cannot boot windows 7 after installing ubuntu!

[civint]

I was running on my laptop a vista (OEM install from HP) which was installed over 2 partitions, one for the OS and another "recovery" partition. When installed windows 7, I shrank the vista partition and installed windows 7 onto the free space, leaving the recovery partition, so I ended up with vista, win7, HP recovery partition, which worked fine.

I just installed ubuntu 10.04 over windows vista, and the menu recognizes

windows vista (loader) (on /dev/sda3)

which is the recovery partition, and when I select that it goes to the menu for vista to repair an installation.

I have 2 questions:
1: how can I get windows 7 working again? (reinstall bootloader?)
2: to get windows 7 working again should I delete the HP Recovery partition? since windows 7 doesnt make any use of it...

Many thanks!

 

[zigzag3143]

I was running on my laptop a vista (OEM install from HP) which was installed over 2 partitions, one for the OS and another "recovery" partition. When installed windows 7, I shrank the vista partition and installed windows 7 onto the free space, leaving the recovery partition, so I ended up with vista, win7, HP recovery partition, which worked fine.

I just installed ubuntu 10.04 over windows vista, and the menu recognizes

windows vista (loader) (on /dev/sda3)

which is the recovery partition, and when I select that it goes to the menu for vista to repair an installation.

I have 2 questions:
1: how can I get windows 7 working again? (reinstall bootloader?)
2: to get windows 7 working again should I delete the HP Recovery partition? since windows 7 doesnt make any use of it...

Many thanks!

You need to use a program like bcdedit. instructions on how to usse it are here. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2676-bcdedit-how-use.html?ltr=B

Yes you can delete the recovery partition.

Ken

 

[civint]

thanks for quick reply!
will give it a look
many thanks

--edit--
how do I run bcedit if I can't boot windows?
My ubuntu install runs fine, buthow do I get to an elevated win7 command prompt?

 

[zigzag3143]

thanks for quick reply!
will give it a look
many thanks

My pleasure, let us know if you need help


ken

 

[gregrocker]

Mark Win7 partition active, boot Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to write the MBR to Win7 and start it up.

Next install EasyBCD 2.0 beta after doing quick forum registrration to use beta, add Ubuntu using Linux tab on Add/Remove.

This is how to use a Windows-managed dual boot, however it may not work if you have GRUB which needs to be cleaned off the HD before it can be overridden. Read here: Dual-Boot Windows 7 and Ubuntu in Perfect Harmony - windows 7 - Lifehacker

 

[wee]

The autorepair will probably not work nor the bcd edit. There is a problem with Ubuntu installs that it gives you the option to put grub into all partitions if you don't know where to put it, when it should be in the MBR of the HD that it is installed to.

Post this boot script in code tags if theses other methods don't work. SourceForge.net: Boot Info Script - Project Web Hosting - Open Source Software

Might I suggest that all you gurus check out this script, it will give you the complete lowdown on where grub has been installed where the boot is and other pertinent information.

What I see on this site is a lot of 3rd party usage that is never needed due to a misunderstanding of how grub works, and thinking that a autorepair will work. You have to run the commands individually with a chkdsk to work. I don't just suggest these things because I think it's correct but I know that it is I have reloaded W7/XP/Grub multiple times with no problems. But if grub has been put in the ntfs partitions there is even a easier way to fix it with testdisc, and keep the MS bootloader intact and grub.

The problems you guys are running into with Ubuntu installs is more then often due to grub being put in partitions rather then the MBR.