Ubuntu

Installed Ubuntu 8.04 lost Windows - help!

Asked by BoZz

People please advise me. I was running, quite comfortably Win XP Pro SP2 (320Gb SATA raid 0 stripe 0 2x160Gb), when I decided to try Ubuntu 8.04. Tried to install it within Windows with wubi but Ubuntu would not load. Un-installed it. Next tried to install it from within Ubuntu (System>Admin>install). God only knows what happened (probably lost my sanity for a moment!) and the next thing I know nothing works. Ubuntu or Windows. Is this the end of life as I know it?

Now, while I believe in miracles, here at least I am not expecting one. But, please is there anyway or recovering Windows and saving my data in the first place (biting my nails!)? Or have I lost it all? Any chance of a roll back?

I managed to boot the live CD and here is what I have to report... sob.. sob...

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160000000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19452 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x41ab2316

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 18696 150175588+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 18697 19452 6072570 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 18697 19452 6072538+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 160.0 GB, 160000000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19452 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/sdb doesn't contain a valid partition table

So guys what is the prognosis? Is it terminal?

I need to have Windows working and then Ubuntu as dual boot. What are my options? And is it possible with my SATA raid 0 config.

Thanks for your time and help.

Bozz

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Revision history for this message
AD (ad-lfc) said : 		#1

Try installing Ubuntu from the cd then Windows from a cd

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BoZz (bozzanma) said : 		#2

Thanks for answering. However my concern remains whether I will be able to salvage Windows and my files/documents?

If I do an install of Ubuntu, will that not risk, if there is one at this stage, of destroying, i.e over writing my data present on the disk now?

Any help is appreciated.

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Bhavani Shankar (bhavi) said : 		#3

are you using a dual HDD? if so which HDD did you install windows and can you boot into it?

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AD (ad-lfc) said : 		#4

When you install Ubuntu i wipes your hard drive that you chose to install it on and says to windows and files GET LOST We dont like you and puts Ubuntu On However As Bhavani said If You use two Hard Drives and you installed Ubuntu On A Seperate one than one with your Files On Just Plugin Your Other One And They Will be There

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BoZz (bozzanma) said : 		#5

Thanks for replying.

Please see above, to answer your question about my HDD, here it is again, (320Gb SATA raid 0 stripe 0 2x160Gb

It is a Dell machine that came preconfigured with Win XP in raid 0 stripe, or 160Gb x 2 HDD.

AD, the thing is even if Ubuntu is ready to say get lost to Windows I am not. And it is in that light that I am expecting replies and solutions.

P.S. I cannot boot, period. In any OS.

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Thor K. H. (nitrolinken) said : 		#6

Well, it seems like you've lost the partition table, though, you do have the tables for Ubuntu. If you get hold of a Windows install, you can create Bart PE CD so that you can recover your data. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0reKK2ASEaU

The issue is that if the HDD where Windows was installed was formatted (same with the other one if you had data there) it's all gone. However, if you just deleted the partitions, that turorial can help you get your data back (documents and such).

The Ubuntu LiveCD should be able to install Ubuntu, but I recommend you to do so after you've made sure you have all files you need. Shortly said: make a backup.

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BoZz (bozzanma) said : 		#7

Thank you Thor for trying to help.

The thing is I did not format or do anything manually. I used the install from within Ubuntu and thats all. I suspect that Ubuntu preforms a format before install. Of that you may know better.

In any case shall I install Windows first or Ubuntu?

And as stated my drives were raid 0, so even if one HDD goes down I might end up loosing it all. Right?

Thanks again

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BoZz (bozzanma) said : 		#8

P.S. Back up of what? I cannot access anything so the question of backup does not arise.

Secondly will Ubuntu reconize my raid drive setup?

Thank you

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Thor K. H. (nitrolinken) said : 		#9

In the Ubuntu LiveCD there's a partition screen where it will ask you how you wish to act with your partitions, all, guided or manual. You might have skipped over that step or missed it (happens when you get really excited about things ;) ).

 I'd install Windows first followed by Ubuntu, that way you'd have an option to boot Windows after installing Ubuntu (assumed that you do not remove the Windows partitions).

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Charles Profitt (cprofitt) said : 		#10

If the windows partition is there then you would be able to access it from your Linux install.... if the partition is not there then you would need to try and recover the partition information... which I have not done.

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BoZz (bozzanma) said : 		#11

Thank you all for trying to help. Since my partition was destroyed I guess not much can be done. Time being a factor too.

I will simply install Windows first as advised by Thor and go from there. One last question, will I have to reconstruct my raid 0 drives or.....? And tutorials on that?

Thanks once again.

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|ShooZ| (speakaphreaka) said : 		#12

Wish you could have found a solution for this because I have the EXACT same problem. Running a Dell Raid 0 on 2 separate HDDs. I ran the Ubuntu iso from boot and installed on the first HDD. Thus wiping out my Window's partition. I'm trying to work with TestDisk to recover my lost Window's side data...

Also working the good people over here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?s=672345fa64b82150f3852560bcf328b6&p=5771916