Windows XP and Kubuntu dual boot problem

[komyg]

Hi, I have just installed Kubuntu 9.04 in my computer as a dual boot with Windows XP (please note that Windows XP was installed first) and now I cannot boot my Windows.

To install Kubuntu I just booted with the CD, chose the option Install Kubuntu and resized the Windows partition.

Now whenever I try to boot Windows instead of Kubuntu, I just get a the message: "Starting..." and nothing happens.

My Menu.lst file is:

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=e0d56898-7a58-49a9-a6cf-e1b175b5831d ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=e0d56898-7a58-49a9-a6cf-e1b175b5831d

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
## indomU=true
## indomU=false
# indomU=detect

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid e0d56898-7a58-49a9-a6cf-e1b175b5831d
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=e0d56898-7a58-49a9-a6cf-e1b175b5831d ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid e0d56898-7a58-49a9-a6cf-e1b175b5831d
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=e0d56898-7a58-49a9-a6cf-e1b175b5831d ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid e0d56898-7a58-49a9-a6cf-e1b175b5831d
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

And my /etc/fstab file is:

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'vol_id --uuid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=e0d56898-7a58-49a9-a6cf-e1b175b5831d / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=737b8147-56a7-44ed-a1ed-f26b5ab67f3c none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0


Please help me what should I do?

Thanks,
Komyg

[vinnywright]

Re: Windows XP and Kubuntu dual boot problem

the XP file system may have error's......espeshaley if you dident run chkdsk and defrag befor resizing with the Kubuntu instaler.

try booting the XP cd into the recovery console and run chkdsk /f

and look hear http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3099811.0

#4 & #3

VINNY

[komyg]

Re: Windows XP and Kubuntu dual boot problem

Hi, thanks for the reply...

Is there anything that I can do besides running chkdsk? My company's IT department just won't give me the computer's administrator password...

Thanks,
Komyg.

[dibl]

Re: Windows XP and Kubuntu dual boot problem

You can't fix Windows XP from outside Windows XP, AFAIK. The best bet would be to boot a Win XP CD and run "Recovery Console", I think -- you need to run "fixmbr".

[Qqmike]

Re: Windows XP and Kubuntu dual boot problem

Assuming that Windows is actually on (hd0,0),, this certainly looks correct:

title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

Hmmm ... let's hope that the Windows boot sector didn't get damaged, or something that Vinny is referring to is not an issue -- hard telling.

Before going further, if it were me, I'd first try to re-install GRUB. Easy enough to do, just boot into your Kubuntu and use Konsole (or do it from the Live Kubuntu CD). Follow this:

How To GRUB Methods - Toolkit
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3081671.0
SECTION 3: Re-installing GRUB: the cure for many problems.
(it's the root--setup--quit stuff)

Tip: use the geometry command to investigate your drive and identify your partitions:
SECTION 1: Basics
--- IMPORTANT: Exploring your hard drive(s)
fdisk, geometry, Tab-completion

[Snowhog]

Re: Windows XP and Kubuntu dual boot problem

Or, maybe: Fixmbr - Repair Master Boot Record with MBRFix from Windows 2000, XP etc. instead of using fdisk /mbr. FixMbr could help you recreating original master boot record (MBR) that works with any Windows (Win2k), XP, 95, 98 when Linux LILO damaged it.

[komyg]

Re: Windows XP and Kubuntu dual boot problem

Hi, I've tried reinstalling GRUB, but unfortunately it didn't work...

Thanks,
Komyg

[Snowhog]

Re: Windows XP and Kubuntu dual boot problem

Grub isn't going to help you, as I suspect, you installed Grub to the MBR when you installed Jaunty. Is that correct? If you did, then Win XP isn't going to be available unless your fix the Windows MBR and then reinstall Grub to the root partition you installed Jaunty on.

[Qqmike]

Re: Windows XP and Kubuntu dual boot problem

The MBR is completely irrelevant here. We want GRUB's IPL (Stage_1) installed to the first 446 bytes of the MBR. If Windows is relevant it is this: When messing with moving/shrinking partitions, if you messed up the Windows boot sector (= sector 1 of the Windows partition), then that would be a problem requiring a fix in Windows.
This is yet another reason to de-couple these steps when installing Kubuntu: FIRST do any and all partitioning using GParted Live CD. Period. Then run the Kubuntu installer, and this won't happen.
=> Do what these guys suggest to fix Windows boot sector. If that requires also fixing the MBR, do so, then reinstall GRUB.

[vinnywright]

Re: Windows XP and Kubuntu dual boot problem

I realey realey think all you half to do is get chkdsk to run from windows but sence it seams you cant

Hi, thanks for the reply...

Is there anything that I can do besides running chkdsk? My company's IT department just won't give me the computer's administrator password...

Thanks,
Komyg.

you may be abell to restor the MBR like the others sead ?? and run chkdsk on a normal boot?
BUT I'm prity shure it will half to run befor windows will ever boot agin.

I'v had it happen befor

to avoid this it's a good idea to allways run chkdsk and then defrag (defrag will want chkdsk run) BEFORE resizing it's partition with eneything..............and I agrey Gparted is one of the best ways.....allthough some would say it's best to use windows tools for windows partitions I'v allways used gparted and it's allways worked...............well back in the day it was a set of 2 partition magick floppy's.........LOL

if you have a floppy drive a 98 boot disk or eney windows boot disk will restor the MBR with the

fdisk /mbr

hope ya get it befor your IT department gets mad........LOL

but realey you shoulden fidel with stuff that dosent belong to ya eneyway

VINNY

[kc7gnm]

Re: Windows XP and Kubuntu dual boot problem

Hi, thanks for the reply...

Is there anything that I can do besides running chkdsk? My company's IT department just won't give me the computer's administrator password...

Thanks,
Komyg.

So you installed Kubuntu on a computer you don't have permission to administer? Your IT department is going to be pissed at you for doing that. Have you thought that they had it set up in such a way that it won't run with dual operating systems?

[komyg]

Re: Windows XP and Kubuntu dual boot problem

Yeah, lets just say that the IT department wasn't quite happy when I called them and said that I had installed Linux and my Windows had died... But what am I supposed to do when a client comes in asking for us to develop a Linux application. I can't just say something like: "Sorry sir, but our IT department just doesn't allow us to install Linux on our machines. You will just have to seek another company."

Fortunately for me the problem wasn't with Kubuntu or grub, for after the IT guy took a look at my hard drive he discovered that the HD itself had some kind of problem... So he backed up everything to a new HD and Windows began to work fine.

The problem was that I had to reinstall GRUB. So I started Kubuntu via Live CD and followed the instructions that you gave me. Unfortunately GRUB just couldn't find /boot/grub/stage1, so after a while I just gave up and reinstalled Kubuntu. After that everything began to work fine.

Thanks for all your help,
Komyg