Can't boot into windows

[hpkeyser]

Help! I'm unable to boot into my windows partition now. I installed 12.04 LTS x64 and now when I'm trying to boot back into my windows partition I can't do it. I've tried loading up into a windows disk to do a bootrec /fixmbr and a /fixboot, but the fixboot isn't working. It's saying that there's nothing to be found. I also tried the bootrepair in linux and it didn't work. Can someone please help me?

Thanks

[carl4926]

If it's not already, in Ubuntu install Gparted

Then with Gparted, take a screen of your HD

Or using a terminal post the result of this

sudo fdisk -l

[hpkeyser]

sudo fdisk -l

WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sda'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted.


Disk /dev/sda: 750.2 GB, 750156374016 bytes
256 heads, 63 sectors/track, 90845 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: 0x527cd163

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 4294967295 2147483647+ ee GPT
Partition 1 does not start on physical sector boundary.

Disk /dev/sdb: 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: 0xbbc58b91

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 2048 1440065535 720031744 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 1440067582 1465147391 12539905 5 Extended
Partition 2 does not start on physical sector boundary.
/dev/sdb5 1440067584 1465147391 12539904 82 Linux swap / Solaris

http://imgur.com/FgXzBgU sda
http://imgur.com/oCn25h9 sdb

[carl4926]

Windows is still there and you should be able to access your files there from Ubuntu if necessary

Please try the following
Make sure Ubuntu is updated
Then do:

sudo update-grub

I am wondering though, that your windows HD is sdb not sda
That is OK, but not usual
Were the HD's always that way?

[hpkeyser]

I am able to access the files from ubuntu. I'm going to update the grub in a minute. Also, the windows partition seems to be sda based on what i'm seeing in gparted. Ubuntu is on sdb. I think the problem lies in the error i'm receiving on gparted for that one part of the drive. I'll post a picture so that you can see the details more.

http://imgur.com/kIMGLSQ

Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-37-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-37-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-29-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-29-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda3
Found Windows Recovery Environment (loader) on /dev/sda4
done

[Mark Phelps]

Since these are physically separate drives, I would try the following:

First, disconnect the Ubuntu drive and see if you can boot from the Win7 drive. I suspect that will not work.

Second, how did you do the Win7 repair commands? Did you boot from a Win7 DVD? Or did you try running them from a Win7 command line?

If you used a DVD, then boot from that (with ONLY the Win7 drive connected), select the Repair option, and run that three times -- as sometimes, it takes all three passes to get it booting again.

[carl4926]

I agree with @MP

Just add the win7 repair:
With just the windows HD connected

Win7 Boot repair:
Boot off the windows 7 installation DVD
Proceed to the screen "Windows 7 / Install Now" BUT DO NOT click to install
Select to "Repair your computer"
Select/put the radio button/dot next to "Use recovery tools that can help fix problems" --> Next
Select "command prompt"
enter this command: Bootrec.exe /FixBoot
enter this command: Bootrec.exe /FixMbr
enter this command: exit
Click to Restart

[arpanaut]

With the efi partition on the Win drive, I suspect it was installed with uefi enabled, and it looks like Ubuntu was installed in legacy bios mode, so I presume that the win is not booting because efi has been turned off.

Suggestion, install "Boot Repair" and generate the boot info report, then post the pastebin url here, it should give suggestions of how to fix at the end of the report.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair

Further reading: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI

[hpkeyser]

So i'm going to run boot repair again. i'm looking at the advanced options and i have the option to restore the MBR, should i allow that before I run it or should i just run a recommended pass and then generate the boot report?


Here's the pastebin: http://paste.ubuntu.com/1646236/

[hpkeyser]

@carl and @MP. Your recommendation is that I remove the linux drive and then go ahead and boot into the repair for windows with only the windows as the active drive? Then once that has been done a couple of times, remount the linux drive and hopefully I'll be able to see a dual boot screen on the way into windows?

I'm going to see if that works. Hopefully the pastebin info might shed some light on the issue while I'm working at this. I'll get back you you guys in a bit with any results