[SOLVED] URGENT. Reinstalling vista on a pc with ubuntu dual boot

kumaaran · 08-25-2009, 08:43 AM

Hi,

I have a pc installed with vista (first) and Ubuntu (second).

Now, since the vista behaves cranky I need to reinstall vista without loosing my Ununtu 9.04.

Please suggest me a way out.

Thanks in advance.

pierre2 · 08-25-2009, 08:57 AM

You won't lose Ubuntu if you only re-install Vista into its own partition.
_ you will need to re-install the Grub boot loader back again afterwords.
in order to get access to Ubuntu again.

post back here if you need to know how to do that.

XavierP · 08-25-2009, 08:59 AM

Fairly straightforward. When you go to re-install Vista, make sure you select the partition it is already installed on. That way it will overwrite the existing installation and not touch Ubuntu. It will remove the boot manager though. The instructions you need can be found here: http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vi..._installed.htm

For the future, do not mark threads as urgent. LQ is an entirely volunteer operation and although it seems urgent to you, it is less so to our other members.

mfons · 08-25-2009, 09:01 AM

You can reinstall Vista without problems.
YOu just have to tell Vista where and then reinstall your Ubuntu boot-loader.

kumaaran · 08-25-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierre2

You won't lose Ubuntu if you only re-install Vista into its own partition.
_ you will need to re-install the Grub boot loader back again afterwords.
in order to get access to Ubuntu again.

post back here if you need to know how to do that.

Thanks very much pierre2. This has exactly been my worry. Can you please let me know how to re-install the Grub boot loader back?

pixellany · 08-25-2009, 09:31 AM

You can re-install GRUB from any Linux installation or from a Live CD. What I used to do (before I totally eliminated Windows) was to first put GRUB on a floppy. This allowed me to get back to Linux after installing Windows. Then from Linux I could re-install GRUB to the MBR.

The "booting" link in my sig has the basic procedure and some links.

kumaaran · 08-25-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XavierP

Fairly straightforward. When you go to re-install Vista, make sure you select the partition it is already installed on. That way it will overwrite the existing installation and not touch Ubuntu. It will remove the boot manager though. The instructions you need can be found here: http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vi..._installed.htm

For the future, do not mark threads as urgent. LQ is an entirely volunteer operation and although it seems urgent to you, it is less so to our other members.

Thanks XavierP. I just followed the instructions/suggestions during registration process and posting my first qustions. Yes; I agree with you that the problems are less urgent to others as against the person in trouble.

thorkelljarl · 08-25-2009, 10:52 AM

It worked I presume...

You can file this away in case you need it if you remove linux.

http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/window...disc-download/

and,

http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/...Ask_a_Question

mag1strate · 08-25-2009, 11:11 AM

wait, doesn't windows install its own boot loader after installation? I'm pretty sure it does b/c I did it before and didn't have to reinstall GRUB.

pixellany · 08-25-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mag1strate

wait, doesn't windows install its own boot loader after installation? I'm pretty sure it does b/c I did it before and didn't have to reinstall GRUB.

Yes, it does-----that is why you have to re-install GRUB!!!

Unless you do some special tricks, you can't get to you Linux installation once Windows has taken the MBR.

How did you do it in your case?

mag1strate · 08-25-2009, 06:57 PM

I just installed windows and it had its own boot loader lol

pixellany · 08-25-2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mag1strate

I just installed windows and it had its own boot loader lol

No Linux, no dual boot, n'est-ce pas??

If I understand you correctly, then I hope you can see that this is not relevant in the context of this thread........

kumaaran · 08-26-2009, 04:45 AM

Thanks everybody who came forward to help me.

I reinstalled Vista from recovery DVD and reinstalled all application/updates etc. Then using Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop Edition CD, I reinstalled GRUB as follows:

grub
find /boot/grub/stage1
... this returned (hd0,5)
root (hd0,5)
setup (hd0)
quit

and then I restarted the pc... Voila! I had the boot screen greeting me as earlier with options to boot.

Once again thanks very much to every one of you to have come forward enthusiastically in helping me out.

XavierP · 08-26-2009, 05:56 AM

No probs - it's what we're here for. Don't forget to use the [SOLVED] tag (go to Thread Tools at teh top of the threead and click "mark as solved").