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Today I decided to install Ubuntu Linux on my computer in a dual-boot configuration with Windows XP. I partitioned my hard drive manually beforehand, and everything still worked. Installation went fine until the time came to actually boot up Linux. The bootloader (GRUB in this case) didn't show up; I just got a message from the BIOS saying "Error loading operating system". So now my computer's bootup code is trashed, but all my data is intact (I've checked this with a Knoppix LiveCD, which is also how I'm writing this message). I have a secondary hard drive which was completely untouched, and a primary hard drive which now has a fucked up boot sector.

I'm ready to abandon my quest for Linux for now. I just want my old Windows setup back. Is there any way to do this that does not involve the wholesale deletion of data?

Here are my resources:

* A Knoppix LiveCD which lets me use my computer... after a fashion.
* The ability to get free legal copies of Windows XP whenever I want one.
* A few gigabytes of space on a secondary hard drive which was not affected.
* NO floppy disk drive.
* Internet access!

Use a win xp cd to boot into recovery mode. run "fixmbr"

It's a gift.

Leave your computer alone until you're done your differential equations exam and your other exams. Trust me on this .

Brian

Beowulf wrote:Use a win xp cd to boot into recovery mode. run "fixmbr"

I burned a win xp install CD and used it. There was a little message saying something like "Press F3 to do Automated System Recovery" and I pressed it... and then it told me to insert the recovery disk into my (nonexistant) floppy disk drive.

I later tried not pressing anything. The disk said it was loading a bunch of drivers, then "Starting Windows...". Then I got a blue screen saying that Windows had experienced a start up error. It didn't say what this error was.

Did I do something obviously wrong? Is there something I can try? Am I just totally fucked unless I move everything possible over to the backup hard drive, run fdisk to remove all my partitions on the primary hard drive, and reinstall Windows?

I appreciate your help. Thanks, even if I am screwed.

You're not supposed to do Automated System Recovery. When the XP install CD boots up, there is an option to boot to a special recovery mode, which will bring up a basic dos prompt. Type the "fixmbr" there, and see if that works.

If nothing else works, you might have to buy a new hard drive, install Windows on that, then move all of your data from the old one to that. With dual boot systems, it's better to have the operating systems on different hard drives to avoid exactly the situation you're in. I managed to fuck up my machine a year ago with a dualboot install and it took some rather harsh measures to get my data back.

Edi

Edi wrote:You're not supposed to do Automated System Recovery. When the XP install CD boots up, there is an option to boot to a special recovery mode, which will bring up a basic dos prompt. Type the "fixmbr" there, and see if that works.

Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, when I try not booting into Automated System Recovery, the XP install CD fails to boot up. It gives a very special blue screen of death, one that indicated that Windows could not even start up.

If nothing else works, you might have to buy a new hard drive, install Windows on that, then move all of your data from the old one to that.

Aside from my current Poor College Student status, that looks like a fairly decent option. I may have to get a new hard drive for my job soon anyway, which could help the money end of things. I think my computer has room for another hard drive. It would rock having three of those suckers.

With dual boot systems, it's better to have the operating systems on different hard drives to avoid exactly the situation you're in.

I tried installing Linux on the secondary hard drive, but I got a write error when I tried to install GRUB or LILO on it. I think that HDD is getting erratic, which is why I only put low-importance stuff on it.

I managed to fuck up my machine a year ago with a dualboot install and it took some rather harsh measures to get my data back.

If I remind myself that most of the stuff on my hard drive was just superfluous crap that I never used, harsh measures start to look a lot more appealing.

If that second hard drive is erratic, then you should get rid of it. There's no use having it take up space, and if it's alread at the point that you get that kind of data corruption, it's just a matter of time before it dies completely.

You could probably buy a used hard drive for very little cash, or a new small one for somewhat more.

The harsh measures I was referring to involved some rather irritating playing around with the fucked up dual boot system to recover my emails (five years' worth) and then wiping the whole drive. Didn't lose anything but sleep and my temper several times. The details are here.

Edi