Thread: Linux missing from boot options after installing Windows 7

Couple of months back, I installed Windows 7 RC version and it replaced the Grub with Windows boot options. The only options to boot now are Windows 7 and Earlier version of Windows (Win XP). Hence, I can not access my Ubuntu Linux anymore.

I've tried using the EasyBCD 1.7.2. to restore the boot options but it can not. Even if it can, I don't know how to do it. Somebody please assist me how to access the Linux partition again without loosing any data including all the Operating Systems.

Thanks.

try to install linux again.

Try installing linux again, it should detect the existing installation, and give option to restore boot loader. I am not sure whether this option is available in ubuntu as I am a mandriva user. In case of mandriva this option is there.

You can also install ext2fs utility in windows and copy the data from your linux partision then can do a fresh install.

When using the Live CD approach, DO NOT setup grub on (hd0,1) or whatever is behind the comma for you. USE "setup (hdo)" instead.

This will reinstall grub on your MBR which is what you want, I tried the hd0,1 approach first with no luck and that made sure that the linux OS could not be booted when running setup (hd0) afterwards. I guess it installed the grub boot files where the linux kernel were supposed to boot from.


So to sum it all up, this is what I do(Overwrites MBR):

Boot the livecd.
Start a terminal.

sudo -i
grub
find /boot/grub/stage1 //if u get error type without quotes 'find /grub/stage1' :Will print something like (hd0,1)
root (hd0,1)
setup (hd0)
quit

Taken from John Asbjørn Braastu - Windows reinstall messes up grub.
Worked for me.HTH

itsmemad is missing!! hope his problem is resolved

Originally Posted by hitesh.07

Taken from John Asbjørn Braastu - Windows reinstall messes up grub.
Worked for me.HTH

Method you have given is good but will not work for all.

As all distro don't give premission to install or let you touch or change partition. You can use a distro that does & install & set up a grub in boot partition.

1) Boot from the installation disk.
2) Choose the rescue mode. You can even hit the R key at boot time to get to rescue mode.
3) At the terminal type in chroot /mnt/sysimage
4) Type fdisk -l
5) note down what the first entry under 'Device Boot'.
6) Then type grub-install the entry from Device Boot **
7) reboot
8) Pull out the installation disk from the drive and continue.

Originally Posted by naqviabbas

1) Boot from the installation disk.
2) Choose the rescue mode. You can even hit the R key at boot time to get to rescue mode.
3) At the terminal type in chroot /mnt/sysimage
4) Type fdisk -l
5) note down what the first entry under 'Device Boot'.
6) Then type grub-install the entry from Device Boot **
7) reboot
8) Pull out the installation disk from the drive and continue.

grub-install doesn't work in chrooted environment. You will have to type this first:

grep -v rootfs /proc/mounts > /etc/mtab

Now do one of these:

grub-install doesn't work like this if you don't have floppy drive it will just hang if you don't type like this:

grub-install --no-floppy /dev/sda

or

Start a grub shell like this:

grub --no-floppy

then

grub> root (hd0,0) (Specify where your /boot partition resides. e.g. if it does on /dev/sda2 type (hd0,1) or if /dev/sdb1 type (hd1,0) )
grub> setup (hd0) (Install GRUB in the MBR)
grub> quit (Exit the GRUB shell)

PS: I know this because i use gentoo Also check out this:
Gentoo Linux Documentation -- Gentoo Grub Error Collection

Let us analyze.
At a macro level.

Apparantly, the guy had his MBR over-written. Meaninng, he still has his grub.conf sitting on the filesystem. He does not need a fresh install of grub. A restoration will work fine.

After booting, he has to mount the root partition to a mount point.
chrooting to the mount point gives his exclusive access to the faulty installation.

Then he descends into the grub directory, and runs the grub-install command.

refer to line 7 on the indicated page.
"gnu org/software/grub/manual/html_node/Installing-GRUB-using-grub_002dinstall.html"
works smooth on fc10 and dsl

I know his mbr had been overwritten & have been removed from the first sector. In chroot /etc/mtab is not there which lists filesystems so he can't access file systems. You will have to copy /proc/mounts to /etc/mtab or write your own.I have not said to re-install from beginning.
grub-install should give error according to me if a guy don't have floppy drive. Your computer will hang when grub probes for floppy.
Instead he should do what I have written.
No, he don't need to descend into grub directory as grub is install. Type grub in a terminal. It is a command. You will descend into grub shell.

sda is use in sata drive & hd in ide. But hd is also used for sda it depends where you want to use.

Please download EasyBCD 2.0 Beta from the website Neosmart and add Linux in the 3rd page, to the Add an Entry. Only this works in restoring the Grub in Windows 7. Note: you have to register to download the EasyBCD 2.0 Beta.
EasyBCD 1.7 doesn't work in Win7

Use easy BCD and get it fixed

Well, I resolved this issue by reinstalling Ubuntu 9.10. Got the Live CD through mail from somewhere in Europe. It didn't have any rescue option.. (or I couldn't find it) Also, if I would have found, I could have had to hit and try the commands.. So, thought just to install the latest version without formatting the partition. It worked and all files are intact. I was especially worried about loads of tutorials that had been downloaded or were queued in the torrent client.

I would like to add that the Wireless is working seamlessly in this version which was a big issue in the previous versions.

Thanks all for the suggestions. All of you motivated me a lot!

So lesson of the day is:
Don't install Linux after Windows, always install windows first & then linux.

Originally Posted by Sumit020

So lesson of the day is:
Don't install Linux after Windows, always install linux first & then windows.

You got it wrong, mate !
Always install Windows first and then install Linux.
Linux always takes care of bootloader, while Windows cribs !

Originally Posted by pshrinivasan

You got it wrong, mate !
Always install Windows first and then install Linux.
Linux always takes care of bootloader, while Windows cribs !

My mistake, you are right.

Originally Posted by itsmemad

Couple of months back, I installed Windows 7 RC version and it replaced the Grub with Windows boot options. The only options to boot now are Windows 7 and Earlier version of Windows (Win XP). Hence, I can not access my Ubuntu Linux anymore.

I've tried using the EasyBCD 1.7.2. to restore the boot options but it can not. Even if it can, I don't know how to do it. Somebody please assist me how to access the Linux partition again without loosing any data including all the Operating Systems.

Thanks.

Remember, Always Install Windows first and then Linux to keep the boot options!

Yes, but I was using dual boot Windows XP and Ubuntu before the release of the Windows 7 RC.. Hence, had to install Windows 7 after Ubuntu...