Getting into Windows

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windows system (bootloader) partition accidently deleted during multiple installs

rated 0 times [ 2] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 10536 / 2 Years ago, fri, september 16, 2022, 9:12:23

After experimenting with multiple variations of backtrack and xbmcbuntu variations of Ubuntu with dual boot successfully, my windows partition became unrecognizable to grub.

I used my windows boot CD to try to correct the problem. However, I deleted all partitions except for the NFTS one that contains my old windows install. (And, merged all other ones into that in hopes of getting back to the windows boot loader and out of grub)

Now, all I get is a grub command prompt when I try and boot the system (how??? - I thought I deleted grub) And, now the windows boot disc doesn't even recognize the install.

I've tried TRK to try and resolve the problem. Though I must admit ignorance in correctly using this utility.

I've searched for other answers to this problem. Any help would be much appreciated.

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fertion

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1 Year ago

answered 2 Years ago rryble · Accepted Answer

There are two paths to take:

Getting into Windows

Boot a Ubuntu Live CD, and open Gparted. Right-click n your Windows partition(the one containing boot.ini, select the option to change flags, and ensure the boot flag is set.

Download and burn Super Grub Disc(Not SGD2) and boot to it. Edit: gave correct link as first was SGD2 due to my stupidity

Select Windows in the SGD menu, and then in the submenu that appears, select "Fix Boot of Windows".

Reboot.

Getting Ubuntu working along with Windows

Unfortunately, you need to have a separate Ubuntu partiton. If you can "unmerge" the partition in any way, then boot a live CD and open the Linux partition you have(It'll be on the left bar of the file manager, but not the root partiton, as that is the one used by the Live CD.

Open a terminal. Enter in the terminal:

grub-install --root-directory=<Mount point of Linux partition> /dev/sda

You may get the mount point by opening Disk Utility(Palimpsest). Once you execute the command, Grub will be installed, hopefully recognizing the Windows partition. If you need to remove Grub and use the Windows loader, you will lose access to Ubuntu.(unless you chainload, which is outside the scope of this answer)

Consider having Grub on an external drive and booting to it to load Ubuntu, if nothing else works.

Edit: On SGD, I believe I may not have given perfect instructions. Try:Super Grub Disc->Choose Language and no Help->English->Windows->Fix Boot of Windows? If that fails, try the Activate partition option for your system(Desktop vs Laptop).