black screen when I try to use windows after installing Ubuntu [Moved from XP]

agieseall · 05-06-2008, 01:06 PM

I recently installed Ubuntu on the same hard drive I have windows xp home installed on. Both OS's worked fine for awhile, but then my windows OS stopped working.

Whenever I try to boot windows my screen goes black and my computer seems to quit working. I have tried booting from my windows installation CD, but I get the same problem.

I have researched this problem and I think it is related to the linux installation, not any of my hardware. I found this thread:

http://forums.windowsforum.org/index...howtopic=35605

This person had the exact same problem I am having, but was able to fix it because he had windows and linux installed on 2 different hard drives.

At this point I really would not mind losing all the data on my hard drives, but I do not know how to wipe them without being able to go into windows. I am not a very computer savvy person, so I would appreciate responses I can follow.

Thanks for taking the time to read my thread, and I would greatly appreciate any help anyone could offer. =)

**justpassingby** · 05-09-2008, 11:11 AM

Hi agieseall and welcome to TSF !

I'll move you to the Linux support section where you'll have better help.

Which boot loader do you use ? Grub or Lilo ? The Linux boot loader should have an option to redetect the currently installed OS's and change the boot loader settings.

If you have a retail XP install CD and really wish to reinstall from scratch (you'll lose everything that's on the hard drive !) then create a Dban boot floppy or CD, boot on it and wipe the drive. This will erase the boot sectors and mbr which may prevent the XP CD to detect your partition.

05-06-2008, 01:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
agieseall Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1 OS: Windows XP Home	black screen when I try to use windows after installing Ubuntu [Moved from XP] I recently installed Ubuntu on the same hard drive I have windows xp home installed on. Both OS's worked fine for awhile, but then my windows OS stopped working. Whenever I try to boot windows my screen goes black and my computer seems to quit working. I have tried booting from my windows installation CD, but I get the same problem. I have researched this problem and I think it is related to the linux installation, not any of my hardware. I found this thread: http://forums.windowsforum.org/index...howtopic=35605 This person had the exact same problem I am having, but was able to fix it because he had windows and linux installed on 2 different hard drives. At this point I really would not mind losing all the data on my hard drives, but I do not know how to wipe them without being able to go into windows. I am not a very computer savvy person, so I would appreciate responses I can follow. Thanks for taking the time to read my thread, and I would greatly appreciate any help anyone could offer. =)

05-09-2008, 11:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
justpassingby Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 4,472 OS: XP Home SP3 / Ubuntu My System	Re: I get a black screen when I try to use windows Hi agieseall and welcome to TSF ! I'll move you to the Linux support section where you'll have better help. Which boot loader do you use ? Grub or Lilo ? The Linux boot loader should have an option to redetect the currently installed OS's and change the boot loader settings. If you have a retail XP install CD and really wish to reinstall from scratch (you'll lose everything that's on the hard drive !) then create a Dban boot floppy or CD, boot on it and wipe the drive. This will erase the boot sectors and mbr which may prevent the XP CD to detect your partition. __________________ HJT - 5 steps against malware. Post your HijackThis log there and not here ! Posting system specs