM? Never seen anyone try it before, those that use LVM know that a failure can cause corruption and have good backups. And not a lot of users do use LVM, but some do like it.
It used to be only the alternative installer offered LVM and standard desktop did not. So new users were not even presented the option unless they were looking for it. And the way they have worded it makes it sound better for a user who does not know what it really is.

It may be a bug.
bug reports info on how to do:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu
http://www.ubuntu.com/community/report-problem

[zenon809]

Testdisk may then not work with LVM? Never seen anyone try it before, those that use LVM know that a failure can cause corruption and have good backups. And not a lot of users do use LVM, but some do like it.
It used to be only the alternative installer offered LVM and standard desktop did not. So new users were not even presented the option unless they were looking for it. And the way they have worded it makes it sound better for a user who does not know what it really is.

It may be a bug.
bug reports info on how to do:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu
http://www.ubuntu.com/community/report-problem

So is it possible to recover the data then?

[Gordonbp531]

It may be a bug.
bug reports info on how to do:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs


I've already filed one.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/1249564

[oldfred]

If not encrypted photorec should still work.
Slow, only file name extensions will be found and you need another drive with enough space to store everything found. Thre is a sub menu to choose to search for only some extensions, but that does not speed things up, but will reduce space needed on another drive. It is doing a very low level scan of drive looking for anything that looks like a file, so in all cases must scan entire drive.
It took 8 hours on my system and I really only wanted a couple of missing folders, but it scanned entire drive. Depends greatly on drive size and performance.