Prankster leaves me computerless, help please.

[computermesh]

An older version of Ubuntu (10.10) was installed on my computer by someone apparently wanting to be funny, and it has turned into a complete nightmare for me. I have no interest, no wants, or desires to use Ubuntu, I am completely content with Windows 7. It was bad enough I lost a lot of my data and pictures, and work documents. But now I can't even reinstall windows to be able to get back to work. Here's what I know for sure.

1.) My Windows 7 Disc Works, have tried it in 3 other machines with no problem.
2.) My dvd drive is functioning, apparently it installed ubuntu, but just to be safe, I took it out and tried it in one other computer, and no problems.
3.) I changed my boot order to make the cd rom boot first.
4.) Ubuntu boots fine
5.) I put in the windows 7 disc and restart, and get no notification to press a key for setup or anything like that ever, it boots straight to ubuntu.
6.) I get no error messages.
7.) I use the manual f12 to select the cdrom drive, it hands in the post at cd/dvd....for a few seconds, then continues to boot to ubuntu.


I am in desperate need of this computer so any and all help would be appreciated..

Shaun

 

[Maguscreed]

You have to remove grub, it's ubuntu's version of a bootmgr and windows can't take over again until you get rid of it.
See this thread here.
Sorry it is a tad complicated but the instructions are very clear.
http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/62209-remove-grub-restore-windows-7-a.html

btw if win 7 is still on the drive it should start working again after this without a reinstall.

 

[computermesh]

From what I got from him before I removed him from the house after he supposedly tried to fix it after 2 hours, there is no windows left, it was over written when ubuntu was installed.

 

[Maguscreed]

grub needs to be removed and the disc cleaned before you can reinstall windows all the same thing.
If he wiped your data this goes beyond a prank.
It's practically criminal.

 

[computermesh]

I'll be able to do that from ubuntu without being able to boot to the windows 7 dvd yet?

 

[computermesh]

Ok, so without being able to boot to the windows disc, is there anyway to remove grub, or clean the disc? Your right it is criminal, supposedly it was a misunderstanding. He thought it would only be temporary. I'm calling BS.

 

[gregrocker]

Was this factory preinstalled Win7 which might still have a bootable Recovery Partition on the HD? Try tapping the key given on first boot screen for Recovery, or post back the make/model.

Everything you need is here to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 including how to rescue your data if it remains on the HD.

Set the DVD drive first to boot in BIOS setup, or trigger the DVD using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first screen.

 

[computermesh]

Was this factory preinstalled Win7 which might still have a bootable Recovery Partition on the HD? Try tapping the key given on first boot screen for Recovery, or post back the make/model.

Everything you need is here to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 including how to rescue your data if it remains on the HD.

Set the DVD drive first to boot in BIOS setup, or trigger the DVD using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first screen.

No this was a custom built computer. There is no factory preinstalled windows 7.

 

[pparks1]

I've been using Linux and Windows for years and I have boxes that I test OS's on, and I've never loaded Ubuntu on a single system that rendered me unable to simply boot again from a Windows DVD and reinstall Windows.

For proof, try disconnecting your hard drive and then get your system to boot off that Windows DVD. See if you can proceed into the install from that point forward. If it still bombs out, it's obviously not GRUB.

 

[gregrocker]

Try triggering the DVD drive using the one-time BIOS Boot menu key. What exactly happens?

If that fails download the latest official ISO and burn a new DVD using the tool in Steps 1 and 2 of reinstall tutorial.

This is an opportunity to get a perfect reinstall which you can then image and never have to reinstall again.

 

[computermesh]

I've been using Linux and Windows for years and I have boxes that I test OS's on, and I've never loaded Ubuntu on a single system that rendered me unable to simply boot again from a Windows DVD and reinstall Windows.

For proof, try disconnecting your hard drive and then get your system to boot off that Windows DVD. See if you can proceed into the install from that point forward. If it still bombs out, it's obviously not GRUB.

I unplug the drive and turn it on and after the boot from cd/dvd it says disk boot failure insert system disk and press enter

 

[computermesh]

Try triggering the DVD drive using the one-time BIOS Boot menu key. What exactly happens?

If that fails download the latest official ISO and burn a new DVD using the tool in Steps 1 and 2 of reinstall tutorial.

This is an opportunity to get a perfect reinstall which you can then image and never have to reinstall again.

Does not work. Just goes like its going to then boots into linux.

 

[gregrocker]

Will any other bootable disk boot? If you unplug the HD (if a desktop) will disk boot?

Reset the BIOS to defaults: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

While in BIOS setup set SATA controller to AHCI, DVD drive to boot first, HD second.

If this fails using tutorial try burning new DVD, then if it fails again write to flash stick which is booted under USB, Removable or HD's.

If that fails try booting DBAN or Partition Wizard bootable CD, burned using Windows Image Burner or ImgBurn. These should boot themselves, then wipe the HD which will likewise force installer to boot itself.

If a desktop, you can also move the HD to another PC to wipe it using Diskpart Clean Command, then move it back to see if installer boots itself or you can boot it.

 

[pparks1]

I've been using Linux and Windows for years and I have boxes that I test OS's on, and I've never loaded Ubuntu on a single system that rendered me unable to simply boot again from a Windows DVD and reinstall Windows.

For proof, try disconnecting your hard drive and then get your system to boot off that Windows DVD. See if you can proceed into the install from that point forward. If it still bombs out, it's obviously not GRUB.

I unplug the drive and turn it on and after the boot from cd/dvd it says disk boot failure insert system disk and press enter

This means that's its not finding a bootable system on your DVD drive and the system is failing to boot from it and then moves onto booting up from the hard drive. If that drive were connected, it would be loading GRUB.

 

[Lunarpancake]

Weird. I had this happen once with a very old laptop. I couldn't get a Windows 7 DVD to isntall after it had been running ubuntu or some other linux flavor for a while. I think I installed XP fine and just lived with that.

Figured I would just tell you that you are NOT an anomaly!