Installed XP on free partition, can't boot Ubuntu drive?

[wastingpenguins]

Hi guys,

Been using Ubuntu for about a month, dual-booting with Vista . For various reasons, I cleared my Vista partition to make Ubuntu my sole operating system. Today, I realized that I needed Windows for something specific, so downloaded XP and installed it on my old XP partition.

That went fine, but now I can't figure out how to boot Ubuntu. When I start my computer, XP boots automatically. When I view disk management in windows, I can see that all my Ubuntu stuff is still there on a logical drive. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to make that drive bootable again. Many sources online say that I can choose which drive to boot from in BIOS, but my if it's there I do not see the option. After much searching and failed tinkering, I have to ask you guys for help. Thoughts?

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

When installed after Linux, Windows will always overwrite the Master Boot Record, so it's best to always install Windows first, then Linux. You might be able to use SuperGRUB to reinstall GRUB to the MBR. You can get SuperGRUB as a stand alone liveCD, or get it on the newly released Parted Magic LiveCD:

Super Grub Disk Homepage

Parted Magic News

With either option, just boot the liveCD and follow the menu prompts to boot SuperGRUB.


Edit: I don't run Ubuntu, but I think the liveCD might have an option to restore GRUB as well.

[CT_Wiebe]

wastingpenguins -- To get to the "Boot Order", you need to explore your BIOS tabs. It is there, but may be buried one or more layers deep.

On my HP laptop, it's under the "Advanced" menu tab, "Boot Order". It allows me to chose the drive order -- I have 2 HDDs, both installed as "Master IDE" drives and I have windows on one and Ubuntu 8.04 on the other. It's neat, since I can boot from the DVD drive, and either of the HDDs, in any order.

On my new Netbook, the boot order is the first item under the "Boot" menu tab. It allows me to choose the order of USB, External DVD drive, Internal HDD drive or a Network connection.

However, if the way you installed Ubuntu managed to disable the "bootability" of your Windows logical drive, then you will have to use one of the choices that ozar provided.