Win7 Wipes out GRUB

[pablo173]

Thanks to all who responded to "Dell Backup Software Trashes Partition Table". I've learned well how to re-install GRUB2 from a live Kubuntu disk, but now every time I run Win7 on my Win7/Lynx dual-boot machine, it trashes GRUB, and I need to re-install it. The error message upon attempting to re-boot is:

GRUB loading
the symbol "rs" not found
Aborted. Press any key to exit.

The symbol not found changes from episode to episode, sometimes "rs", or " ", etc.

Thanks in advance for any help or insight.

[ardvark71]

Re: Win7 Wipes out GRUB

Hi...

Here is a thread that I hope will address this problem.

Regards...

[pablo173]

Re: Win7 Wipes out GRUB

Thanks, ardvark71, I tried going into the partition table and removing the "bootable" flag ("*") from my windows partition.

Didn't help.

Excuse me while I curse Windows.

[ardvark71]

Re: Win7 Wipes out GRUB

Thanks, ardvark71, I tried going into the partition table and removing the "bootable" flag ("*") from my windows partition.

Didn't help.

Would the other option of installing EasyBCD help at all?

Regards...

[pablo173]

Re: Win7 Wipes out GRUB

I have a lead...

Apparently, the Dell DataSafe software interferes with Grub. My guess is that it runs and trashes the MBR every time I exit Win7. The suggested solution on the Ubuntu forums is to remove DataSafe.

Who in his right mind would write a backup program that writes to the MBR?

Anyway, I'll try removing Dell Datasafe from my Win7 setup tomorrow. From what I read, it isn't always easy.

Frankly, I'd like to remove the entire Dell and Windows Backup bloatware partitions from my HD if I can figure out how to do it without affecting my Linux and Win7 partitions.

[pablo173]

FIXED: Win7 Wipes out GRUB

Success!!! Here's what must have happened:

I have a Win7/Lucid dual-boot machine (a Dell 537S) which boots using Grub. While I was running Win 7 a popup window offered to update my Dell Rescue Partition. I clicked "OK" (bad move!) and supposedly the update took place, followed by an automatic reboot. But upon trying to reboot, I found that my GRUB was trashed, and Grey Geek helped me restore my MBR.

BUT, every time I ran Win7, my GRUB/MBR got trashed and needed to be reinstalled. I theorize that Dell DataSafe runs on every Win7 startup. DataSafe is known to interfere with GRUB by writing to the MBR, and thus wipes out GRUB at every Win7 startup.

The suggested solution on the Ubuntu forums is to remove Dell Datasafe. In Win7 I went to the Control Panel, then to Programs and Features and uninstalled anything that said "DataSafe" (there were three such programs).

Now I have a working, reliable GRUB.

Thanks to Grey Geek and ardvark71 for their help, and thanks to Kubuntu Forums, a truly wonderful resource.