GRUB don't see Windows.

[Ussop]

When I boot there is no option to boot my WinXP. I have 3 partitions. On
first Ubuntu, 2nd - swap and on 3rd WinXP.

Can anyone help me?

[abhiroopb]

in a terminal (applications>accessories>terminal):

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

scroll the the bottom and add this:
title Windows XP
root (hd0,2)
makeactive
chainloader +1

Save and exit, it should be in grub now.

[Ussop]

Now there is windows option but when selected i get:
Error 12: Invalid device requested.

Before installing Ubuntu i had:
c:\ - now Ubuntu
d:\ - now swap
e:\ DVD
f:\ win

Can it be that 0,2 go to DVD?

[abhiroopb]

ok start up ubuntu, and in a terminal:

sudo fdisk -l

post output here.

The problem is I think I got the partition wrong.

[the8thstar]

Please type in a terminal:


sudo fdisk -l

to get a list of all the partitions (and therefore OS) recognized by your system, then copy and paste the output into your next answer. This way we can figure out what's going on.

[Ussop]

Disk /dev/sda: 81.9 GB, 81964302336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x4dc98ad6

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 6847 54998496 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 6848 6971 996030 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 6972 9963 24033240 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 6972 9963 24033208+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

[abhiroopb]

again in the menu.lst file:
input the followin:

title Windows XP
root (hd0,3)
makeactive
chainloader +1

[the8thstar]

Okay, then Grub should be modified as follows:

First, type in the terminal:


sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

then scroll to the end and replace the previous Windows entries with this:


title Windows
root (hd0,3)
makeactive
chainloader +1

Tell us how it went.

[the8thstar]

lol, abhiroopb. You beat me to it again. At least, two good advices are better than none.

[abhiroopb]

yea as long as its the same thing!!!!

[Ussop]

No love :(

Error 22: No such partition.

[the8thstar]

Is your XP partition (what you called F: )the one where you had the windows directory installed (i.e. f:\windows), or was it the recovery partition?

[abhiroopb]

Ok type this in the terminal:

gksudo gparted

Right click on wherever it says NTFS and click on manage flags, and select wherever it says "boot".

Then in menu.lst change back to:

title Windows XP
root (hd0,2)
makeactive
chainloader +1

[the8thstar]

Might be a flag issue, but I'm concerned about the whole windows partition on c: having been wiped during ubuntu install.

[Ussop]

It's install partition with windows files and such.

[abhiroopb]

Try doing what I suggested should work.

[the8thstar]

It's install partition with windows files and such.

Okay then, try what abhiroopb suggested and let's see how it rolls.

[Ussop]

Error 12

But noticed something interesting in Gparted.


/dev/sda3 Extended
/dev/sda5 ntfs

Can it be that i need (0,4)?

[the8thstar]

Error 12

But noticed something interesting in Gparted.


/dev/sda3 Extended
/dev/sda5 ntfs

Can it be that i need (0,4)?

Typically, yes.

[Ussop]

Changed (hd02) to (hd0,4) and got same error 12.

[abhiroopb]

No no, NTFS is only your third partition, it looks like its the fifth because of the extended partition. Usually the swap should be in the extended partition. I think the extended partition is what is causing the mess. Ok can you delete the windows partition? And re-install? would that be an option for you?

[the8thstar]

At the command prompt type:


cd /dev/sda5

then


dir

and paste the results in here. I want to make sure there IS a living Windows directory there.

[Ussop]

Yes but no. For some reason i can't install windows with Linux present on PC. After pressing any key to boot from CD (install disc) it shows message: Inspecting your hardware configuration... or something like that.
And then go blank.

cd /dev/sda5 gives me communicate that it's not directory.

[abhiroopb]

Why can't you install windows with linux present? All you have to do is put in an XP disc and during setup just select the ntfs partition and it will install there.

[Ussop]

You mean now from Ubuntu?

[abhiroopb]

Ok if you are sure you can re-install windows without losing any data then all you have to do:

First go into gparted (sudo gparted), and erase extended partition. Then create a new partition called NTFS.

Put in the windows CD, restart the computer and install windows to the NTFS partition (the partition which has the "bad" copy of windows).

Then put in the ubuntu livecd and do the following in a terminal:
sudo grub

> root (hd0,0)

> setup (hd0)

> exit
that will reset grub.

Then restart and you should load into ubuntu.

Then tell us what it shows on gparted.

[Ussop]

It works now. Thank you.

Still, drive letter bothers me, is there a way to change f: to c: ?

[abhiroopb]

managed to do all of that in under an hour? impressive :P!

The drive letters only appear in Windows right? Not much of an expert on windows, I'm sure its possible but it MIGHT cause problems in ubuntu.