Windows 7: ubuntu damaged my windows partition

Now I can't boot from the harddrive at all,even after reinstallng windows.

history.



I installed a new drive and since I need to test apps on multiple operating systems, I install several windows versions. I spend two weeks installing many windows versions, then updating and installing software on each, then before I was about to clone the drive to use on other systems, I installed ubuntu.

All was fine, I had Win 2000pro, win xp pro, 2k3 datacenter, and vista and seven in 32 and 64 bit versions, all living with ubuntu, until ubuntu asked to update from 11.04 to 11.10.

When done, the Grub2 bootloader would fail to load the Windows 7 seven bootloader. After about 12hrs tryng to fix it, I decided to delete the ubuntu and use my windows disc to overwrite the grub bootloader. I did it successfully according to windows but it wouldn't load and nothin would boot.

I then try to reinstall Seven on the first partition, hoping it would at least boot that, and all seemed well during install, but as soon as it tried to boot from harddrive, nothin happened. I then tried to reinstall one of the WinXP versions, to let it overwrite the Seven boot loader, but the same problem, it's like something is stopping this partiton from booting. I didn't want to wipe the partition if I don'thave to, so I tried to use Gparted to resize and move it, making it partition2, and a fresh partition to instal Windows 7 on, and hoped it would see and setup the booting of the other versions, but I couldn't even move the martition (unspecified error).

I think I'm about to just wipe the drive and start over, losing 2weeks of work, unless someone has a magic cure. I've already tried to restore master boot records, boot sectore fix, every windows and 3rd partytool says it's fixed, but it won't boot, and won't instal.

Ubuntu's help is worthless unless it's ubuntu thats broken. Every choice they have in installation recovery is to deal with ubuntu not working, nothing at all with it killing allyour windows installations, nor is there a way to "undo" the update or installation.

All Linux code must be deleted using the CLEAN ALL command.As you have had linux on the HD you need do a Clean all & full format.


Type in command line
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (win HD)
CLEAN ALL
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
SELECT PARTITION 1
ACTIVE
FORMAT fs=NTFS
ASSIGN
EXIT
EXIT




SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

I was trying to salvage the windows installation, but my next step was to delete the partiton and start over.

Do you think recreating the first partiton and reinstalling that windows version will fix the other installed windows versions too? I imagine I'll need to salvage the boot.ini file from the root of that drive so it can fine the pre-vista versions.

Thanks

Once you clean the HD the slate is clean for a new install, unless you have other problems we can help you sort as they arise.

Just boot the Windows 7 installer, use Drive Options to create partitions as you wish, format and click Next to start install. Post back any error messages verbatim.

Or you can just start install and it will format partition for you.

There is no need to import any file to "pre-define Vista". If you're installing Upgrade versionto a cleaned HD, leave the Product Key blank up front and after install do the quick registry workaround given here to activate: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Or if you boot the installer and it sees previous Windows, it will allow use of Upgrade version key up front even if you delete all partitions, create new and format. Try that first as you may not need to clean the HD.

I would debate that the above must be done. I support Windows and Linux at work and have many times installed Linux on a laptop, then Windows and then Linux again. I've used CentOS, Debian, Fedora, SuSE, and Ubuntu. To get Windows back on the drive, I just put in the Windows DVD, press a key when prompted and install.


For the OP, I haven't yet had a chance to try Ubuntu 11.10 as it just came out. I'm seeing lots of dual boot guides for 11.10 and Windows 7....so it seems likely it can be done. I was thinking about testing it out myself, but I just don't have the spare cycles to setup multiple Windows OS's on the drive first..and I don't know if that has anything to do with your problem.

As you expected, I would expect a repair install of Windows to fix it...or a fixboot or fixmbr worst case.

I wasn't referring to vista, I was referring to Windws 2000, Windows XP,and server 2003, which Seven and vista will load their boot manager as an option to start prior versions of windows, but I believe the boot.ini file will be needed.

I don't need help creating or deleting partitions, or installing/activating windows, I just wanted to know if I could fix the partition, but since no one has offered a simple solution I haven't tried, I'll just replace the partition.

I really would like to know what was done to the partition so it wouldn't boot even during a windows install. but I may never find out.

I'm also wondering if there may be a harddisc failure involved here. I guess I'll find out if a new partition doesn't fix it.