Windows Not bootable

Raven · 11-19-2006, 09:30 AM

hello,

I had problems with windows, (bootloader),
So i reinstalled Linux with GRUBS, but now when I boot I can only choose Linux, not Windows (Media Center), I'm using Kubuntu,

Could anyone please help me with this?

**Cellus** · 11-19-2006, 10:38 AM

In Linux, open up /boot/grub/grub.conf and give us its contents. If you installed Linux second (after Windows) it should have added an entry automatically in GRUB for Windows. It's possible either the entry wasn't made or was made incorrectly. We'll see when you give us the contents of the file.

Could you also give us an idea as to how your hard drive(s) are laid out, and what partition your Windows lies in?

**K-B** · 11-19-2006, 12:08 PM

Funny, Kubuntu should have automatically detected Windows and set up GRUB for it. It could be that the Windows partition got written-over, but that's a worst-case scenario.

**Cellus** · 11-19-2006, 04:18 PM

We'll see if it's just an incorrect/missing entry in GRUB before assuming the worst.

Raven · 11-20-2006, 08:02 AM

Sorry for the late reply, I fixed it :)
I added an entry in GRUB, then added the windows BOOT files, (they were missing).

Thanks for your reply tho,
Oh, and how could I place Windows on top (in GRUB)?

Also:

I need to install Windows 98, but since the disaster from yesterday,
(I had ME installed, windows thought it to be the system, I deleted ME, boot files gone), I'm afraid this will happen again, does anyone have a solution?

**K-B** · 11-20-2006, 11:02 AM

Do you want to have windows boot first? If so, change the "default=" (in the GRUB config file) setting for the Window's number. Example: If Kubuntu is on the first OS in the line, it is number 0. If Windows is second, it is number 1. To boot Windows (or automatically), set "default=0" to "default=1". You can also set the "timeout=" to whatever you want. For example if you want the default operating system to load automatically after 5 seconds, set it to "timeout=5".

What happens is when you install Windows it overwrites your "Boot Section". You would need to re-install GRUB after a Windows reinstall.
Here I found a how-to in the Kubuntu Wiki (it redirected to Ubuntu site)https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Re...tallingWindows
Hope this helps.

Cellus, I don't mean to step on your toes

Raven · 11-21-2006, 12:02 PM

This is what I have on the bottum:

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-23-386
root (hd1,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-23-386 root=/dev/hdb5 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-23-386
savedefault
boot

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-23-386 (recovery mode)
root (hd1,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-23-386 root=/dev/hdb5 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-23-386
boot

title Ubuntu, memtest86+
root (hd1,4)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
boot

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

title Win XP
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

How would I change it to let windows be the first boot option and make a 5 seconds delay?

Also: If I install windows 98, couldn't I just reboot into linux and open the grub file?, (or back it up and copy paste it back)?

**K-B** · 11-21-2006, 01:07 PM

Ok, Windows is third in the list (because the list starts with 0) so change the default= to:

Code:

default=3

Change the timeout= to:

Code:

timeout=5

No, you couldn't just restore grub with the methods you stated. For one thing, you'd have no way of booting into Linux. Second, GRUB is installed on the MBR (Master Boot Record) section of your harddrive, (Not on any partition) and a Windows install totally overwrites that with its own MBR.

Raven · 11-22-2006, 08:31 AM

I cant find deault= or timeout= ?
:S

**K-B** · 11-22-2006, 10:13 AM

Hello, could you post the entire contents of the /boot/grub/grub.conf file so we could have a look at it then?
Thanks.

**K-B** · 11-22-2006, 06:46 PM

Actually, it seems the correct file to edit is /boot/grub/menu.lst

open it in gedit

Code:

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

and change as I described above.
NOTE: You must have administrator rights.
Sorry for the run-around.

Raven · 11-23-2006, 08:50 AM

****, I installed windows 98(SE) but now ALL is screwed,
Win98 crashes after the splash screen,
Grub is gone.

I used SuperGrubDisk, and am now able to boot into linux via it,
It seems all my data is just fine.
But restoring GRUB from it doesnt work.
Booting into XP doesnt wok either, It then boots into win98
Maybe Installing another bootloader will work?

Please help,

Dean.

11-19-2006, 09:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
Raven Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 88 OS: WinXP Pro, Win 98SE, Kubuntu (6.06)	Windows Not bootable hello, I had problems with windows, (bootloader), So i reinstalled Linux with GRUBS, but now when I boot I can only choose Linux, not Windows (Media Center), I'm using Kubuntu, Could anyone please help me with this?

11-19-2006, 10:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,664 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	In Linux, open up /boot/grub/grub.conf and give us its contents. If you installed Linux second (after Windows) it should have added an entry automatically in GRUB for Windows. It's possible either the entry wasn't made or was made incorrectly. We'll see when you give us the contents of the file. Could you also give us an idea as to how your hard drive(s) are laid out, and what partition your Windows lies in? __________________ TSF Networking Team Virus/Trojan/Spyware Removal Help Donate!

11-19-2006, 12:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
K-B Moderator, Linux Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,878 OS: Vista, Ubuntu My System	Funny, Kubuntu should have automatically detected Windows and set up GRUB for it. It could be that the Windows partition got written-over, but that's a worst-case scenario. __________________

11-19-2006, 04:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,664 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	We'll see if it's just an incorrect/missing entry in GRUB before assuming the worst. __________________ TSF Networking Team Virus/Trojan/Spyware Removal Help Donate!

11-20-2006, 08:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
Raven Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 88 OS: WinXP Pro, Win 98SE, Kubuntu (6.06)	Sorry for the late reply, I fixed it :) I added an entry in GRUB, then added the windows BOOT files, (they were missing). Thanks for your reply tho, Oh, and how could I place Windows on top (in GRUB)? Also: I need to install Windows 98, but since the disaster from yesterday, (I had ME installed, windows thought it to be the system, I deleted ME, boot files gone), I'm afraid this will happen again, does anyone have a solution? Last edited by Raven; 11-20-2006 at 08:05 AM.

11-20-2006, 11:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
K-B Moderator, Linux Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,878 OS: Vista, Ubuntu My System	Do you want to have windows boot first? If so, change the "default=" (in the GRUB config file) setting for the Window's number. Example: If Kubuntu is on the first OS in the line, it is number 0. If Windows is second, it is number 1. To boot Windows (or automatically), set "default=0" to "default=1". You can also set the "timeout=" to whatever you want. For example if you want the default operating system to load automatically after 5 seconds, set it to "timeout=5". What happens is when you install Windows it overwrites your "Boot Section". You would need to re-install GRUB after a Windows reinstall. Here I found a how-to in the Kubuntu Wiki (it redirected to Ubuntu site)https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Re...tallingWindows Hope this helps. Cellus, I don't mean to step on your toes __________________ Last edited by K-B; 11-20-2006 at 11:04 AM.

11-21-2006, 12:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
Raven Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 88 OS: WinXP Pro, Win 98SE, Kubuntu (6.06)	This is what I have on the bottum: ## ## End Default Options ## title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-23-386 root (hd1,4) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-23-386 root=/dev/hdb5 ro quiet splash initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-23-386 savedefault boot title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-23-386 (recovery mode) root (hd1,4) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-23-386 root=/dev/hdb5 ro single initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-23-386 boot title Ubuntu, memtest86+ root (hd1,4) kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin boot ### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST title Win XP root (hd0,0) savedefault makeactive chainloader +1 How would I change it to let windows be the first boot option and make a 5 seconds delay? Also: If I install windows 98, couldn't I just reboot into linux and open the grub file?, (or back it up and copy paste it back)?

11-21-2006, 01:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
K-B Moderator, Linux Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,878 OS: Vista, Ubuntu My System	Ok, Windows is third in the list (because the list starts with 0) so change the default= to: Code: default=3 Change the timeout= to: Code: timeout=5 No, you couldn't just restore grub with the methods you stated. For one thing, you'd have no way of booting into Linux. Second, GRUB is installed on the MBR (Master Boot Record) section of your harddrive, (Not on any partition) and a Windows install totally overwrites that with its own MBR. __________________

11-22-2006, 08:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
Raven Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 88 OS: WinXP Pro, Win 98SE, Kubuntu (6.06)	I cant find deault= or timeout= ? :S

11-22-2006, 10:13 AM	#10 (permalink)
K-B Moderator, Linux Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,878 OS: Vista, Ubuntu My System	Hello, could you post the entire contents of the /boot/grub/grub.conf file so we could have a look at it then? Thanks. __________________

11-22-2006, 06:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
K-B Moderator, Linux Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,878 OS: Vista, Ubuntu My System	Actually, it seems the correct file to edit is /boot/grub/menu.lst open it in gedit Code: sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst and change as I described above. NOTE: You must have administrator rights. Sorry for the run-around. __________________

11-23-2006, 08:50 AM	#12 (permalink)
Raven Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 88 OS: WinXP Pro, Win 98SE, Kubuntu (6.06)	***, I installed windows 98(SE) but now ALL is screwed, Win98 crashes after the splash screen, Grub is gone. I used SuperGrubDisk, and am now able to boot into linux via it, It seems all my data is just fine. But restoring GRUB from it doesnt work. Booting into XP doesnt wok either, It then boots into win98 Maybe Installing another bootloader will work? Please help, Dean. Last edited by Raven; 11-23-2006 at 09:00 AM.*