Windows partition will not boot after Linux installation.

I installed linux mint 13 on my laptop and now my windows partition won't boot. On the grub boot menu I choose Windows 7 and then it goes onto a black screen with a flashing ' _ ' and stays there.

I'm starting to wonder if grub's MBR has overwritten the boot record for the windows partition.

Quote:

MySatellite-C660 ~ $ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x3ce82182

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2048 104859647 52428800 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2 104859648 556798388 225969370+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3 556799998 625141759 34170881 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 556800000 617328639 30264320 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 617330688 625141759 3905536 82 Linux swap / Solaris

So here sda1 is my original windows partition which has the windows install and presumably the boot record for windows. It is still marked as the boot partition so I assume the MBR has been written there.

I have tried using a SUPERGRUB2 disk to boot into windows and this failed. I have tried using several boot repair tools in linux and have tried using the startup repair tool on the windows 7 disk.

Any ideas?

Quote:

I'm starting to wonder if grub's MBR has overwritten the boot record for the windows partition.

Not likely but?? Which option did you select during installation of Mint? There should have been three options; Install alongside other OS, Erase and use Entire Disk (you obviously didn't use that!) and Something Else. The first one is the simplest, the last one gives the user the most control. The default on either is to install a small portion of the Grub bootloader to the MBR pointing to the boot files on the Mint partition. Most of the time in my experience anyway, the Grub bootloader detects other systems including windows and puts an entry for them. During the installation, you should have seen a window showing your partitions and in the lower part of the window an option stating: Device for Bootloader Installation. That would definitely be there if you used the Something Else option. I'm not familiar with the Install Alongside so it may not have been there.

To give specific instructions for you, we will need more specific information on boot files. The simplest way to do that is to boot Mint, go to the site below and read the instructions on how to run the bootinfoscript, download and run it and review the output - a results.txt file. If you don't understand the file, post it here as it will contain detailed information on your boot files and setup and someone should be able to advise you:

Boot Info Script | Free System Administration software downloads at SourceForge.net

One thing you might try before doing this is to open a terminal from Mint and try to update the boot entries with this command: sudo update-grub

I attach results.txt

I have tried sudo update-grub to no avail :<

EDIT
Wrong file - I removed the attachment.

Code:

Boot Info Script 0.61 [1 April 2012] ============================= Boot Info Summary: =============================== => Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector 1 of the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks for (,msdos1)/boot/grub on this drive. => Syslinux MBR (3.61-4.03) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc. sda1: __________________________________________________________________________ File system: ext4 Boot sector type: - Boot sector info: Operating System: Linux Mint 11 LXDE Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img sda2: __________________________________________________________________________ File system: Extended Partition Boot sector type: - Boot sector info: sda5: __________________________________________________________________________ File system: Boot sector type: - Boot sector info: Mounting failed: mount: unknown filesystem type '' sdc1: __________________________________________________________________________ File system: vfat Boot sector type: SYSLINUX 4.03 2010-10-22 ........>..sr>........I.9...0...~.....~...f...M.f.f....f..0~....>E}.u...... Boot sector info: Syslinux looks at sector 2769904 of /dev/sdc1 for its second stage. SYSLINUX is installed in the directory. According to the info in the boot sector, sdc1 starts at sector 0. But according to the info from fdisk, sdc1 starts at sector 1. Operating System: Boot files: sdc2: __________________________________________________________________________ File system: Boot sector type: Unknown Boot sector info: Mounting failed: mount: unknown filesystem type '' mount: unknown filesystem type '' ============================ Drive/Partition Info: ============================= Drive: sda _____________________________________________________________________ Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System /dev/sda1 * 2,048 623,069,183 623,067,136 83 Linux /dev/sda2 623,071,230 625,141,759 2,070,530 5 Extended /dev/sda5 623,071,232 625,141,759 2,070,528 82 Linux swap / Solaris Drive: sdc _____________________________________________________________________ Disk /dev/sdc: 15.7 GB, 15728640000 bytes 64 heads, 32 sectors/track, 15000 cylinders, total 30720000 sectors Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System /dev/sdc1 * 1 29,284,351 29,284,351 c W95 FAT32 (LBA) /dev/sdc2 29,284,352 30,719,999 1,435,648 83 Linux "blkid" output: ________________________________________________________________ Device UUID TYPE LABEL /dev/mapper/cryptswap1 1e485ef1-57c1-416a-bf26-0d8b25d923bb swap /dev/sda1 a8456806-a916-41d4-a05e-0f91327d9a32 ext4 /dev/sdc1 5D5E-139F vfat PORTABLELNX ========================= "ls -R /dev/mapper/" output: ========================= /dev/mapper: control cryptswap1 ================================ Mount points: ================================= Device Mount_Point Type Options /dev/sda1 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=600) /dev/sdc1 /media/PORTABLELNX vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks,uid=1000,gid=1000,shortname=mixed,dmask=0077,utf8=1,showexec,flush) =========================== sda1/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 "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi } function load_video { insmod vbe insmod vga insmod video_bochs insmod video_cirrus } insmod part_msdos insmod ext2 set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)' search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a8456806-a916-41d4-a05e-0f91327d9a32 if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then set gfxmode=auto load_video insmod gfxterm fi terminal_output gfxterm insmod part_msdos insmod ext2 set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)' search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a8456806-a916-41d4-a05e-0f91327d9a32 set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale set lang=en_GB 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 ### insmod part_msdos insmod ext2 set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)' search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a8456806-a916-41d4-a05e-0f91327d9a32 insmod png if background_image /boot/grub/linuxmint.png; then true else set menu_color_normal=white/black set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray if background_color 44,0,30; then clear fi fi ### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ### ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ### insmod part_msdos insmod ext2 set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)' search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a8456806-a916-41d4-a05e-0f91327d9a32 insmod png if background_image /boot/grub/linuxmint.png ; then set color_normal=white/black set color_highlight=white/light-gray else set menu_color_normal=white/black set menu_color_highlight=white/light-gray fi ### END /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ### ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ### if [ ${recordfail} != 1 ]; then if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then set linux_gfx_mode=keep else set linux_gfx_mode=text fi else set linux_gfx_mode=text fi else set linux_gfx_mode=keep fi else set linux_gfx_mode=text fi export linux_gfx_mode if [ "$linux_gfx_mode" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi menuentry 'Linux Mint 11 LXDE, 2.6.38-8-generic (/dev/sda1)' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os { recordfail set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode insmod part_msdos insmod ext2 set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)' search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a8456806-a916-41d4-a05e-0f91327d9a32 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=a8456806-a916-41d4-a05e-0f91327d9a32 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic } menuentry 'Linux Mint 11 LXDE, 2.6.38-8-generic (/dev/sda1) -- recovery mode' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os { recordfail set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode insmod part_msdos insmod ext2 set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)' search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a8456806-a916-41d4-a05e-0f91327d9a32 echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-8-generic ...' linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=a8456806-a916-41d4-a05e-0f91327d9a32 ro single echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...' initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic } ### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ### ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_lupin ### ### END /etc/grub.d/10_lupin ### ### 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='(/dev/sda,msdos1)' search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a8456806-a916-41d4-a05e-0f91327d9a32 linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin } menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" { insmod part_msdos insmod ext2 set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)' search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a8456806-a916-41d4-a05e-0f91327d9a32 linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8 } ### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ### ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ### if [ "x${timeout}" != "x-1" ]; then if keystatus; then if keystatus --shift; then set timeout=-1 else set timeout=0 fi else if sleep --interruptible 3 ; then set timeout=0 fi fi fi ### 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 $prefix/custom.cfg; fi ### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ### -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- =============================== sda1/etc/fstab: ================================ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # /etc/fstab: static file system information. # # Use 'blkid -o value -s UUID' to print the universally unique identifier # for a device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name # devices that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5). # # <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass> proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0 /dev/sda1 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1 # swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation #UUID=59a38d24-217a-4063-a741-06b9159a7188 none swap sw 0 0 /dev/mapper/cryptswap1 none swap sw 0 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- =================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ==================== GiB - GB File Fragment(s) 62.135078430 = 66.717032448 boot/grub/core.img 1 62.132980347 = 66.714779648 boot/grub/grub.cfg 2 0.631221771 = 0.677769216 boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic 2 62.132591248 = 66.714361856 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic 1 0.631221771 = 0.677769216 initrd.img 2 62.132591248 = 66.714361856 vmlinuz 1 ======================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc: ======================== Unknown BootLoader on sdc2 00000000 cf 4d ec f1 e3 c7 d5 6b 86 7b 9c e7 3c 6f 4b 9c |.M.....k.{..<oK.| 00000010 19 8c 34 dc e7 8c 32 18 e1 ab d3 4d de 3c a8 78 |..4...2....M.<.x| 00000020 98 66 5c 3b 82 23 db 76 1a 42 4d d8 e0 d6 09 9d |.f\;.#.v.BM.....| 00000030 7c 7d de 9e 5a d6 7a 55 46 b1 42 8f 30 24 d8 98 ||}..Z.zUF.B.0$..| 00000040 69 7f e4 da 42 7e b8 29 ea ad 24 f4 56 7c 48 fe |i...B~.)..$.V|H.| 00000050 c7 84 05 31 c1 90 fc f0 28 80 e6 33 42 12 da a1 |...1....(..3B...| 00000060 53 c4 8f 5d 68 6e 40 a3 9d 1d b8 19 e1 b0 4f 0e |S..]hn@.......O.| 00000070 09 5f 3f 2c 8b 2f 45 1f cd c4 2f 9d e6 93 2a 01 |._?,./E.../...*.| 00000080 b9 dc e8 46 ae c7 bf b5 a4 9c 14 c5 58 57 5d 0c |...F........XW].| 00000090 81 1d d9 ae e1 6a ad b3 d5 8e aa 7d 6e bc 09 f3 |.....j.....}n...| 000000a0 e6 1c f3 a7 e2 87 91 7a ff 22 02 39 95 f8 fa 19 |.......z.".9....| 000000b0 65 87 34 6a be ab 80 6e 67 05 74 e8 c0 b9 2f 7a |e.4j...ng.t.../z| 000000c0 1a 76 7e 00 cd 5e e9 34 f9 c9 64 74 f5 f8 d8 16 |.v~..^.4..dt....| 000000d0 8a 7b 91 77 84 cf 0c de c0 c8 09 73 f9 d9 f8 63 |.{.w.......s...c| 000000e0 6d bf 60 51 4e 6d 04 43 ce 78 94 f7 99 a6 fe e1 |m.`QNm.C.x......| 000000f0 9a e3 f0 cd ff 7b de 14 37 cf bd e7 d2 67 bf 87 |.....{..7....g..| 00000100 d5 fb 86 52 21 bf 0c fc 77 ae 11 bb 9d 37 c3 13 |...R!...w....7..| 00000110 08 8e bc bf 52 14 81 13 77 a2 be e5 95 ca ad 7b |....R...w......{| 00000120 d1 1a 85 46 74 8d 52 2d 21 4c 98 fb d6 9d 2e 77 |...Ft.R-!L.....w| 00000130 ae 2c e2 e4 4e 19 4b b9 c1 90 66 99 78 e8 7a 5c |.,..N.K...f.x.z\| 00000140 4a f8 34 4f 84 01 92 a3 e6 86 4a 5c e7 3c 63 74 |J.4O......J\.<ct| 00000150 e3 bd 34 9d e3 4a 20 ec 93 dc 32 f2 fd c8 c4 24 |..4..J ...2....$| 00000160 27 87 da 27 67 b3 e7 8f 08 6f c3 43 e5 20 5d ea |'..'g....o.C. ].| 00000170 11 10 fc f0 55 cb dc ad cf f3 c0 d5 88 d2 57 e2 |....U.........W.| 00000180 0c 1b 69 e5 6a b1 fe 23 e3 f3 d0 2c 03 e0 99 a4 |..i.j..#...,....| 00000190 74 d4 bc 42 fd 52 5c ab e5 75 fa 7d b1 b5 b4 53 |t..B.R\..u.}...S| 000001a0 d3 85 c3 80 36 a7 ec 84 6a 87 de da 7e e2 bd da |....6...j...~...| 000001b0 57 5c 8e 28 a8 9f 48 a0 0d b0 fa 60 d8 e3 5e 21 |W\.(..H....`..^!| 000001c0 3f 8f 55 6b a4 3c 7d 03 6a f4 36 3b 94 f5 0c 77 |?.Uk.<}.j.6;...w| 000001d0 1c 7a 02 6d df 70 6d 42 bb 1f 5e 06 e7 fd e7 3b |.z.m.pmB..^....;| 000001e0 8f 5c 5a f8 4b 82 7d fb c0 21 45 19 89 a6 00 8e |.\Z.K.}..!E.....| 000001f0 f6 1f c1 64 43 af 7c 4d fa 2c 0c 8c 2c ee bd d0 |...dC.|M.,..,...| 00000200 ========= Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive: ========= sdb =============================== StdErr Messages: =============================== xz: (stdin): Compressed data is corrupt

Just posting this so other members can see how screwed up your install went. Because I don't see Windows 7 NTFS anywhere in your readout.

Dualbooting Windows 7 And Linux Mint 12 | HowtoForge - Linux Howtos and Tutorials

I attached the wrong file. I'll update with the correct one later.

One thing I feel fishy about your partition table from fdisk is that /dev/sda4 is missing, any reasons?

upon finishing installation, the installer prompts you to write boot loader, where did you write it to? MBR or /dev/sda1 or /dev/sda5 ?