Solved Configuring BootMgr for dual boot Win7/Ubuntu ?

[Anakunda]

Hello, I need some hint about configuring Windows7 bootmgr to give a choice of these two OS.
I have Win7 and Ubuntu installed on two separate primary partitions, but always will boot right to Windows. So (if even bootmgr supports booting into Linux partition), I'd like to get any guidance howto, since I'm not familiar with bcdedit (except that this tools seem not to work under Windows at all)

 

[seavixen32]

Check out this tut:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/116098-dual-boot-windows-7-ubuntu.html

 

[Anakunda]

thx, I've already found wonderful utility EasyBCD which did all necessary.

 

[seavixen32]

You're quite right, EasyBCD is an excellent utility, which many of us use.

I posted the link to the tutorial as there is a wealth of information there from some very dedicated people. I use them a lot.

Anyway, pleased to hear you've solved your problem and thanks for letting us know.

 

[Anakunda]

I'd have one more question though. After installing Ubuntu to 2nd partition, I get Ubuntu boot menu at first when I boot from main hard drive.
Is there a way to give control over booting back to Windows bootmgr?
I have tried to fix this from Windows repair CD console by writing :

Bootsect /nt60 sys

and

Bootsect /nt60 C:

However none of these seem to make Win7 main operating system.
This is no big problem as Ubuntu boot menu gives choice to Boot from Windows partition, just it has higher priority which I don't prefere.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

See what happens when you fool with Linux/Grub?

 

[qjpus]

I have tried to fix this from Windows repair CD console by writing :

Bootsect /nt60 sys

and

Bootsect /nt60 C:

However none of these seem to make Win7 main operating system.

To restore W7 bootmgr you need bootrec.exe, not bootsect.exe - see How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

HTH

 

[Anakunda]

To restore W7 bootmgr you need bootrec.exe

You were right, finally I got Win7 MBR restored. Unfortunatelly during my previous attempts to restore Win7 MBR I had to destroy Ubuntu boot sector somehow, when switching to Ubuntu menu entry of bootmgr, I get this error screen now:

Starting cmain() ...   
 (hd0,2) 
   [Multiboot-kludge, loadaddr=0x100000, text-annd-data=0x634e, bss=0x0, entry=0x10092c]
error: unknown filesystem.
grub rescue> _

Any ideas how to make Ubuntu partition bootable again?

 

[qjpus]

This are different issues.
There are obviously 2 solutions:
a) dual boot using W7 bootmgr,
b) dual boot using Grub.
First question - do you need to boot using W7 bootmgr?
I have actually 3 systems (W7, XP and Ubuntu) and personaly prefer Grub. All system boot nicely and everything works nice.
If you are after a) - there is plenty of info on the internet. Roughly you should create ubuntu bootloader, copy that to windows partition and modify BCD using bcd edit - pain in the backside contrary to nearly automatic detection using Ubuntu/Grub.
If you are happy with b) then there is also plenty of info on the inet. You would need to boot Ubuntu from LiveCD and reinstall Grub, eg: [all variants] Need to reinstall grub from install disk - Help please [Archive] - Ubuntu Forums

HTH

 

[Anakunda]

First question - do you need to boot using W7 bootmgr?
HTH

I like bootmgr more and want Win7 as timeout default which grub boot menu didnot offer.
But ok I have reinstalled Ubuntu from original CD, then again reverted back Windows MBR from ParagonCD, and voila, now the boot goes right to bootmgr menu, and Ubuntu entry is able to boot Linux

So I can consider the dual booting hassle definitely solved. Thanks to all for advices and you can lock the topic.

 

[qjpus]

First question - do you need to boot using W7 bootmgr?
HTH

I like bootmgr more and want Win7 as timeout default which grub boot menu didnot offer.

Just FYI: unless you are using some archaic Ubuntu version, mentioned functionality is available at System/Administration/StartUp Manager.

Glad you've fixed your problem.