Hello

I am kinda new to Linux but because I started a linux-course I decided to install it on my desktop. Before I used Virtual Box or VMware so it was pretty straightforward but now I have a problem with booting into Win7. I decided to install Debian along with my Win7. From a hardware perspective the things are like this, I have 3 HDD, 2 on a RAID0 and the third will be the one with Linux. On the RAID0 matrix I installed Win7 first, all ok there. Then I started installing Debian. I followed the installation wizard, I partitioned the 3rd HDD and selected it as the drive for Linux. Then after I installed Linux and rebooted I only saw Debian in the GRUBs boot options, no sign of Win7. I think it has to do with the RAID0 matrix which "houses" Win7. I disconnected the 3rd HDD, and now when I try to boot no sign of the Win7 bootloader thou the RAID0 is ok. The only message I get is "insert boot disk". Do you have any ideas?


Thanks.

Perhaps...

The installation of linux on the third HDD could have moved the boot flag from the first Windows partition, excepting any recovery partition, where the Windows boot loader looks for it.

If you boot a live-cd, you can become "su" and use the command "fdisk -l" to look for the "*" under "boot" in the partition table. See that it is opposite the Windows 7 partition.

In addition, you have probably changed the original partition table that the Windows boot loader refers to while booting. Windows 7 is shy, and won't come out when things it is familiar with have changed.

Try to repair your Windows MBR with the Windows 7 installation DVD or use one of these. Read the first link for a guide to the procedure.

http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBC...r+from+the+DVD

http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/window...-repair-discs/

http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1

http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBC...mentation+Home

This should give you a Windows boot, but you will then need to configure GRUB and find out which boot loader, Windows 7 or Grub, you might need to start the boot process if you want your RAID configuration to function. Is the RAID 0 softwareRAID or fakeRAID?

Your Debian live-cd should allow you to restore GRUB. Search here at LQ or Google for how. This should give you the general idea.

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vi...rst.htm?page=4

thorkelljar is probably right about your bootflag. I'm guessing that your 3rd hdd contains your /boot directory that grub is housed in, unless you specified another location in the install.


Also like tkj was getting at, if you use a fake raid(like nvraid) grub may need to be configured differently to recognize your raid volume.

First I would reconnect the linux drive, boot into linux and post the contents of your /boot/grub/grub.conf file.

By the way...

Would you be so kind as to boot a linux live-cd and as "su" run the command "fdisk -l" and post the results. It would be nice to see the partition table.

What was that RAID 0 again, softRAID, fakeRAID?