Solved Windows does not boot after Ubuntu Linux/Grub installation

[BrutalMoose]

Hello, I have some experience setting up Windows Linux Dual boot, but unfortunately yesterday I ran into a problem. The grub menu does not have Windows 7 on it, and I don't know how to get it on there. I installed a new version of Linux onto an old laptop. The laptop does not have UEFI, it has the old BIOS system only, and I think the grub menu installation expected the Windows to have an entry in an ESP partition maybe. I don't know. There was no ESP partition prior to installing Linux ElementaryOS (an ubuntu variant)

This is for a client, and his applications on the Windows partition are important for his business, he cannot lose them, so we cannot merely reinstall Windows 7 and clear the system. How do I get Windows 7 on the Grub menu, or just go back to booting directly into Windows 7?

Lenovo laptop, very old, Windows 7 OEM 64-bit
4Gb RAM Intel i3 2gz

I have already attempted to use:
Boot-Recovery Live CD (new and old versions)
Grub-Recovery (the version I had was UEFI boot only, if you have the link to the BIOS version please reply with it)
Boot Ice (don't know the exact steps to take)
Windows 10 automated Startup Repair

Thank you for all your help!

 

[Golden]

See if anything in this tutorial is of any help - specifically the EasyBCD part.

Dual Boot - Windows 7 and Linux

 

[Super Bee]

Dual booting

This is what I am afraid of doing to my laptop.

Have a look through here to see if this may be of any help to you.

 

[bendipa]

First of all, if the laptop doesn't have a UEFI BIOS then you have a really old laptop (10 years +) and you should be thinking about replacing it with one that has more modern hardware. There are plenty of good, modern, second-hand ones out there if on a tight budget.

Coming back to your 'Grub' issue I would need to see your disk and partition layout before making any presumptions or guesses as to why Windows is excluded. The easiest way to start is to boot up from your Linux USB (the one you used to install it) then run a command from the terminal (r.click on desktop):-

sudo parted -l

and paste the output into your question or provide a link to it.

 

[Megahertz07]

Linux Grub boot loader looks for a partition that has windows on it an then make a option to boot from it.
Did you try sudo update-grub?

 

[WyattWhiteEagle]

Wow...Ubuntu troubleshooting on a windows forum.

Now that's something you don't see everyday rofl

 

[Marie SWE]

It might not be a bad idea to have some Linux support in here, as many perhaps may run dualboot after EOL to stay safe and have there favorite winOS left. (I run dualboot)
There are nearly as many linux forums as there are distributions... and perhaps there isn't as many in them that have both win7 and linux knowledge as it is in here.
just a thought.

 

[feetand nches]

I'm getting ready to fix a similar problem so if your still in need report back and I'll share any fixes I find. I'd broken some XP Linux Dual Boots and Windows 7 years ago and was lucky to fix them. I don't have technical knowledge to fix these things...unfortunately, but have had luck with Boot-Repair

Run the Recommended Repair first. I've had luck with the Fix MBR also if the Recommended don't work.

 

[BrutalMoose]

None of these replies were helpful. I resolved the issue by myself. How do I close this post?

 

[feetand nches]

By reporting your fix!