Ubuntu
grub2 package

Can't fix boot menu in Windows 7 on Alienware

Asked by C Allen

I use Windows 7 on an Alienware PC from Dell. I installed, or tried to install, Ubuntu from the website. First I tried the CD option. I could not get the boot menu to let me boot from a non-Windows CD. So, I tried the option to let Ubuntu fix the boot menu so I could boot from the CD. From then on I get a screen that gives me the option to start Windows 7 or Ubuntu. When I select Ubuntu I get an error screen saying that the system is corrupt. I uninstalled Ubuntu and tried to download it directly to Windows. Then when I start the computer, I get the options to start Windows 7 or Ubuntu or Ubuntu - yes, Ubuntu was there twice.

So I used Ubuntu's uninstall .exe, and one of the Ubuntu options at startup is removed, but the other one remains. I tried to set the boot menu back to it's defaults. I also used System Restore, but I cannot get rid of the boot selections; one for Windows 7 and one for Ubuntu, which isn't even on my computer, supposedly.

This is annoying for me, but almost a cause of panic for the others who use my computer. I would like to use Ubuntu but my PC system hates it. The last time I tried to reinstall my Windows software I found out the hard way, that an Alienware computer won't let the user do it. One has to call support and someone else do it for over $100. I was unaware of that when I bought the stupid thing.

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C Allen (nekodaotoko) said : 		#1

If these emails mean someone is responding to my question, I have to
confess stupidity; I can't see any responses/answers.

On Sat, Jul 28, 2012 at 2:36 PM, marcobra (Marco Braida) <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #204392 on grub2 in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+question/204392
>
> Project: grub in Ubuntu => grub2 in Ubuntu
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

--
- UNASHAMED TO BE A CHRISTIAN -

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Smarteralec (smarteralec) said : 		#2

It's not an Alienware (fast!) problem, it's a Win7 problem. MS-Win is notorious for not liking anybody else to mess with the master boot record (MBR). It's probably easiest to reinstall Ubuntu into the same partition (select Install Alongside Win7), from a usb stick that you install your Ubuntu iso image on, with something like
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/#button
(Runs under WinXP or newer) Read all the instructions on the download page, especially the expandable sections,
run it and select the version you want to install and point it at your downloaded iso. You'll probably need to adjust your BIOS to boot from the usb. You can edit the items in the boot menu by following the instructions on the screen to remove the extra entry if the reinstallation doesn't remove it.

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Smarteralec (smarteralec) said : 		#3

I forgot to include that you might want to download the Ubuntu Remix iso. It includes a full latest stable Ubuntu plus extra tools to install Ubuntu in a Win or Mac dual-boot scenario, including a backing up of the existing MBR. It's available from
http://sourceforge.net/p/ubuntu-secured/home/Home/

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C Allen (nekodaotoko) said : 		#4

Thank you, Smarteralec, I'm going to try that tomorrow. I'll let you know how it works out.

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C Allen (nekodaotoko) said : 		#5

Well, I looked into all that, but it's over my old head. I'm somewhat feeble minded. I'm going to keep your ideas written down in case I ever have the gumption to get technical, but for now, I'm going to mark this as solved, since it's a user problem. Thanks for your help. :)

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