[SOLVED] Vista + Ubuntu Dual Boot Problem

[lyoshenka]

Hey,

I had Windows Vista 64-bit installed on my computer and wanted to add Ubuntu (dual-boot setup). Unfortunately, I didn't read about Vista's issues before I repartitioned things, so I just used Gparted to resize and move everything around. I did not defragment Vista or use it's built-in resize tool. I didn't get any errors during installation and everything seemed to go well. Ubuntu now works fine. However, when I choose Vista from the GRUB menu, the computer promptly restarts. I have no idea why this happens? I think it has something to do with GRUB trying to load the windows bootloader and failing somehow. Does anyone get the same error and is there any way to fix this without reinstalling Vista (Vista was preinstalled on my comp. I erased the recovery partition and I don't have any Vista CDs. I did back up the old MBR and the recovery partition, but I'm hoping it doesn't come to trying to restore all that. I'm not even sure it's possible or how to do it).

I know the Windows files are still there because I can mount the NTFS partition in Ubuntu and use the files perfectly. I also don't think its an issue with my GRUB configuration (this seems to be the problem addressed in most Vista+Ubuntu dual boot threads) but I could be wrong.



Possibly helpful information:

/dev/sda2 : windows partition
/dev/sda3 : ubuntu partition
/dev/sda4 : currently empty. I was planning to use this for general data storage



$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xb5521f5a

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 38392 38913 4192965 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2 * 1 12814 102928423+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 12815 15364 20482875 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 15365 38391 184964377+ 7 HPFS/NTFS




$ sudo parted
GNU Parted 1.7.1
Using /dev/sda
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) print

Disk /dev/sda: 320GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
2 32.3kB 105GB 105GB primary ntfs boot
3 105GB 126GB 21.0GB primary ext3
4 126GB 316GB 189GB primary ntfs
1 316GB 320GB 4294MB primary linux-swap




$ cat /boot/grub/menu.lst

...

title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=d619af3a-d7d5-473d-ab91-f63107589ad1 ro splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=d619af3a-d7d5-473d-ab91-f63107589ad1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.1, memtest86+
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda2
title Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)
root (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

[WWSmith36]

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda2
title Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)
root (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

You might want to change to
rootnoverify (hd0,1)

[caljohnsmith]

Sounds like you're going to need a Vista Recovery CD, and since you don't have one, you can download one from here (http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/download-windows-vista-x64-recovery-disc/). Once you boot from that, try doing the "Vista Repair" option, and that most likely be all it takes to get Vista going again. If not, let me know what errors you get when you boot Vista from Grub after doing the repair.

[lyoshenka]

@ WWSmith36: Nope, that didn't change anything.

@ caljohnsmith: I'll try that tomorrow and hopefully it will work.

[Mark Phelps]

The only "tool" known to be able to resize a Vista OS partition without damaging it is the resize option inside Vista. Gparted MIGHT be able to do that, but all too often, results in a corrupt NTFS partition in the process.

You will need to boot into Vista, using the recovery medium already linked in a previous post, and do a startup recovery.

If that doesn't work, your only option will be to restore Vista to its original state, and repeat the process, this time, using the resize option in Vista to make room for Linux.

[lyoshenka]

In that case I must have gotten lucky. caljohnsmith's solution worked perfectly and both OSes work fine now.

Thanks everyone.