installed Ubuntu dual boot, xp won't start with grub

Hello !

Can you please post the content of your /boot/grub/menu.lst ? It contains the configuration for GRUB ...

Regards,
Benoît

Hello Benoit!
I'm such a newbie I hope this is the file your looking for. Thank you for looking at this.
Regards,
Gordon

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=e70080ca-8936-4f67-b457-77bdebad7a93 ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,1)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=UUID=e70080ca-8936-4f67-b457-77bdebad7a93 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic
quiet
savedefault

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=UUID=e70080ca-8936-4f67-b457-77bdebad7a93 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-11-generic
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-11-generic root=UUID=e70080ca-8936-4f67-b457-77bdebad7a93 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-11-generic
quiet
savedefault

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-11-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-11-generic root=UUID=e70080ca-8936-4f67-b457-77bdebad7a93 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-11-generic

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-generic
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic root=UUID=e70080ca-8936-4f67-b457-77bdebad7a93 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic
quiet
savedefault

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic root=UUID=e70080ca-8936-4f67-b457-77bdebad7a93 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic

title Ubuntu, memtest86+
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

What does it do when you select the menu item "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition"? Does it try to start up Windows?

Hi Janke,
When I select the Windows OS it goes to a black screen with "Starting Up..." at the top of the screen and nothing further happens. It just stays that way and Windows does not start. If I Ctrl/Alt/Del it goes back to the boot page and if I select Ubuntu, Ubuntu starts up.
Regards,
Gordon

Ralph Janke <email address hidden> wrote: Your question #6638 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.beta.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/6638

    Status: Open => Needs information

Ralph Janke requested for more information:
What does it do when you select the menu item "Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition"? Does it try to start up Windows?

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To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
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https://answers.beta.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/6638

Thanks for your question. Your grub configuration looks quite o.k.

Would you mind adding the output of "sudo fdisk -l" to the question? Did you experience any problems while installing ubuntu? Like a power outake or something else?

Hi Markus,
Here is the output:

Disk /dev/sda: 300.0 GB, 300069052416 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 36481 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 19183 154087416 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 19184 36104 135917932+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 36105 36481 3028252+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 36105 36481 3028221 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdc: 400.0 GB, 400088457216 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 48641 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 2 48641 390700800 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sdc5 2 48641 390700768+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

Markus Thielmann <email address hidden> wrote: Your question #6638 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/6638

    Status: Open => Needs information

Markus Thielmann requested for more information:
Thanks for your question. Your grub configuration looks quite o.k.

Would you mind adding the output of "sudo fdisk -l" to the question? Did
you experience any problems while installing ubuntu? Like a power outake
or something else?

_______________________________________________________________________
To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
this email or enter your reply at the following page:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/6638

Markus, I just noticed I missed part of your info request. I didn't have a power outage during the installation and everything seemed normal until I tried to boot windows xp from GRUB. I wonder if I uninstalled Ubuntu and reinstalled I could fix the problem?

I don't think a reinstall would solve that problem Gordon. I'd recommend rewriting the Windows Bootloader (FIXBOOT and FIXMBR or Repair Installation) and rewrite Grub after that fix. As you need to boot your Ubuntu Installation after the Windows boot fix, you might find this valuable: http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/SuperGrubDiskPage.html

Hi Folks,
I was not able to resolve this issue and have made a clean format and installation of windows. I do very much appreciate all of your assistance. I found all of your advice and links very helpful, especially SuperGrub. Unfortunately nothing was able to be repaired. I also tried to repair windows with the windows cd and that failed as well. I lost too much production and it seems that the dual boot process on installation is flawed or microsoft screwed it up somehow.

I installed Ubuntu on an old laptop I have and will experiment and learn on that PC. Your help convinced me that Linux has people who care and want to teach newbies. I can't give up windows until I'm knowledgeable enough not to loose productivity on my desktop.

Again, thanks for all of your support. Well back to reinstalling my software.

Gordon

You may want to try Vmware (http://www.vmware.com) on your main PC to try Ubuntu in a Virtual Machine.

Markus,
Thanks for the recommendation I will take a look at that option.
Gordon

Markus Thielmann <email address hidden> wrote: Your question #6638 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/6638

    Status: Open => Answered

Markus Thielmann proposed the following answer:
You may want to try Vmware (http://www.vmware.com) on your main PC to
try Ubuntu in a Virtual Machine.

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https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/6638

I encountered a similar issue. I installed XP Home on the machine and left about 60 gb unused space for ubuntu 7.04. XP installed fine and booted fine. I installed ubuntu by creating partitions manualy. Ubuntu installed fine. Rebooted and asked GRUB to start XP got a BSOD UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME. Microsoft's support page says that the machine has a 40 conductor cable instead of 80 (BTW drive is SATA).

Tried chkdsk, fixboot, etc, no help. Later all partitions were gone.

Is it the MBR that xp doesn't like or ubuntu did something to the partition.

After lots of iterations figured out a solution to the problem.

1. Install Windows XP halfway till the text portion ends and windows xp prompts you to reboot.
2. Make sure you leave space for ubuntu
3. Install ubuntu:
    / on sda6
   swap on sda5
4. Boot into xp and complete the installation

Hope that this helps.