can't boot to windows 7

**w-cdma** · April 24th, 2010

Hello all from New Zealand!

I've got what I think is almost exactly the same problem as the OP in this thread.

Basically I installed Ubuntu 9.10 to a separate partition so I could dual boot win 7 ulti and ubuntu. This isn't the first time I've done this, however, this is the first problem I've had that I haven't been able to solve myself. (I in no way profess to being even remotely skilled at ubuntu troubleshooting, most of the time I'm schmoozing through forums looking for my answer)

All was fine until I connected to the internet for the first time and downloaded all the package upgrades. One of these was an update to the GRUB. After this was run, Win7 was removed from my GRUB menu and as a result I can't boot into it. This is a shame as there are a couple of windows specific applications that I need to run for work.

I've tried following some instructions I found in these forums however the OP's issue slightly differed from mine. I've run a few terminal commands regarding editing the grub list (sorry if thats kind of vague I'm still trying to get my head around terminal)

anyway, I'm really just wondering if any of the ubuntu boffins on this forum might have a few tips for me to try? I really don't want to install windows again as there is some data on that partition that I would really like to hang on to. I also no longer have the win7 DVD so I can't follow the steps that were linked in the post above mine.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to your response (hopefully!)

**ed-koala** · April 24th, 2010

See if this thread helps.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1453700

It may be as simple as just adding Win 7 to your Grub list.

**w-cdma** · April 24th, 2010

thanks mate, if it helps at all I find I can no longer mount sda2 (my windows partition)

I will have a read of the thread and report back

thanks again

**xumuk37** · April 24th, 2010

Welcome at forum, w-cdma. It's a one of many typical bugs of update-grub... If all that you want is can boot windows press alt+f2 gksu /boot/grub/grub.cfg and add

Code:

 w7 on /dev/sdaX
menuentry "w7  on /dev/sdaX" {
    set root=(hd0,X)
        chainloader +1
        }

as os_prober for try...

**w-cdma** · April 24th, 2010

oh, nothing happens when I do that? what does gksu mean?

**ed-koala** · April 24th, 2010

You really shouldn't edit grub.cfg itself, it isn't meant to be edited.

There are other files to edit that are used to create grub.cfg. Those files are the ones in my thread.