Linux to Windows 7 - Big Problem

[smarteyeball]

Further reading for the OP:

Grub/XP/Vista Bootloader - Ubuntu Forums

 

[rover3500]

Is Roflamaow going to let us know if it was a bootable disk?
I would have said that's what it was.Most disc imaging software will tell u if it's bootable when u load it up.Just remember to always install windows first so linux can sort the bootup.

 

[gregrocker]

I just re-read the tutorial and all of the comments on that Notebook Review forum where OP downloaded his ISO files.

The tut looks much more complicated than the one here making Win7 files into ISO using Vlite: Make bootable iso from student d/l

I'd bet OP hadn't anything near a working ISO and has gone looking for another download source for his ISO.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

If you have a mobile phone / digital camera can you take a picture of the BOOT menu when you are in the BIOS. Upload the image via your Linux browser if you are still in Linux.

If your BIOS boots from a CD and the priority is set to CD first then it should work.

Sometimes though if you've got any USB sticks . drives plugged in BIOS'ES dynamically change these - altering boot sequence unpredictably so remove any USB devices.

Sometimes also pressing F8 on boot throws up a Boot menu -- if your hardware allows that try F8 on Boot.

In any case post the pics.

(I suspect the OP is looking "elsewhere" for a bootable ISO as well. IMO ANYBODY who can even boot a Linux system will know all about "BOOT order" etc. -- Not decrying Windows users - but in general you DO need to have a lot more knowledge to operate even the simplest Linux system -- this is one reason why Windows is STILL the most popular OS around today -- by FAR).

And to the OP if you are around - there's plenty of DECENT 'Nix forums where you won't get snapped at for asking questions

try http://www.linuxquestions.org for one -- OK OT but a great 'nix forum.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Qdos]

On a lot of machines you can alter the boot order at any bootup by tapping F12, there's absolutely no need to enter the BIOS. If the OP can't stop the machine from booting to Linux then just run DBAN from a CD to fix that...

 

[Roflamaow]

Hey everyone, just posting here to tell you all that I'm not dead, but not able to get on the laptop at this moment. So here is what we have settled.

1. My BIOS is not broken/impared.
2. I will check to see if the ISO is bootable.
3. Yes, there are files, I didn't just stick the .iso file onto the disc..
4. I will check to see if the link provided is much easier than the one I used.

One more question though. How many files when I mount the ISO into the CD should be there? I see the folder [BOOT] then a text file. I'm sure this is right because I tried it on a VM and it worked just fine. Another thing, would it maybe effect the installation from the CD if I used a Windows image burner (via WINE's Command Prompt) on a Linux machine? Thanks so much for the help you all are giving me. As soon as I check to see if the ISO is bootable I will post again.

 

[Roflamaow]

Further reading for the OP:

Grub/XP/Vista Bootloader - Ubuntu Forums

This won't work because I can't boot off of the Windows 7 CD!

 

[gregrocker]

One more question though. How many files when I mount the ISO into the CD should be there? I see the folder [BOOT] then a text file. I'm sure this is right because I tried it on a VM and it worked just fine.

These files are normally on a Win7 DVD (not CD) :



I showed you much earlier how to test whether the ISO is bootable and verify the DVD using ImgBurn.

The definitive test of the ISO's download integrity is comparing it's HASH checksum to the official HASH of the ISO here: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/...hash-for-original-msdntechnet-dvd-iso-images/

To checksum the HASH of your ISO to compare it, download and install View attachment 41141

 

[Roflamaow]

Hey everyone, just checked to see if the ISO was bootable, and turns out it is.

Picture below, will try the post above me.

Verify Picture

 

[Roflamaow]

One more question though. How many files when I mount the ISO into the CD should be there? I see the folder [BOOT] then a text file. I'm sure this is right because I tried it on a VM and it worked just fine.

These files are normally on a Win7 DVD (not CD) :

View attachment 41138

I showed you much earlier how to test whether the ISO is bootable and verify the DVD using ImgBurn.

The definitive test of the ISO's download integrity is comparing it's HASH checksum to the official HASH of the ISO here: Windows 7 RTM Build 7600.16385 Official SHA-1 and MD5 Checksum Hash for Original MSDN/TechNet DVD ISO Images My Digital Life

To checksum the HASH of your ISO to compare it, download and install View attachment 41141

It's not wanting to run on my Linux machine, so I'll try download it and verifying this on a Windows PC.

 

[gregrocker]

Hey everyone, just checked to see if the ISO was bootable, and turns out it is.

Now we need to get the Win7 DVD to boot up from BIOS.

Are you getting the prompt to "hit any key to boot from CD/DVD?"

I know you said you are booting directly into Linux, but perhaps you are missing that prompt if it is flashing by quickly.

Next, look for the Boot Menu key, a F-key given on first bootup menu that will allow you to choose which drive you boot. On my computer it is F10, others F8 or ESC.

You have already confirmed that CD/DVD drive is set to boot first in BIOS. Can you also check which controller is enabled: SATA, IDE or RAID. Do you have SATA drives? You might try IDE if SATA/IHCI is not working to boot DVD.

Are you good with zeroing out the entire HD to get rid of Linux traces? You could make a backup image stored externally to restore it if necessary.

 

[Roflamaow]

Well I was wanting to remove Linux and it's GRUB when I installed Windows 7. Right now I'm going to run the Windows 7 disc on a Windows to make sure it's 100% bootable. As of right now, my BIOS is set to run the CD/DVD first, but yet still goes straight into linux. I'm also going to recompile the ISO on a Windows machine to see if the burner just on Linux isn't working, because it is only showing the [BOOT] folder. Thanks again, will report back later. Oh, and one more thing, I'm not too sure what you mean about the drivers.

- Noah [Roflamaow]

 

[gregrocker]

Before getting into drivers we need to see your System Specs filled out in the link at the bottom left of post box.

If you confirm the HASH on ISO now, after confirming the DVD is bootable in ImgBurn and on another machine, then both DVD and ISO are good.

Maybe some Ubuntu experts can tell us at this point if something there might be blocking Win7 DVD booting, as my only solution to this possibility is to zero the drive using DBAN>

 

[Roflamaow]

I have a idea, to see if a flash drive of mine may work. I'll get my system specs in a second for you.

 

[gregrocker]

You can either load the files into flash stick after formatting primary in Disk Management,

or using ISO, Write the ISO to stick using UltraISO trial Bootable tab. View attachment 41158

Then tap Boot Menu F-key given on first bootup screen and find flash under HD's.

 

[skylinepigeon]

Are you sure you're pressing the "save and exit" key (F10 on mine) when you switch boot devices and not just ESC?

It took me about a week to figure that out when I first started making computers.

 

[MdM]

I know it might sound stupid but I had a similar problem yesterday :

I was trying to boot from a DVD so I went inside the Bios Setup and changed my first boot device to be CD-ROM. It wouldn't boot, so after blaming Nero and yelling at my PC bad words, I dediced to go check my Bios again. It turned out that CD-ROM wasn't the right choice, since at the bottom of the list there were a bunch of numbers and letters that looked like a model number of a device. In fact, that was my DVD drive model number listed there. I selected that one and then I was able to boot from my DVD.

Conclusions : have a deeper look at your boot list, your DVD drive might be listed with its model number, then choose that one instead of CD-ROM.

I hope it helps

 

[Roflamaow]

Hey guys, problem solved. Thanks to the help here, I was able to get it working. I'm now running my Windows 7 Ultimate x64! Thanks everyone.

 

[gregrocker]

What was the solution? Flash stick install? Eager to hear.