Restoring HP computer 2 harddisks and dual boot Linux Mint

[alfware17]

Hallo, I have little problem/question.
My HP computer has Windows Vista on HD C: (lived for nearly 9 years ) and I made dual-boot Linux-Mint 17 on HD E: (D: is the recovery partition of HP).
Now it happens, the PC is dieing of senior hardware (graphics is over and it had crashed several blue screens damaging the Vista registry and so on).
I would bring it to recycling but before I just want to use some months the Linux because of some Android studio projects).
MAY I try a PF11 recovery of the Vista without loosing the Linux on the dual boot (parts of E.
My guess would be yes because I think it only affects the C: and it could be formatted. But I am not sure
and I could live without the Windows if it doesn't work 100% proper.
Anybody knows? Thanks for advices

 

[samuria]

Welcome to the forum how does Linux boot from c or other is were are it's boot files. Not knowing exactly the type of recovery it's likely to format c so deleting any boot files for Linux. To restore Vista is crazy as it will be without any updates so it will be unsafe given recent Ransome ware attacks. I would leave it as is if you can boot Linux and just use that

 

[alfware17]

As I understand, Linux is completly at E: (second HD which is divided into 2 partitions: Linux and the rest data for Windows).
The dual boot manager (grub) asks what to use, Vista or Linux. The good question is where the grub itself is but I guess on E: too.

 

[Megahertz07]

To be clear: You have one HDD with one partition with Windows and another partition with Linux.
If that is the case, when you do a Factory Restore it may clean your Linux. For sure it will change MBR and you wont be able to boot Linux till you restore grub.
My advice is the same of Samuria: Forget Vista. Use Mint.

 

[alfware17]

To be clear: You have one HDD with one partition with Windows and another partition with Linux.
.

No I have 2 HD
If I would know more about sysinfo in Linux I could try to hardcopy Partition Table Screen.
C: (1TB) Windows Vista (now dead because registry and dementia)
(20GB) Factory Image from HP
E: (800GB) Data from Windows
(200GB) Linux Mint 17.2
Where exactly the GRUB is - idk. But from an experience with my newer (other) PC I could assume
its also on E: After Installation (Linux Mint managed the Multiboot for me) I had to switch in BIOS
to boot first HD2 also E: After start I am asked if Windows or Linux.

But ok I also tend to not touch it as long as the Linux works fine. Another alternative could be to freshly
install Windows in the first partion? It should ask me about partition and DVD I own.

 

[Megahertz07]

To us to understand what you have, open disk management, expand all columns, and with the sniping tool take a snapshot. Post it here as an attachment.
Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[alfware17]

To us to understand what you have, open disk management, expand all columns, and with the sniping tool take a snapshot. Post it here as an attachment.
Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Help Forums

Hallo Megahertz07,

this is a windows tool and workaround but my windows is dead, so that was the beginning of my question
Here is, was Linux tells me about

Bernd

bernd@bernd-NM824AA-ABD-a6759de ~ $ sudo fdisk -lu

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 Köpfe, 63 Sektoren/Spur, 121601 Zylinder, zusammen 1953525168 Sektoren
Einheiten = Sektoren von 1 × 512 = 512 Bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Festplattenidentifikation: 0x1549f232

Gerät boot. Anfang Ende Blöcke Id System
/dev/sda1 * 63 1923253604 961626771 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda4 1923253605 1953520064 15133230 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT

Disk /dev/sdb: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 Köpfe, 63 Sektoren/Spur, 121601 Zylinder, zusammen 1953525168 Sektoren
Einheiten = Sektoren von 1 × 512 = 512 Bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Festplattenidentifikation: 0x00b4631b

Gerät boot. Anfang Ende Blöcke Id System
/dev/sdb1 63 1562469826 781234882 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdb2 1562470398 1953523711 195526657 5 Erweiterte
/dev/sdb5 1562470400 1936748543 187139072 83 Linux
/dev/sdb6 1936750592 1953523711 8386560 82 Linux Swap / Solaris
bernd@bernd-NM824AA-ABD-a6759de ~ $

I would like to guess that it is translated into

C:
/dev/sda1 Windows Vista
/dev/sda4 recovery HP

E:
/dev/sdb1 DATA Windows
/dev/sdb2 GRUB (???)
/dev/sdb5 Linux Min17
/dev/sdb6 Linux swap whatever

 

[Megahertz07]

To be sure all Linux boot loader (MBR & grub) is on sdb:
- Detach windows disk (sda) and see if you can boot Linux sdb.
If Linux works normally without sda, then you can try to restore Vista on sda. To do so detach sdb and attach sda. Leave ONLY the windows disk attached to the MB.

 

[alfware17]

To be sure all Linux boot loader (MBR & grub) is on sdb:
- Detach windows disk (sda) and see if you can boot Linux sdb.
If Linux works normally without sda, then you can try to restore Vista on sda. To do so detach sdb and attach sda. Leave ONLY the windows disk attached to the MB.

Thats quit good idea. I will try (in a few days) and then tell you the result. To be sure, with attach and detach HD you mean
in the BIOS, right?

 

[Megahertz07]

When I mean detach, I mean physically, by disconnecting the SATA cable or Power cable from the HDD.

 

[alfware17]

Hallo here is my update. I did it
1. Disconnect hardware disk c: to be sure, grub and my linux are still alive on e: only - boots.
2. Switch, connect c:, diconnect e: and try factory reset Vista from my HP - starts and doesn't care for lost e:
(is not included)
3. Factory-Reset/Windows-Install breaks, black screen, computer freeze. :huh: ok why???
I was afraid of it, my computer has a hardware defect, the graphics board cooler is ill.
For any unknown reason but my luck only Windoofs cares about, and may only be an installing Vista.
Linux works fine - summers and winters, it only knows about the main cooler or anything else, I dont know.
In Germany we say bumble-bee cannot fly following rules of physic. But she doesn't know that and she simply
do fly.
ANY TRY to run or install Windows will fail. A hardware windows allergic reaction - dream of any my sleep.
4. I became mighty but desperate. Connect e: again and "grub" select the dead windows partition but boot from a
stick with windows 7 (I 2014 bought a licence but never used).
AND AGAIN :devil::devil::devil: Windows installation breaks when it detects the dead graphics cooler and computer
black screen and freeze.
5. Give up. This 10yo computer now only works with Linux Mint 17 on 200GB partition of HD e:
The rest (C: 1TB and E; 800 GB) I deleted under Linux and use as a very luxury data space and backup.

ANYWAY IT WORKS!!! Factory reset the same like new install dont destroy GRUB and Linux, if this is located
on second HD. Only be sure your system boots first E: then C: (in my case the Linux installation did it automatically,
in another case I found out after some try and error and switched in BIOS). Funny if the second HD is removable and
removed, then BIOS knows to boot directly from C: and Windows.
Inspite of my hardware fault - interesting knowledge and maybe hope for others.