Solved Problems dual booting with ubuntu - now Win7 wont start

[happygarden]

Hi, I have a problem which I'm lookin for some advice.
I've downloaded and loaded up ubuntu 11.10 on my win7 laptop.

I assumed I required several partitions to run ubuntu alongside win7 - but having freed up some space (100gb) in gparted – which then stayed “unusable” - I then (initially) rebooted back into Win 7 fine (after a 5min chkdsk at startup) - saw my free space, and formatted it as fat32 (why I did that, I’m not entirely sure – but I supposed gparted could see/use it.

So far so good (or so I thought). Fired up ubuntu, set the install partition (mount "/" - ex4, etc) - but with no swap partition. So I repeat the process - resize the main Win7 sys partition by another 5 gb - and then try and reboot into win7...

And now nothing. I load the Win7 recovery environment - and startup repair states chkdsk fails due to "system volume on disk is corrupt". load up diskpart - select the dist - but now shows the main hdd has no volumes - and status is invalid. Also - there is an * denoting it's a dynamic disk. ???

If I reload ubuntu from a dvd- all ok, from gparted - I see in disks: the ntfs partitions with all the data -and the 100gb free for ubuntu (all of which are unaccessible in windows recovery env - or so it seems).

how can I repair the win7 boot option? I'm not too fussed about the ubuntu (and wouldn't have ventured if I'd have known what lay in store) - however, it all seemed straightforward at the time, and I'm drawn by a quick boot time, etc, etc..

So - dual booting isnt' setup. Win7 won't load - and can't access any of the other partitions either.

I don't want to blat the thing - but any advice on getting back to where I was (before I started) would be gratefully recieved...

Thanks

 

[Golden]

Ouch! Yep, you have to be a bit careful dual-booting Windows and Linux, in that order, but it can be done quite easily - I have Windows 7 and Linux Mint 12 dual-booted, although I chose to go to separate disk for the Linux installation.

Do you have the Windows 7 installation DVD handy? I speak under correction, but I believe it is possible to fix the bootmgr from the Windows 7 DVD, but I've never done it myself....and certainly never after a borked Linux installation. I'll see if I can find someone that has, and point them this way.

Help has been requested - locate your Windows 7 installation DVD and sit tight.....

Regards,
Golden

 

[happygarden]

thanksforthespeedyreply.
yes, I have loaded up the recovery dvd - and tried a bootrec.exe /fixmbr - but still no joy.
I don't quite know what I've bodged...

 

[Golden]

Hi,

A fellow memeber has pointed this out to me :

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ool-how-use-windows-recovery-environment.html

Can you please try this and report back?

Regards,
Golden

*** EDIT I just see you tried bootrec /fixmbr. Can you double check with the commands here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/104341-bootmgr-missing-fix.html

 

[theog]

To Remove Linux take look at this post:
http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/178280-error-0xc0000225-boot.html#post1514443

 

[Golden]

Thats it right there - thanks for your help theog.

 

[happygarden]

thanks for your assistance.
right, I've tried loading up the win7 recovery environment - but (as per the attachment)

I can't move to the c: where win7 is...
? I can see from ubuntu (from the live cd) on gparted - that the ntfs partition is still there - but how come windows can't see it?

forgive my limited knowledge - but any further advice would be great.

thanks

 

[theog]

Why you in DISKPART?

 

[essenbe]

See if this tutorial on how to restore MBR after dual booting with Linux. See if this helps.

 

[gregrocker]

Make sure the Windows 7 partition or it's 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it) are marked Active: Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)

Then boot into System Recovery Options to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

The reason it's best to use automated Startup Repair is because there are other tests and fixes it may also need to run, like System Restore or SFC.

If there is suspicion of infection it's best to first run Malwarebytes in Safe Mode or boot into Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper.

In the case of Linux Dual Boot GRUB is itself an infection which can render Windows 7 irreparable.

 

[happygarden]

so near, yet...

so I've tried a few more things. I realise (one of) my bigger mistakes was to resize the ntfs partition from the ubuntu live cd - and it's all getting a bit complicated for my bbc micro brain.

from the WinRE DVD I cannot see a windows installation still. the scan/repair fails each time at the end - saying "system volume is corrupt"

I've tried the bootrec options - and within Diskpart - the disk shows status 'invalid'.

however - when I load back into ubuntu, I see this in gparted, so I see (a glimmer of) hope. Anywhere to go from here?

 

[theog]

Why are you using the repair commands on the RAM Drive X: & not the OS Drive?

 

[happygarden]

CMD: Using Repair Tools

I can't switch to the c: - windows cannot see it... (but ubuntu can).
I've started copying data off - but I'm loathe to rebuild it...

any one else?

 

[gregrocker]

Why did you just ignore the steps I took the time to type out for you, which have worked for thousands of others here?

 

[happygarden]

Gregrocker, thanks for your kind words. I did try all your suggestions, but this issue is looking more complicated than it seems.

Make sure the Windows 7 partition or it's 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it) are marked Active: Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)
- doesn't work, can't switch to the c:\

Then boot into System Recovery Options to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.
- ran it 4 times - still fails on the chkdsk part

The reason it's best to use automated Startup Repair is because there are other tests and fixes it may also need to run, like System Restore or SFC.

If there is suspicion of infection it's best to first run Malwarebytes in Safe Mode or boot into Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper.

In the case of Linux Dual Boot GRUB is itself an infection which can render Windows 7 irreparable.

- I'm thinking yes, that's the case.

 

[gregrocker]

Then use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to mark Active the Win7 partition or it's 100mb System Reserved partition, click OK.

Next click on Disk # to highlight it, from Disk tab select Rebuild MBR, Apply. This may preclude the need to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

Other steps to know you've tried everything: Windows 7 fails to boot

 

[happygarden]

dynamic disk...

partition wizard (home) doesn't support dynamic disks.

I wasn't aware I could have a dynamic disk on a laptop (or what the benefits of why you'd do it).

any ideas how I can fix the mbr on a dynamic disk setup?

 

[gregrocker]

You must have ignored a warning when you tried to add a new partition that it would convert the HD to Dynamic - which is meant for spanning partitions on multiple HD's.

To avoid destructive conversion you'll need to use free Partition Wizard bootable CD version 4.2 which still features the Dynamic<>Basic conversion in the free edition: pw422.zip ISO - Windows Live

Click on Disk to highlight it then from Disk tab "Convert to Basic HD." Once you apply the step and confirm it's converted, work through the other steps given.

 

[happygarden]

gregrocker, that version of partitionwizard did the trick. many thanks to you, and everyone else for your advice. best wishes, m

 

[gregrocker]

Glad to help.