HP Pavillion multi-boot problem

[MexicanPygmy]

Hello, this my first time on seven fourms and the reason why I signed up is because I have windows 7 home premium x64 bit which has a problem. I installed windows xp professional x64 bit and when I rebooted, I got a black screen with a blinking cursor in the upper left hand corner. I read online that its better than a plain black screen but I did not find any answers. Later, I installed linux zorin 5.2 x64 bit and I could see that my files are still there but I can't use windows 7. I realized the reason it takes forever to boot is because there is a boot menu but I can't see it because my monitor says "input signal out of range change settings to 1600x900 60Hz". I noticed I can select operating systems but windows 7 isn't one of them. Today, I just installed ubuntu 12.04 x32 bit and the boot menu still didn't come up. I need help to get windows 7 back. Please help immediatly.

 

[Pauly]

Hi MexicanPygmy, Welcome to SF

Sounds like you have a problem with the mbr when installing multiple OS
You could try running startup repair of your install disk to repair(you may need to run this up to three times) or you can try other fixes, have a look at this http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/20864-mbr-restore-windows-7-master-boot-record.html

If your not sure of anything dont rush in post back and we can help

 

[whs]

Looks like you pretty much screwed up the Win7 bootmgr and the MBR. I suggest you clear the decks so that you only have Windows7 partition left.

Then set the Windows7 partition 'active'. Then run Startup/Repair 3 times. After that, Windows7 should boot.

If you need links/tools for the different actions, post back.

 

[MexicanPygmy]

Thanks for the help, but I don't have the restore disk. I think we got it at the store already preloaded onto there. But at the end of the invisible list, I can enter the restore thing. By the way, I had followed the instructions to install another opperating system, create partition install. But it still didn't work. So I'm stuck with linux.

 

[MexicanPygmy]

Clear the decks? I don't know what that means. Delete the partition?

 

[whs]

Clear the decks? I don't know what that means. Delete the partition?

Yes, delete all partitions other than the Win7 partition.

 

[MexicanPygmy]

What are "grub rescue" commands? I rebooted and got this
Error: no such partiton
Grub rescue> _

 

[Pauly]

Grub is a linux boot manager, because you installed linux after 7 think grub has taken over your boot setup

As whs said its prob easier to remove all but win 7 then repair/rebuild the bootmgr

 

[MexicanPygmy]

OK thanks, I will figure out a way. Maybe I will reinstall Ubuntu because I can't do anything with a Linux kind if command prompt.

 

[MexicanPygmy]

I really don't know, I read online that there is this program called easy bcd but I don't have an internet connection. This whole time I was using a samsung replenish phone to do this thing.

 

[Pauly]

Ok if you want to restore windows seven you can do this by following the steps we outlined
The easiest way to proceed is to delete everything except win 7 installation and attempt to repair/rebuild you mbr
If you do not have win install disc you can download recovery cd from Internet and burn to disc, this disc is the same for all windows versions and is not machine specific so you can create it on any pc just be sure to correct version (32 or 64 bit) or you can create cd on another win 7 machine in control panel>backup restore

You will then be able to boot from this cd enter recovery and run repair, you may need to run this a few times until your system boots

Alternatively you can try easyBCD using the tutorial posted earlier but either way you will need to access Internet to download appropriate program/file

 

[MexicanPygmy]

Ok, I only have Internet at one house and none at the other, so I can still download this thingy and burn it and I guess I'll be ok. Thanks for all the help. I will try this and see if it works

 

[MexicanPygmy]

I'm just wondering or do I have to post this on ubuntu forums idk but I think that some items are missing when I burned it to the cd like incomplete language support and I can't resize the launcher icons.

 

[MexicanPygmy]

And I burned the iso to the cd slowly and I got unexpected I/O error occurred.