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**Fredh** · Feb 27, 2008, 03:12 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

The quick answer is:
You will have to reinstall grub anyway.
Installing windows will automaticly trash grub on the mbr and replace it with a windows bootloader which will not "see" your linux OS.

If you don't mess with your linux partition it will still be there but you will have to reinstall grub and edit your fstab and /boot/grub/menu.lst to get it up and running again.

So, first question:
why do you want to reinstall xp if you already have a working xp installed?

leading from that:
why can't you just repartition your sda and resize your windows partition without reinstalling it?

You will have to edit your fstab (because of uuid issues) but your grub should be okay

**musta ruhtinas** · Feb 27, 2008, 03:35 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

for me the easiest method to recover grub is to use the Super Grub Boot Disk. It's just under 4MB. Burn it just as you did with kubuntu (as an .iso image), boot off it, select Linux, then select Fix Linux Boot and you're done.

**Jean** · Feb 27, 2008, 03:53 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

Thanks Fredh.

Originally posted by Fredh

If you don't mess with your linux partition it will still be there but you will have to reinstall grub and edit your fstab and /boot/grub/menu.lst to get it up and running again.

I haven't looked yet but isn't it possible to tell the bios I want to boot from sdc ?

So, first question:
why do you want to reinstall xp if you already have a working xp installed?

When I start partition magic in win, it tells me this:

--
Disk 1 appears to have partitions created using a different drive geometry (15h 63s). This serious problem can lead to data loss. No partition manipulations should be done on this disk using this product or the operating system's products. You should back up the data on this disk, delete all partitions, create new partitions under the new drive geometry, and then restore your data using the backup.
--

leading from that:
why can't you just repartition your sda and resize your windows partition without reinstalling it?

I would love to, I could do without the work.

**Jean** · Feb 27, 2008, 04:25 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

Thanks musta,

I have downloaded this one: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ which has Super Grub Boot Disk on it.

Seems now I can safely destroy those harddisk partions and start fresh.

So I will comment sda out from fstab, boot into windows, repartion sda, install windows again on it, then boot from the ultimatebootcd and use Super grub boot disk to write the grub loader back to sda. Then I should be ready to go again?

Anybody see any problems with this scenario?

Thanks folks.

Originally posted by musta ruhtinas

for me the easiest method to recover grub is to use the Super Grub Boot Disk. It's just under 4MB. Burn it just as you did with kubuntu (as an .iso image), boot off it, select Linux, then select Fix Linux Boot and you're done.

**Fintan** · Feb 27, 2008, 04:39 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

Disk 1 appears to have partitions created using a different drive geometry (15h 63s). This serious problem can lead to data loss. No partition manipulations should be done on this disk using this product or the operating system's products. You should back up the data on this disk, delete all partitions, create new partitions under the new drive geometry, and then restore your data using the backup.

That looks serious.
Well, I have worked with PM in the past and it is usually very reliable.

Just to be on the safe side I would download and burn a copy of gparted live:
http://gparted-livecd.tuxfamily.org/

It is a handy tool to have in any event and there is a lot of info on partitioning on that page.

Run it and see what it tells you.

While you are at it get yourself a copy of the super Grub disk as suggested by Musta

I agree with fred. Installing windows is a pain so if you can just back up and delete those other partitions, resize windows, repartition the disk, do that.

Besides if you still have a working windows after all that, great

If not, you will just have to bite the bullet

If you don't fool with sdc your linux will still be there and you can use the suer grub disk to get grub working again.
If you don't want to use that then have a look at qmikes how to on Grub:

http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3081671.0

Quote from mike:

Install or Re-install GRUB

How to: Install (or re-install) GRUB from your “main” Linux OS to the MBR of the main hard drive. Let's say your “main” Linux OS (the root files containing /boot/grub) is located in (hdx,y). (See Notation below.)

Case 1: You are able to boot into a (any) Linux OS on your PC.
If so, do so. Then open a terminal (Konsole) get a GRUB prompt as root by typing sudo grub (then press Enter), and type the following (press Enter after each command):
grub> root (hdx,y) # (hdx,y) is the partition of your "main" Linux OS
grub> setup (hd0) # This assumes (hd0) is your “main” booting hard drive MBR
grub> quit
$ exit

Case 2: You can't boot into any of your Linux OSs.
First, you need to get a grub prompt (grub>) somehow. Your two choices are: (1) Use a rescue disk, like Super Grub Disk, from which you can boot into your OS, or press the “c” key to get a GRUB prompt. Or, (2) Use your Live Kubuntu CD. Let's assume (2) here. Put your Live CD in the CD tray, re-boot your PC, startup your Live Kubuntu. Now get a terminal (Konsole) and proceed exactly as in Case 1, starting with “sudo grub” to get a GRUB prompt.

Good luck and let us know how it goes

**Fintan** · Feb 27, 2008, 04:44 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

So I will comment sda out from fstab, boot into windows, repartion sda, install windows again on it, then boot from the ultimatebootcd and use Super grub boot disk to write the grub loader back to sda. Then I should be ready to go again?

Anybody see any problems with this scenario?

Yes, you may have to edit your uuid's in /etc/fstab and /boot/grub/menu.lst from a live cd because repartitioning screws up your uuid's and may also effect the uuid for sdc.

**Jean** · Feb 27, 2008, 05:12 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

Originally posted by Fintan

Anybody see any problems with this scenario?

Yes, you may have to edit your uuid's in /etc/fstab and /boot/grub/menu.lst from a live cd because repartitioning screws up your uuid's and may also effect the uuid for sdc.

Duh.
I'm out of writeable cd's so I'll get me some and I'll be back tomorrow to report what the gparted live cde has to say.
Thanks for now!

**Fintan** · Feb 27, 2008, 06:17 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

Just for the sake of completeness. You can find out your new uuids by booting a live cd and opening a teminal and typing:

Code:

blkid

This will give you a list of all drives and partitions with their uuids.

You will hen have to edit the /etc/fstab and /boot/grub/menue.lst accordingly with kdesudo kate.

**Jean** · Feb 27, 2008, 06:19 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

Originally posted by Fintan

Just for the sake of completeness. You can find out your new uuids by booting a live cd and opening a teminal and typing:

Code:

blkid

This will give you a list of all drives and partitions with their uuids.
You will hen have to edit the /etc/fstab and /boot/grub/menue.lst accordingly with kdesudo kate.

I was gonna ask but you beat me to it.

Thanks.

**Qqmike** · Feb 27, 2008, 06:58 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

Looks to me that these guys have covered ALL the bases!

I'm not an expert on it, but I would obey that message you got from PM, especially if it means 15 heads. I've hear of 255, 240, and 30, but not 15 (on CHS).
Super Grub Disk or my how-to will re-install GRUB to the MBR of the Windows Drive.
IF you have installed GRUB ALSO to the MBR of the sdc drive, then Yes – you could even now boot into sdc by entering BIOS and selecting that sdc drive. That's why I always install GRUB everywhere! -- to the main MBR, to the individual sdc MBR, and to the boot sector of your Kubuntu partition on sdc (e.g., sdc1).

**Jean** · Feb 27, 2008, 08:23 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

Well I have only installed grub to the mbr of the first disk. I am placing my trust in Super Grub here.

I found something else. On the ultimate boot cd http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ there is a program called testdisk: http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

Running the analyze function tells me there is an incorrect number of heads/cylinders: 255 (NTFS) != 240 (HD)

It also has an option to change the geometry on the drive. It says is is currently 240 heads but should be 255.

I'm thinking of trying this, if it goes well, I can forget about the issue, if not, well, there's some work ahead. I'm currently backing up things.

What do you people think? I noticed PM was talking about 15h so that would be 15 heads, while testdisk says 240.

**Qqmike** · Feb 27, 2008, 09:02 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

Personally, I would trust TestDisk.
Coincidentally, I'm running tests on it this morning, prior to reading your post.

=> So far, I have found it to be right & accurate and it has fixed my testbed situations (even restoring the entire partition table & MBR for me).

It sounds correct about the heads should be 255.

Try it!

**Qqmike** · Feb 27, 2008, 09:08 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

15 or 240 -- doesn't matter.
It is (fairly) safe to assume that it should be (or will work with) 255

**Jean** · Feb 27, 2008, 09:15 AM

Re: Re-organize my pc

I'm reading reviews about testdisk to gain me some confidence about it and read about people saying that partition manager screwed up for them where testdisk did the job.

So yes I'm gonna try that. After the backups are finished. Will report here.

Thanks!

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