Vista + Ubuntu Boot problems

paulb100 · 11-08-2008, 07:39 AM

Ive installed ubuntu 8.10 alongside vista , now all was well with dual-boot but I wanted to change it so Vista was default and would load if i didnt choose ubuntu within 5 seconds...

I followed these instructions to the hilt and they never worked?
http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vi...rst.htm?page=4

when i choose ubuntu it just displays GRUB on the screen with no options..??

my menu.lst files =

# NeoSmart NeoGrub Bootloader Configuration File
#
# This NeoGrub menu.lst file should be located at \NST\menu.lst of the boot drive.
# Please see the EasyBCD Documentation for information on how to create/modify entries

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
uuid ddcc8f13-1e42-457d-a481-8c8fd17f1445
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=ddcc8f13-1e42-457d-a481-8c8fd17f1445 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
uuid ddcc8f13-1e42-457d-a481-8c8fd17f1445
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=ddcc8f13-1e42-457d-a481-8c8fd17f1445 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
uuid ddcc8f13-1e42-457d-a481-8c8fd17f1445
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

can anyone help with this?

thanks

**Bartender** · 11-08-2008, 07:48 AM

There's a neat little app called start-up manager available at the Ubuntu repositories.
You can install it manually via the terminal

Code:

sudo apt-get install startupmanager

or get it from Synaptic. I don't remember exactly what I typed into the Search box in Synaptic.

here's one link
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/10...our-boot-menu/

paulb100 · 11-08-2008, 07:54 AM

thanks but im totally NOOB with Linux - I dont know how to compile or anything like that - ive already got problems with ATI graphics RUN files - its driver for my laptops on board gfx but i dunno how to install em...

also - i cant boot into ubuntu now

**Bartender** · 11-08-2008, 12:18 PM

I thought APC had pretty good guides but I'm beginning to wonder. Those are stupid, unnecessarily complicated directions.

Maybe you can use part of the mess they gave you. Use the EasyBCD disc to rebuild the Vista MBR. If that doesn't work, there are millions of posts about rebuilding the MBR. Once you do this Vista should be bootable but Ubuntu won't. Then either wipe out Ubuntu partition and start over, or see if you can just reinstall Ubuntu to the existing partition. That should set up GRUB correctly.
You could probably just repair GRUB, but reinstalling Ubuntu might just be easier.
When you've got the dual-boot working again, go into Ubuntu, find start-up manager on the repositories, and install it. I don't remember off the top of my head where you'll find Start-Up Manager after you install it - I think it's under System>Administration.

APC really screwed up with those complex directions.

**wmorri** · 11-08-2008, 03:39 PM

Bartender, APC, has a decent guide but they do give you any help with configuring grub, the last time I looked.

paulb100, I am concerned that you didn't make a separate partition for you linux install. When you did your install did you choose to use your entire hdd, or just the free space? Also, when you start your computer and get to the boot-loader do you have a linux option, and something else, like Windows Vista, or Vista, or other operating system?

Cheers!

11-08-2008, 07:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
paulb100 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 71 OS: Win XP My System	Vista + Ubuntu Boot problems Ive installed ubuntu 8.10 alongside vista , now all was well with dual-boot but I wanted to change it so Vista was default and would load if i didnt choose ubuntu within 5 seconds... I followed these instructions to the hilt and they never worked? http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vi...rst.htm?page=4 when i choose ubuntu it just displays GRUB on the screen with no options..?? my menu.lst files = # NeoSmart NeoGrub Bootloader Configuration File # # This NeoGrub menu.lst file should be located at \NST\menu.lst of the boot drive. # Please see the EasyBCD Documentation for information on how to create/modify entries title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic uuid ddcc8f13-1e42-457d-a481-8c8fd17f1445 kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=ddcc8f13-1e42-457d-a481-8c8fd17f1445 ro quiet splash initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic quiet title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode) uuid ddcc8f13-1e42-457d-a481-8c8fd17f1445 kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=ddcc8f13-1e42-457d-a481-8c8fd17f1445 ro single initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+ uuid ddcc8f13-1e42-457d-a481-8c8fd17f1445 kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin quiet can anyone help with this? thanks

11-08-2008, 07:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,231 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: Vista + Ubuntu Boot problems There's a neat little app called start-up manager available at the Ubuntu repositories. You can install it manually via the terminal Code: sudo apt-get install startupmanager or get it from Synaptic. I don't remember exactly what I typed into the Search box in Synaptic. here's one link http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/10...our-boot-menu/

11-08-2008, 07:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
paulb100 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 71 OS: Win XP My System	Re: Vista + Ubuntu Boot problems thanks but im totally NOOB with Linux - I dont know how to compile or anything like that - ive already got problems with ATI graphics RUN files - its driver for my laptops on board gfx but i dunno how to install em... also - i cant boot into ubuntu now Last edited by paulb100 : 11-08-2008 at 07:55 AM.

11-08-2008, 12:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,231 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: Vista + Ubuntu Boot problems I thought APC had pretty good guides but I'm beginning to wonder. Those are stupid, unnecessarily complicated directions. Maybe you can use part of the mess they gave you. Use the EasyBCD disc to rebuild the Vista MBR. If that doesn't work, there are millions of posts about rebuilding the MBR. Once you do this Vista should be bootable but Ubuntu won't. Then either wipe out Ubuntu partition and start over, or see if you can just reinstall Ubuntu to the existing partition. That should set up GRUB correctly. You could probably just repair GRUB, but reinstalling Ubuntu might just be easier. When you've got the dual-boot working again, go into Ubuntu, find start-up manager on the repositories, and install it. I don't remember off the top of my head where you'll find Start-Up Manager after you install it - I think it's under System>Administration. APC really screwed up with those complex directions.

11-08-2008, 03:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator Alt. Computing Join Date: May 2008 Location: /etc/pm Posts: 1,221 OS: Vista Basic SP1/Ubuntu 8.04/Fedora 10	Re: Vista + Ubuntu Boot problems Bartender, APC, has a decent guide but they do give you any help with configuring grub, the last time I looked. paulb100, I am concerned that you didn't make a separate partition for you linux install. When you did your install did you choose to use your entire hdd, or just the free space? Also, when you start your computer and get to the boot-loader do you have a linux option, and something else, like Windows Vista, or Vista, or other operating system? Cheers! __________________ If I have posted on your thread and haven't replied within 48hrs please PM me. I will try to be as prompt as possible! Linux Forever! Learning is doing, not being able to follow steps put forth by others. When posting what errors you get, please give the full message. It makes helping you much easier.