reformat window in window/linux dual boot

[solarbike]

Okay, before anyone redirect me to many good threads about how to setup window/linux dual boot, I would like to say that I GOT THEM WORKING.

My question is, since now I have two partitions, one for windows and the other linux, if I were to reformat window now, does the process also erase my linux partition as well? Any special precautions I should take? In addition, how does this affect GRUB or any other unforeseen problems? Although I'm no computer noob, I'm no linux expert either, so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

In short, would my linux installation survive the window reinstall? I'm not certain since all the window/linux dual boot instructions out there says install window first then linux, I'm affraid of wiping out my linux installation when reinstalling windows.

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

If you re-install Windows in existing Windows OS partition only then nothing will go wrong with Linux. You have to re-install GRUB only.
Which Distro do you have?

[abhishek456]

make sure that you are not going to touch the partition on which linux is installed during windows install

other than that you don't need to worry for anything in major

post the distro you are using as suggested by devils_casper

[solarbike]

Hi and Welcome !

If you re-install Windows in existing Windows OS partition only then nothing will go wrong with Linux. You have to re-install GRUB only.
Which Distro do you have?

I'm using ubuntu feisty fawn. How do I reinstall GRUB?

[abhishek456]

Boot up using live Ubuntu cd

When you get to the desktop open a terminal and enter

sudo grub

This will get you a "grub>" prompt (i.e. the grub shell). At grub>. enter these commands

find /boot/grub/stage1

This will return a location. If you have more than one, select the installation that you want to provide the grub files.
use the value which was returned from above find /boot/grub/stage1 for the next commands

root (hd?,?)

use the value from the find command i.e. if find returned (hd0,1) then you would enter root (hd0,1)

Next enter the command to install grub to the mbr

setup (hd0)

Finally exit the grub shell

quit

That's it. Grub will be installed to the mbr

if you have any trouble in installing grub report back here

hope everything goes right for you

[devils casper]

I'm using ubuntu feisty fawn. How do I reinstall GRUB?

Post the output of sudo fdisk -l command here.

[solarbike]

Post the output of sudo fdisk -l command here.

Disk /dev/sda: 100.0 GB, 100030242816 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 12161 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1       10220    82086448+   7  HPFS/NTFS
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sda2           10220       10855     5103000   12  Compaq diagnostics
Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sda3           10856       12099     9992430   83  Linux
/dev/sda4           12100       12161      498015    5  Extended
/dev/sda5           12100       12161      497983+  82  Linux swap / Solaris

Compaq diagnostics is my thinkpad recovery partition.

[abhishek456]

you can reinstall GRUB to mbr by fallowing instruction i posted away.

had you experienced any trouble with those instructions

[devils casper]

Boot up from Ubuntu CD after Windows OS installation. Open Terminal and execie this

sudo grub
root(hd0,2)
setup(hd0)
exit
exit

Reboot machine.

[toolazy]

I'm having the same problem and Wanted to ask,can I use other Live CD versions ? for Example I have the KNOPPIX 5.1.1 Live CD,can I use these commands with it to reinstall GRUB ?

I know it might be a stupid question,but I had to ask...