Ubuntu
grub package

Can't get rid of the dual boot

Asked by iaramos

Installed the new version of Ubuntu (8.10) supossedly on a different Hard Drive (so it would not affect my Windows XP Pro installation and to see how it compares); but when falling back to my XP system (primary HD), fails to come up by itself.

I tried to bring up my XP without my second HD (where I installed Ubuntu); but GRUB starts, shows Error 20 on the screen and nothing happens after that. If I put it back (2nd HD), GRUB works fine and let me select the different OS options, including XP. Doesn't seem to have any problem bringing up XP through GRUB.

Check different threads on your support page for an answer. Tried FIXMBR and FIXBOOT (with the drives in), but GRUB stills comming up. If I tried just with my primary HD (XP); I am able to see the drive through the bios, but not through the repair console. It says can't find the drive.

This is driving me crazy, since it was just a non disruptive test. Don't know what else to do. How do I resolve this problem? Could anyone shed some light on the subject?

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Ubuntu grub Edit question
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iaramos
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Wyatt Smith (wyatt-smith) said : 		#1

Hmmm......

To restore your windows MBR to the proper command is fixmbr from the Windows Recovery Console. It seems your problem is that the window recovery console is not detecting you windows installation.

I will guess that if the boot flag is not set on your windows partition, this might cause this problem. You can check from ubuntu by opening a terminal and using this command.

sudo fdisk -l

There should be and asterisk * in the boot column of the windows partition. If this is not present you can use gparted to set it.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gparted
sudo gparted

In gparted you can right-click your windows partition and select manage flags. Then tick the boot box. After this try seeing if windows recovery console can detect

Revision history for this message
Wyatt Smith (wyatt-smith) said : 		#2

Also there are alternate methods for restoring windows MBR without using recovery console. For example you can use

Super Grub boot disk
ms-sys from inside ubuntu
MBRFix.exe from inside windows

This page provides information on alternate methods
http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/p18.htm

Hope this helps

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iaramos (iaramos0) said : 		#3

Thanks for the update. I was able to use another tool to fix the MBR which solved my problem.

I think my recovery console software is not in Synch with my windows. Anyhow, thanks for the help.