Ubuntu
ubiquity package

Installed Ubuntu now cannot access windows

Asked by Thomas Beck

I started off with Windows 7 on this netbook but decided I wanted Ubuntu to go along with it (11.04). I downloaded Lili and used it to set up a USB with Ubuntu on it. During the installation it gave me the option to either erase Windows or to customise, so I chose to customise. I then had to partition the hard drive so I set half of my hard drive for Windows (117gb) and the other for Linux. However, now when I boot up it goes straight to Ubuntu without giving the option to load Windows. What was I did wrong, and can I fix it without giving MicroSoft more money? (Legally :P)

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actionparsnip
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Thomas Beck (tomandjax) said : 		#1

Additional detail -
Ubuntu says i have 106gb hard drive space, so there is the whole other section with Windows on somewhere... I hope :s I had 250gb before getting Ubuntu.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#2

Can you give the output of:

sudo fdisk -l; lsb_release -a

Thanks

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Thomas Beck (tomandjax) said : 		#3

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0007adc1

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 15198 122068992 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 15198 30402 122127361 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 15198 30402 122127360 82 Linux swap / Solaris
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 11.04
Release: 11.04
Codename: natty

I hope that makes more sense to you than me (:

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#4

There is no Windows partition there. You have made your whole drive into Linux filesystems.

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Thomas Beck (tomandjax) said : 		#5

So where did the other half of my hard drive go? I cannot access it.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#6

can you run gparted and give a screenshot, you can use imageshack to host it

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#7

Could you provide result of:
   sudo parted -l

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Thomas Beck (tomandjax) said : 		#8

@delance
Apologies in the delay of my reply, I lost a friend to a car accident recently.

tom@tom-1001PXD:~$ sudo parted -l
[sudo] password for tom:
Model: ATA ST9250315AS (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
 1 1049kB 125GB 125GB primary ext4 boot
 2 125GB 250GB 125GB extended
 5 125GB 250GB 125GB logical linux-swap(v1)

@actionparsnip,
I'm afraid gparted requires me to insert a disk to write to, but I have no disk drive or a desktop computer to use instead.

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#9

Windows was wiped out.
You made a 125GB Ubuntu swap where a 4GB only is necessary.
Do you want to reinstall both Windows and Ubuntu ?

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Thomas Beck (tomandjax) said : 		#10

Well that was careless :/ Windows is completely gone? If I can reinstall Windows and Ubuntu without purchasing another copy of Windows That would be brilliant.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#11

You will need a windows installation media to reinstate the OS. You can install the Windows OS to a portion of the drive space then leave the rest free. You can then install Ubuntu to the free space.

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Thomas Beck (tomandjax) said : 		#12

So I don't screw things up, could you link me to a step by step on what to do? Many thanks

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Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#13

What I said above, boot to Windows install CD and wipe the system (be sure you backup all you need from ubuntu), set the Windows to be installed to a portion of the drive then when you boot to ubuntu tell it to use the remaining space.

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Thomas Beck (tomandjax) said : 		#14

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.

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Thomas Beck (tomandjax) said : 		#15

Thankyou very much for your help :)