Why can't I enter to Windows XP

negrazo · 08-08-2009, 09:57 PM

I have a SATA hard disk with Windows XP and just installed Linux Ubuntu 7.04 and it works just fine.
But the problem is that now I cannot enter to Windows XP anymore.
I know something is missing or maybe I did something wrong.
By the way, I am using Grub.

I wish someone could help me.

Thanks.

Wim Sturkenboom · 08-09-2009, 12:21 AM

First check if you did not accidently wipe windows of your computer. In a terminal do the following

Code:

wim@desktop1:~$ sudo fdisk -l
[sudo] password for wim: 

Disk /dev/sda: 251.0 GB, 251000193024 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30515 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x2e192e18

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1        3264    26218048+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2            3265       26892   189791910    f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5            3265        7180    31455238+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda6            7181       10444    26218048+   b  W95 FAT32
/dev/sda7           10445       13708    26218048+  83  Linux
/dev/sda8           13709       13838     1044193+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda9           13839       26892   104856223+  83  Linux
wim@desktop1:~$

If you indeed still have Windows partitions, you can add an entry at the end of grub's menu.lst with the below content

Code:

title           Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root            (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader     +1

hd(0,0) means first harddisk, first partition; the numbers might need to change depending on your config

To do so, you can use a command like

Code:

sudo nano /boot/grub/menu.lst

Just a note:
Ubuntu 7.04 is outdated and no longer supported. You will be better off with 8.04 (long term support) or 9.04

And another note:
Welcome to LQ

negrazo · 08-09-2009, 08:26 PM

OK Wim:
Thank's for your answer.
I will test your hint and let you know what happens.
I hope this works.

Sincerely,
Negrazo.