Hi all:

Strange problem. I have an Dell E1505 laptop. Core2Duo 5200, 1GB RAM, 80 GB HD. By default, comes with Vista home premium.
I wanted to try Linux, so I downloaded and burned Ubuntu 6.10 ("Edgy Eft").

I booted from the Ubuntu CD, and resized my NTFS partition, and created a linux partition, and a swap partition (actually an extended partition since I couldn't have more then 4 partitions for some reason). I installed Ubuntu, rebooted, and it works. Works well. I set up my Vista partition to automount, and I am able to browse it just fine from Linux, can access files (readonly) just fine.

However, when I try to boot back to Vista, it no longer works. From the Grub bootloader, I can choose the Vista bootloader, and it boots up to the moving green lines, then HD stops, and the lines keep moving. I've tried booting in safe mode, no go, it stops at a certain point (screen eventually goes black ).

Here's the weird part - I tried booting from my Vista DVD, and the same thing happens. I'm not sure what the problem is here - Dell support says that "sectors might be corrupt" or something. after some research online, I find this site:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/919529

which describes my problem exactly, except with xp dual boot instead of my Ubuntu. Of course, this means I can't use their solution, but maybe someone knows how to fix the problem.

I've read a few different ways to have vista & linux, but most of them assume access to the vista, or to being able to format the HD, which i'm not sure how to do (like I said, the vista reinstall DVD doesn't work). I'd be very disappointed if this was a permanent disability of the new OS.

Any ideas?

I fail to see the problem here.

Interestingly enough, this is the second time I have gotten that response. However, if there is anyone out there with some insight in the problem... please help me!

hi i have hp pavilion dv2000, 120 gb hdd, 1gb ram. pentium dual core. i love to fiddle a lot with this poor computer. when my anti virus expired, ithought its high time and shifted to ubuntu, then to kubuntu. i installed it inside windows, but due to my habit, i had to remove and install it a billion times, then i finally tried to install it as a seperate system outside vista, parallel to it. then it showed grub eror 17. and vista was also not booting and then i again installed it somehow, again vista isnt booting, i have no means to access vista, how to do it ?
should i format c:\ ??
or any other thing ?

plz help !!!!
thanks

Then boot it up and run the following commands:

sudo fdisk -l (lower case letter L)
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Post the output here. First command shows partition info, second shows Grub boot menu file.

Do you have a Vista recovery cd/dvd?If so,please run it,format hard drive and install Vista,after that use some program in Windows to create 2 new partitions on the hard drive.You can use this program,choose ext3 for your filesystem.Then post back.

@ above



could u please be more elaborate bro ! thanks

Well after you install Vista,download that program then use it to resize/shrink your hard disk because Vista will use entire hard disk,so you have to resize your C drive,then on the unalocated space create two logical partitions with ext3 filesystem.Then when you reboot with Linux cd you use those partitions for Linux installation.Everything will work then and you'll have upon startup a choise to choose what OS you want to boot.

EDIT: Nevermind. Just realized we're no longer talking about the OP's issue here.

plz help me coz i reformating my dell laptop,i change the windows vista basic to home premium then when finish installing my laptop not automaticaally restart, im waiting a long time but still nothing happen then i decide to unflug my charger & battery to restart when i open got message windows error,recovery:windows failed to start.a recent hardware or software change might be the cause.to fix the problem:1.insert your windows installation disc ang restart your computer.2, choose your language settings,and then click"next".3,click "repair your computer"..other options:if power was interrrupted during startup,choose start windows normally.(use the arrow keys to highlight your choice.)..safe mode..safe mode with networking..last known good configuration (advanced)..start windows normally. my laptop 3GB RAM,320GB HARDESK,please help me! i`m sorry about my english.tnx