Ubuntu
grub2 package

trying to recover files from old ubuntu disk, to save on external HD

Asked by Jamie Oakes

After buying a netbook 6 months ago, I immediately ran Ubuntu 10.04 parallel to the win7 starter that came stock on the computer. I was very happy learning linux, until one day, after a routine update, and its subsequent restart, I had lost the start up grub. Now, at my Bios menu, when asked: windows 7 or Ubuntu, and picking Ubuntu, it returns back to the bios menu: windows 7 or ubuntu? no avail.

After many programs (SuperGrubStartupDisk, etc, etc,) and all the recovery modes and diagnostics available, nothing has worked to reboot my old 10.04.

During the days of 10.04, I had saved most of my files to a 100gb partition of the HD. This d:\ is still visible in Windows 7, just not readable. So I wondered if all the files were intact.

My new plan of attack has a VMware application for the windows7 running Ubuntu 10.10 on it, in hopes that it could find and recover that partition which holds the backup files. It has not recognised that partition, yet.

I need some direction on recovering the files. I have an external HD to save them to, and plan all wiping the entire HD clean and starting anew with ubuntu 10.10 as my ONLY os to never run into this again.

Keep in mind, I am an extreme beginner, so if you could explain your answers simply, that would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks for your time and help

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Ubuntu grub2 Edit question
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Jamie Oakes
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mycae (mycae) said : 		#1

>This d:\ is still visible in Windows 7, just not readable.

that seems odd. Windows should totally ignore non NFTS or FAT drives.

If you can boot to a liveCD and then post the output of the following command:

sudo fdisk -l

then we can see your partition table, and guide you further.

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Jamie Oakes (jamieoakes7) said : 		#2

it is formatted as a FAT drive. It will prompt: this file does not contain a recognized file system. please make sure all required file systems are loaded.

This is all I get in windows, and there are no partitions visible in the ubuntu 10.10 i loaded in vmware

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Jamie Oakes (jamieoakes7) said : 		#3

also i have had no luck booting from disk, even though it seems the main reason i'm locked out of my original version of ubuntu 10.04 is a lost grub.

i'll run another super grub boot disk and post the results

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#4

Don't wipe out for the moment Seven.
Perhaps you have used dynamic disk, and in this case Seven is your only hope to recover data.

1-Did you tried 1st solution of https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Reinstalling%20from%20LiveCD ?
2-Are you sure your external drive was formated under FAT32 and not NTFS or ext4 ?

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Jamie Oakes (jamieoakes7) said : 		#5

I ended up installing 10.10 and wiping the HD. I lost all my files, and plan on backing up everything. Thanks for your advice.

On a side note: during the new installation I had to reformat the partition that HAD all my files on it. Then in BIOS , some ancient kernel grub was visible, I booted from that, and recovered my desktop (custom image) from my old 10.09, but the HD was free of any of my files I intended to save. Ah well!