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g_ramesh 09-12-2010 09:01 AM

How to access Linux partition files
 
Hi

it all started with my eagerness to have a triple boot system with
XP/Win7/Ubuntu 10.04.

(Given below is a series of events happened when I tried to fix the problem thru some forum)

I had xp on a PC with an Asus M/B with a single 320GB SATA HDD.
Then I installed Win 7 (probably into a logical drive). It went well.
Then after searching for some help I installed Ubuntu 10.04 on to another partition. Fine up to here, but when I saw I was able to access other partition files from Linux but not the other way.

Then thru some help from some forums I tried to free some space from the Linux Partition and make it as a shared drive between Win and Linux.

In this process I used GParted live CD to rearrange partitions and tried to format the unallocated space it is showing

" you cannot create a new volume in this unallocated space because the disk is already containing the maximum number of partitions. "

The screeshot I u/l and the link is

http://www.4shared.com/photo/MAnS40G...ion_image.html

There after on some advice I tried to rearrange the partitions:

after going thru " https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowtoPartition " I tried and moved the SWAP and Linux partition around and brought the unallocated space next to a primary partition where xp is loaded. Then I merged both and then moved the xp partition to right.

Then when I tried to boot into XP it was showing fault /ntldr. Then I merged back the XP partition and unallocated sapce and tried boot again. Now also is shows the following message when I try to boot in to XP

" Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. choose your language settings and then click "NEXT"
3.Click "Repair" your computer.

If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

File: \ntldr
Status: OX0000225

Info: The selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt. "


I u/l the screenshots from GParted before and after I merged the unallocated space to xp partition and the link is

" http://www.4shared.com/file/kwy9JguJ/gparted1.html "

and the output of fdisk -lu is given below

sudo fdisk -lu

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xa3c6a3c6

Code:

Device  Boot  Start    End    Blocks Id          System
/dev/sda1        16126  236026979 118005427    f    W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda2  *    236027904 561364991 162668544  7      HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3        561364992 565270527 1952768    82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda4        565270528 625141759 29935616  83    Linux
/dev/sda5        16128 236026979 118005426      7    HPFS/NTFS

Booting in to win 7 and Ubuntu is normal.

However I am able to access programs installed in XP thru win 7 and run them.


I am able to boot into Ubuntu and checked up, under root of C:/ I have boot.ini with the following content:

"
;
;Warning: Boot.ini is used on Windows XP and earlier operating systems.
;Warning: Use BCDEDIT.exe to modify Windows Vista boot options.
;
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional"
/NOEXECUTE=OPTIN /FASTDETECT "

Sorry, now I think in the Disk management screen of Win 7 that the Drive letters C: and D: are interchanged ?

The screen shot taken is u/l and the link is " http://www.4shared.com/photo/-yt1Yvb...Screeshot.html "

The E(C:/) is Win7 and C(D:/) is xp and I think these got interchanged when I was merging the partitions in GParted. Can this happen?

After posting this I actually booted the pc with xp disk and selected repair option.

After a while it gave two options:

1: D:\Windows
2: C:\WINDOWS

when I selected option 1, it did not allow me to enter inside, when selected option 2 it went into windows dir of xp.

I think my doubt stated above is correct, is it not? ( i.e change of drive letters C and D).

Is fixboot C: will harm the pc in recovery console?

Later I stumbled upon bootscript from sourceforge.net which was mentioned in one of the posts here and Results.txt is u/l and link is

http://www.4shared.com/document/Ya7SScVL/RESULTS.html

Also ntldr, NTDETECT.COM and bootmgrand boot.ini are available under root of C: [when seen thru Ubuntu but thru win 7 it is D:] drive which is my XP partition.


Present condition is:

Booting into Win7 and Ubuntu is normal, not able to boot into xp.

Please tell me how to fix it?

fbt 09-12-2010 09:42 AM

I know nothing about booting XP and 7 together. Doesn't 7 have a compatible mode so that you can run XP programs in 7? Don't they have differnt boot loaders? My point is maybe it would be better to just run one Windows software and then just dual boot into Linux.

hughetorrance 09-12-2010 10:00 AM

Install and use GRUB2 from the Ubuntu live CD... ! or install and use the easier to configure legacy GRUB 0.97

g_ramesh 09-12-2010 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbt (Post 4095143)
I know nothing about booting XP and 7 together. Doesn't 7 have a compatible mode so that you can run XP programs in 7? Don't they have differnt boot loaders? My point is maybe it would be better to just run one Windows software and then just dual boot into Linux.

I think Win 7 home premium (which I have) is not compatible to run in compatible mode and XP uses boot.ini and Win 7 uses bootmgr.

g_ramesh 09-12-2010 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hughetorrance (Post 4095151)
Install and use GRUB2 from the Ubuntu live CD... ! or install and use the easier to configure legacy GRUB 0.97

when I issue command

"grub-install -v"

the following is shown

"grub-install (GNU GRUB 1.98-1ubuntu5)"

I think this is GRUB2 only?

g_ramesh 09-13-2010 02:44 AM

any other option please

basheer 09-13-2010 06:38 AM

boot into ubuntu.
Try to install grub2 itself.
#grub-install /dev/sda
#update-grub

See if it works.

spandey 09-13-2010 06:42 AM

Ramesh,
Windows can't read Linux EXT4 partition data.

Windows remembers physical partition information in it's registry. So when you move around partitions it will get confused!!! Specially XP is very touchy in these matters...there are steps/precautions to do it safely.

Ubuntu can be reinstalled easily unless until you have heavy customization. You can delete ubuntu and swap. Bring the partitions back to original order and size and your XP will be back.

Make sure you have backed up your system before doing major changes!!

MTK358 09-13-2010 06:57 AM

How about virtualization instead of dual booting? For example, install just Linux on your hard drive and run Windows XP and Windows 7 under VirtualBox. This also has the advantage that you never have to shut down any of the OSes to work on another one.

g_ramesh 09-14-2010 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTK358 (Post 4095963)
How about virtualization instead of dual booting? For example, install just Linux on your hard drive and run Windows XP and Windows 7 under VirtualBox. This also has the advantage that you never have to shut down any of the OSes to work on another one.

After undergoing this ordeal I think you are 100% right.

I think when I ask this question a fight may start, but in your opinion VirtualBox is better than VMwareplayer?

Please also tell which OS should I install virtulisation software XP of Win7?


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