My linux OS isn't available after installing Windows XP & Vista?!

[jeremy28]

Hi all;

I've already had 3 OS's on my system:

Ubuntu 9.10 - Windows XP SP3 - Windows Vista
on my system.

My linux (ubuntu) was almost perfect for me (updated, well configured with many installed softwares...)

I have a 300 GB hard disk that was as below:

Win. XP on C drive (100 Gb)
Win. Vista on D drive (100 Gb)
And 100 Gb of unpartitioned space hosting ubuntu!

I decided to install Win. XP & Vista again without any change to ubuntu!
So that, I deleted and formatted C & D drives to install new Win. XP & Vista.
But after that, I can't access to ubuntu and GRUB is vanished now!!

Apparently, Windows isn't able to identify all the OS's on system while installing,
So, the Windows boot manager looses my Linux OS!

Anyway currently, I have only XP & Vista on my system and don't know how should I revive my previous ubuntu?

Is there any method to access to linux OR I should install a new ubuntu AGAIN?!!

Please help, I'm confused!

Regards.

[yancek]

windows installers always overwrite the master boot record. They don't ask if you want to do this nor do they inform you that it is being done. I suspect your Ubuntu install is intact unless you installed one of your windows distributions over it (on the same partition).

What was your setup previously? Were you using the Ubuntu Grub bootloader to boot all systems?

Your post seems to indicate you installed xp and then vista, is that correct?
If so, you can download a program to vista called EasyBCD from neosmart technologies website. With EasyBCD, you will be able to boot your Ubuntu partition.

Download EasyBCD 2.0.2 - NeoSmart Technologies
Documentation:
EasyBCD Documentation Home - NeoSmart Technologies Wiki

The other option is to reinstall Grub to the mbr which would probably be easier if you have your Ubuntu CD?

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr...0from%20LiveCD

[glene77is]

. . .
Were you using the Ubuntu Grub bootloader to boot all systems?
. . .
The other option is to reinstall Grub to the mbr . . . if you have your Ubuntu CD
. . .

Yancek,

Here is a copy of the method I have used several times.


*(: Linux_{Ubuntu}_MBR_Rebuild_info_110321.txt

************************************************** *********************
*(: Grub_Install_Help_.txt

Usage: grub-install [OPTION] install_device
Install GRUB on your drive.

-h, --help print this message and exit
-v, --version print the version information and exit
--modules=MODULES pre-load specified modules MODULES
--root-directory=DIR install GRUB images under the directory DIR
instead of the root directory
--grub-setup=FILE use FILE as grub-setup
--grub-mkimage=FILE use FILE as grub-mkimage
--grub-probe=FILE use FILE as grub-probe
--no-floppy do not probe any floppy drive
--recheck probe a device map even if it already exists
--force install even if problems are detected
--disk-module=MODULE disk module to use

INSTALL_DEVICE can be a GRUB device name or a system device filename.

grub-install copies GRUB images into /boot/grub (or /grub on NetBSD and
OpenBSD), and uses grub-setup to install grub into the boot sector.

If the --root-directory option is used, then grub-install will copy
images into the operating system installation rooted at that directory.

Report bugs to <bug-grub@gnu.org>.

************************************************** ******


************************************************** ******
from: Nathan729, Ubuntu forums.
Re: Altering MBR to point to new Partition.
The simplest solution is to boot from a Live-CD,
and then repair grub...
### Thanks for the idea from Natham729 Ubuntu formum.
### Live-CD, Terminal, script Code:
# MKDIR in RamDrive
sudo mkdir /mnt
# MOUNT primary OS in /mnt by reference, change /partition# as needed.
# My Ubuntu is at (hda0,7)
# Ubuntu Live-CD sees this as /dev/sda7
sudo mount /dev/sda7 /mnt
# INSTALL MBR code pointing to primary OS by reference as /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda
#MOUNT other subdir as required
sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev
sudo mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc
sudo mount --bind /sys /mnt/sys
# UPDATE grub.cfg
sudo chroot /mnt update-grub
# REBOOT
sudo reboot.
************************************************** ******
My Ubuntu is at (hda0,7)
glene77is

[yancek]

Yancek,

Here is a copy of the method I have used several times.

That's swell! I don't use Ubuntu but maybe someone else will find use for your method.

[glene77is]

That's swell! I don't use Ubuntu but maybe someone else will find use for your method.

Yancek,

The Post was intended to help Jeremy28, with XP + Ubuntu.
So, I hope Jeremy28 reads this thread.

glene77is