Dual Boot : Master Boot Record Corrputed[moved from h/drives]

PaulM2008 · 11-02-2008, 01:47 AM

Good Morning, My First Post here...Hope you are well

My problem is simple - but I cannot find a solution [which works]. I have 2 Western Digital 500GB HDD's. I had vista 64 bit installed on one, Ubuntu on the other. Unfortunatly for some reason while undertaking updates, via the update manager in ubuntu. When I re-rooted the system failed with a disc read error Ctrl-Alt-Del to re-start. Since then I have been unable to use my desktop [old laptop to the rescue!!]. I have attempted to correct the fault using ultimate boot cd/ ubuntu live cd and super grub disc utilities. But alas nothing appears to recover my system. I'm now thinking that a total re-build of the system + drivers + software is required - given the amout of applications [plus online updates etc...] on my system I feel this will not be trivial. I'm wondering If anyone else has experienced this problem, and were there any solutions?

Regards

Paul

dai · 11-02-2008, 01:53 AM

boot from the vista dvd and on the bottomleft click on repair

PaulM2008 · 11-03-2008, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai

boot from the vista dvd and on the bottomleft click on repair

Hi, Thans for the reply, Unfortunatly I failed to state that this was the first thing I tired. Upon attempting to fix my installation a message appeard stating that it was not possible to fix the problem - send information to microsoft ?

I attempted also a restore point and total system rebuild [or something like that] options, but to no avail

.

Regards, Paul.

dai · 11-03-2008, 07:23 AM

try a boot manager
http://sourceforge.net/projects/btmgr/

sirftoo · 11-05-2008, 02:45 AM

you should format all than re-installation your OS.

PaulM2008 · 11-06-2008, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirftoo

you should format all than re-installation your OS.

Well that is the obvious solution - but it's like cracking a nut with a wrecking ball. I was hoping I would be able to recover the system without having to go down this route. I cannot see the point of the recovery software - it's simply does not work, I have never managed to get it to work, the restore doesn't work, the full system restore doesn't work, the system repair facility doesn't work, ultimate boot CD doesn't work, super grub disk doesn't work - none of it works - it not fit for purpose. All pretty poor in my book.

dai · 11-06-2008, 07:57 AM

i will move you over to linux as they will be more up with the boot problem
to run a repair install of vista
run the upgrade install from within windows

alderon · 11-06-2008, 05:51 PM

Here's a link that should do it...

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=24113

Post #5 is the method I've used. A very good 'save-yer-butt' CD you can dl and burn is PartedMagic. It has an easy GUI, boots to ram (about 50M), online access to google stuff and you'll have root access to your hard disks.

**wmorri** · 11-06-2008, 11:57 PM

Hi,

I would like to take a look at one of the files from your boot record in Ubuntu. Please follow this list and you will be able to get what I need:

Open Terminal or Konsole[*}Go to Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal/Konsole
Enter the following at the prompt nano /boot/grub/menu.lst
Copy all of that information by highlighting it
Paste the info in your next reply
Press CTRL X to exit nano

Cheers!

11-02-2008, 01:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
PaulM2008 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Vista 64 SP1	Dual Boot : Master Boot Record Corrputed[moved from h/drives] Good Morning, My First Post here...Hope you are well My problem is simple - but I cannot find a solution [which works]. I have 2 Western Digital 500GB HDD's. I had vista 64 bit installed on one, Ubuntu on the other. Unfortunatly for some reason while undertaking updates, via the update manager in ubuntu. When I re-rooted the system failed with a disc read error Ctrl-Alt-Del to re-start. Since then I have been unable to use my desktop [old laptop to the rescue!!]. I have attempted to correct the fault using ultimate boot cd/ ubuntu live cd and super grub disc utilities. But alas nothing appears to recover my system. I'm now thinking that a total re-build of the system + drivers + software is required - given the amout of applications [plus online updates etc...] on my system I feel this will not be trivial. I'm wondering If anyone else has experienced this problem, and were there any solutions? Regards Paul

11-02-2008, 01:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,599 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Dual Boot : Master Boot Record Corrputed boot from the vista dvd and on the bottomleft click on repair __________________

11-03-2008, 07:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,599 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Dual Boot : Master Boot Record Corrputed try a boot manager http://sourceforge.net/projects/btmgr/ __________________

11-05-2008, 02:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
sirftoo Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 11 OS: Xp	Re: Dual Boot : Master Boot Record Corrputed you should format all than re-installation your OS.

11-06-2008, 07:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,599 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Dual Boot : Master Boot Record Corrputed i will move you over to linux as they will be more up with the boot problem to run a repair install of vista run the upgrade install from within windows __________________

11-06-2008, 05:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
alderon Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2 OS: Debian/Lenny	Re: Dual Boot : Master Boot Record Corrputed[moved from h/drives] Here's a link that should do it... http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=24113 Post #5 is the method I've used. A very good 'save-yer-butt' CD you can dl and burn is PartedMagic. It has an easy GUI, boots to ram (about 50M), online access to google stuff and you'll have root access to your hard disks.

11-06-2008, 11:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,275 OS: XP SP3/Fedora 10	Re: Dual Boot : Master Boot Record Corrputed[moved from h/drives] Hi, I would like to take a look at one of the files from your boot record in Ubuntu. Please follow this list and you will be able to get what I need: Open Terminal or Konsole[}Go to Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal/Konsole Enter the following at the prompt nano /boot/grub/menu.lst Copy all of that information by highlighting it Paste the info in your next reply Press CTRL X to exit nano Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!* I won't be back until Tuesday, I am moving this weekend Last edited by wmorri; 11-07-2008 at 12:01 AM.