Ubuntu
ubiquity package

Remove and re-install Ubuntu

Asked by Robert Hubbard

I did an interesting thing when I chose to install Ubuntu 10.10. I installed it on my external harddrive rather than on my Win7 laptop. It works fine and I like the OS. HOWEVER...if I unplug the external USB HD, I no longer get the boot loader. It drops to a prompt. Is there a command that I can enter to make the machine boot to Win7 from the linux command prompt without the external HD? Otherwise, can I uninstall 10.10 off of the external HD, return my system to it's original state (removing the boot loader) and re-install so it's all on the local HD?

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Tim
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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

You can install Grub to the USb, and then reinstall the windows boot loader to the internal disk, should work either way then

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Robert Hubbard (robh) said : 		#2

Thanks for the fast reply. My unix command line skills are very rusty, so as I understand your reply, is this two steps? Or are you indicating that I just re-run the install from the CD again, but this time choose the internal HD, not the external HD? thanks.

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Robert Hubbard (robh) said : 		#3

Thanks for the fast reply. My unix command line skills are very rusty, so as I understand your reply, is this two steps? Or are you indicating that I just re-run the install from the CD again, but this time choose the internal HD, not the external HD? thanks.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#4

Boot to the windows CD and reinstall the windows boot loader, then boot to live CD and install grub to the USB drive. There are guides littered all over the web on how to do both

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Best Tim (samacaster) said : 		#5

You lost the windows7 MBR/BCD? What actionparsnip said will work, provided your manufacturer thought it prudent to give you a Recovery CD. If don't have the CD, don't fret. Depending on your brand you should be able to enter your recovery partition when booting by hitting F8, F10, or F12. Consult your documentation.

Your recovery program will start. There will be an option to repair your computer. Choose this and your MBR/BCD will be restored. Then you can install Maverick alongside windows. Maverick will install Grub2 by default. If you want use a windows bootloader instead you'll have to get one, EasyBCD preferably.

If you don't have a recovery CD, I would recommend that you make win7 recovery DVDS before installing Ubuntu 10.10. Your manufacturer will have this option in your programs accessed from the start menu.

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Robert Hubbard (robh) said : 		#6

Tim,
Thanks for the response. I'll have to locate my Win7 CD or take the steps you provided here. THAT is the answer I was looking for. thanks for your more detailed response. I can get there from here. Well done.