Triple boot xp, backtrack, ubuntu Windows xp crashes

[Darkraigne]

Hi this is my first post and I'm pulling my hair out please help lol
Ok then my problem is I was running xp on my laptop and I wanted to put ubuntu 10.10 and backtrack r1 on so I check a few forums a seen it's best to start with backtrack as ubuntus grub is automatic so this is what I did:

I ran backtrack live cd
Set up partitions with gparted as followed
Sda1 windows xp
Sda2 black space (ext2)
Sda3 blank space (ext2)

No swap as my ram is 3gb and I believe it's not needed

Then installed backtrack to sda2 with 20gb hdd partition
All worked fine checked by booting up backtrack (never checked xp but maybe I should of).

Then started ubuntu live cd and installed to sda3 (selecting whole partition option)
Rebooted grub loads up and I could boot in to ubuntu 10.10
Rebooted and checked backtrack r1 again and that worked

Now my problem is when I try and boot in to windows xp it just hangs after the first windows load up screen and reboots this will loop as many times as I pick windows. I know I can get windows back with fixboot and fixmbr in recovery but this will mess up my grub and is only a last option when I have to try again.

As a side note I have a feeling all my mbr's are on sda or hd0 but I'm not sure and don't really know how to check but if someone will guide me through it step by step I will be grateful.

Lol sorry to be a pain and have my first post as 1 to be flamed at lol

[Jonathan183]

Welcome to the forums Darkraigne

Can you boot into Ubuntu from the hard drive? if so then open a terminal and post the output of

sudo blkid
sudo cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg

So we can see disk partitions and grub config file information

[Darkraigne]

Yes I can here's what I get:-

antartoms@darkraigne:~$ sudo blkid
/dev/sda1: UUID="7CD8774FD8770724" TYPE="ntfs"*
/dev/sda2: UUID="89c58132-d14f-450b-a102-60115ea71582" TYPE="ext2"*
/dev/sda3: UUID="a82b4864-1f92-4035-9541-fafed201ec69" TYPE="ext4"*
antartoms@darkraigne:~$ sudo cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
**set have_grubenv=true
**load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
**set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
**save_env saved_entry
**set prev_saved_entry=
**save_env prev_saved_entry
**set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
**if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
** *saved_entry="${chosen}"
** *save_env saved_entry
**fi
}

function recordfail {
**set recordfail=1
**if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
**insmod vbe
**insmod vga
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set a82b4864-1f92-4035-9541-fafed201ec69
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
**set gfxmode=640x480
**load_video
**insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set a82b4864-1f92-4035-9541-fafed201ec69
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
**set timeout=-1
else
**set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
** * * *recordfail
** * * *insmod part_msdos
** * * *insmod ext2
** * * *set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
** * * *search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set a82b4864-1f92-4035-9541-fafed201ec69
** * * *linux * /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=a82b4864-1f92-4035-9541-fafed201ec69 ro * quiet splash
** * * *initrd */boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
** * * *recordfail
** * * *insmod part_msdos
** * * *insmod ext2
** * * *set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
** * * *search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set a82b4864-1f92-4035-9541-fafed201ec69
** * * *echo * *'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
** * * *linux * /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=a82b4864-1f92-4035-9541-fafed201ec69 ro single*
** * * *echo * *'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
** * * *initrd */boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
** * * *insmod part_msdos
** * * *insmod ext2
** * * *set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
** * * *search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set a82b4864-1f92-4035-9541-fafed201ec69
** * * *linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
** * * *insmod part_msdos
** * * *insmod ext2
** * * *set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
** * * *search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set a82b4864-1f92-4035-9541-fafed201ec69
** * * *linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda1)" {
** * * *insmod part_msdos
** * * *insmod ntfs
** * * *set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
** * * *search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7cd8774fd8770724
** * * *drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
** * * *chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.34 (on /dev/sda2)" {
** * * *insmod part_msdos
** * * *insmod ext2
** * * *set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
** * * *search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 89c58132-d14f-450b-a102-60115ea71582
** * * *linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.34 root=UUID=89c58132-d14f-450b-a102-60115ea71582 ro quiet splash
** * * *initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.34
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.34 (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda2)" {
** * * *insmod part_msdos
** * * *insmod ext2
** * * *set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
** * * *search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 89c58132-d14f-450b-a102-60115ea71582
** * * *linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.34 root=UUID=89c58132-d14f-450b-a102-60115ea71582 ro single
** * * *initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.34
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+ (on /dev/sda2)" {
** * * *insmod part_msdos
** * * *insmod ext2
** * * *set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
** * * *search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 89c58132-d14f-450b-a102-60115ea71582
** * * *linux /boot/memtest86+.bin*
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. *Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. *Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f *$prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
**source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###


Also my ubuntu is ready 4 a kernel update and wanted your advice on if I should wait till after I have windows back?

To be honest I wouldnt be bothered about windows at all if it wasn't 4 my iPhone needing I tunes and the fact wine doesn't work with my call of duty lol

[Darkraigne]

Is it just Ne or does that look like there's no boot options for windows??

[Darkraigne]

I could really do with an answer as soon as possible. Thanx

[Jonathan183]

antartoms@darkraigne:~$ sudo blkid
/dev/sda1: UUID="7CD8774FD8770724" TYPE="ntfs"*

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda1)" {
** * * *insmod part_msdos
** * * *insmod ntfs
** * * *set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
** * * *search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7cd8774fd8770724
** * * *drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
** * * *chainloader +1
}

Also my ubuntu is ready 4 a kernel update and wanted your advice on if I should wait till after I have windows back?

You have a menu entry for Windows ... I'd fix Windows boot then re-install grub to the MBR after you have fixed the Windows boot. Supergrub should help you do the job.

[Darkraigne]

Ok let me just check I understand what your saying I need download super grub, open windows recovery and fixmbr? I'm asking because last time I did that when I had a partitioned I couldn't get back into windows, so I just want to be sure.
Also how does supergrub work is it a boot disk installer and will it find backtrack and ubuntu automatic? I have to ask now cuz when I try this I might not be able to get in touch with u

Thanx

[Darkraigne]

Maybe if you could give me a step by step guide cuz I really don't want to have to start all over again and install ubuntu and backtrack.

Last time I fixed mbr in windows I has to format backtrack and ubuntu to boot up windows.
And start again, and that where I am now so please list out what I need to do in what order and I take it I need the supergrub2 softwear

[Jonathan183]

Download supergrub and boot from it (either CD or USB). When you boot Supergrub you can use it to fix the Windows boot, you can also use it to restore grub.

If you don't want to use Supergrub you can manually remove grub code from the MBR and use a live CD to install grub manually after ... but you will find Supergrub much easier.

You should find examples how to use on the Supergrub website.