Solved linux to windows 7 install problems

[fatboyz]

hi all. newbie here, i have a relatively not bad self taught knowledge of windows.

right, i have purchased a toshiba NB250 netbook with linux installed. ive gone to install windows 7 from disk and it comes back saying there is not enough room to store temporary files. which after searching up means that the disk is formatted to linux and windows cant read the disk.... so i downloaded a program called rufus to make a bootable usb drive. in the mean time while i made that i thought i would swap the 250gb hd with linux on and put a spare 40gb hd in the netbook to use to try this bootable image on. so i put the 40gb hd in and powered up and it already had an install of windows 7 on it and booted up nicely. so i thought what i would do was try the 250gb hd on my home pc and install windows 7 through that. i then downloaded a program called test disk that would read the linux formatted 250gb hd on my home pc. it found it and i wiped the disk clean. i then made an entire partition of NTFS formatted 250gb HD and then proceeded to install windows 7 to it. all installed nice and fine and booted up via my home pc. i then put the 250gb HD back in the netbook and proceeded to power up. the netbook proceeded to the follwing black screen with...

"error: unkown file system entering rescue mode..... grub rescue> now after looking up i have found out that grub rescue is some kind of rescue program for linux? if so then how come there are still some linux files on the HD??? i wiped it and formatted it to NTFS?

i done some searches regarding the grub rescue thing and tried to boot past that but to no avail??? any help appreciated.

 

[GokAy]

Well, it won't work like that

Windows needs drivers related to the hardware, and is not suitable to move to dissimilar hardware.
Since you are at an early stage, just re-install Windows while 250GB HDD is in the laptop.

I believe you could have installed Windows in the first place if you used a tool like GParted and shrunk the Linux partition some.

Anyway, download and create bootable media of Partition Wizard free. And boot laptop with it while having 250GB attached. Delete any partitions on it, and create a single NTFS partition (optional). Then boot with Windows installer and install as usual.

 

[fatboyz]

so put the 40 gb hd with windows 7 back in the netbook and then connect the 250gb hard drive up to the netbook and install windows through it that way?? the drive is a 2.5" sata drive, so would have to get a 2.5" sata to usb cable to plug into the netbook?? would that work that way?

 

[Boozad]

No, take the 40GB drive out, put the 250GB drive back in then reinstall Windows, formatting the drive in the process.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi which flavor of Linux was on the drive ?
Did you encrypt the home folder in that flavor ?
Traditionally you would install windows first without the windows system reserved partition 100mb...
Then make a new partition for Linux

I found out that Linux mint mate 17.1 would not install if a system reserved was installed by windows :/
I had to install Linux along side of win-7 and that was a bit too cozy for my comfort level seeing as Viruses.... do not effect Linux but do windows and are easily transferred to a disk with what ever is on it os and all.

You probably have to clean the disk in Linux to get rid of the grub on the disk ?
Windows has no clue about Linux or if it's even there so I doubt windows can clean the disk ?

 

[fatboyz]

trying to install windows on the 250gb disk but it goes straight to the GRUB recovery screen. the netbook doesnt have dvd drive so ive tried making a bootable usb drive with windows 7 on, but to no avail yet. i have purchased a usb optical dvd drive so hoepfully i can boot/install from that. either way i have no way of getting back onto linux as i have formatted the drive now to NTFS. there must be a small part of the linux grub recovery lurking on there???

linux was zorin? if that means anything?

 

[fatboyz]

just to confirm, i want rid of the linux OS on the HDD in favour of windows 7 only.

 

[GokAy]

Select USB from the Boot Menu or set it as first boot device in BIOS.

Also read http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

 

[Andyrids]

You may well have to use something like a Partition Wizard boot CD and select to wipe that 250gb HDD with zeros or ones to avoid problems... Just doing a format alone is not good enough to clear out what is left of GRUB.

 

[ThrashZone]

there must be a small part of the linux grub recovery lurking on there???

linux was zorin? if that means anything?

Yep that's what I mean you'll need to detach the drive and format/ erase in Linux to get rid of the grub windows can't do it
You must of encrypted the home folder ?

 

[gregrocker]

Wipe the drive of boot code using Diskpart Clean Command

Included in the steps to Troubleshoot Windows 7 Installation Failures - Windows 7 Help Forums which will overcome any installation failures.

 

[fatboyz]

all sorted. put the drive into an old dell laptop and installed windows on the HD by booting from dvd rom drive. all has installed perfectly fine and running smoothly. put the drive back in the netbook and all is fine. only problem i have now is when i power up my home pc windows boot manager always picks up 2 instances of windows 7, obviously one was from when i installed windows to the 250gb thru my home pc. how do i stop boot manager trying to find the other drive that isnt even attached anymore???

 

[gregrocker]

Delete the extra listing not for C in msconfig>Boot tab. Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System - Windows 7 Help Forums

If not there, install EasyBCD to delete it on Edit Boot Menu tab. Uncheck box to have a boot menu.

 

[fatboyz]

many thanks for all your help