Hi,

I am very new to Linux. After having installed it on my VAIO, my problems started to occur.
I normally use Vista. I have formatted all my whole harddisk and reinstalled it using the recovery partition. Then, I tried to install Ubuntu 10.04 on the same partition where Windows is functioning. Afterwards, during boot up using Grub I couldn't boot Vista, but only Linux.
I formatted my complete harddisk one more time; and now I only get this message:

error: No partition
grub rescue>Linux

After the formatting, the windows couldn't be reinstalled. Now I have no OS, a recovery partition which I can't get to and I only can run Ubuntu via a Live-CD.

When I try to reinstall Ubuntu, it just works fine; and I also can get to the grub2 boot menu. There I can choose either to boot Linux or the Recovery Partition. If i choose to boot the Recovery, the hard disc can be formatted, partitioned; but the windows cannot be reinstalled. and if I format the harddisc, the same error message is shown again:

error: no partition
grub rescue>

Do you have any suggestions to get rid of the grud and reinstall Vista as my primary OS from the recovery partition?

Thnx,

When you say that you formatted your harddisk one more complete time what exactly did you do?

First you formatted the entire HDD effectively removing Vistuh all together that is why you couldn't find it.As for re-installing the recovery discs try to go into the BIOS and make sure the CD drive is first to boot from.Fom here if you wish to re-install Linux install it side by side .Do NOT format the drive !

I have used the recovery tool of VAIO; erased everything on C Drive.

My problem is that I have no recovery disc for Vista, but only the recovery partition. From there I can't reinstall Vista. Is there a way maybe now to create recovery discs from the grub rescue??

I'm very doubtful you will find ANYTHING in the recovery partition unless you formatted everything except that! From your post this is highly unlikely i'm sorry to say.

If that's the case; what should I do to install windows 7? How can I get rid of grub?

I would suggest you run the 7 disc in your 'puter and reboot into it . That should start the installation process Best of luck with it .

1 members found this post helpful.

Hi;

Forgive me if I missed something because I am getting ready for work and gave this post a cursory look.

I fail to see exactly WHAT your attempting to do, first you have vista, but you attempt to install ubuntu to the "SAME PARTITION?" then you lose both by formating the entire disk, and now you want to install Seven?

what I would suggest is this. first, stop using Sony's disk utility. they usually are proprietary and not very good at advanced structures.

I would download a live disk of Gparted. it's an advanced disk editor similar to partition magic.

look at your drive with it see if you have anything there. if you did remove your restore partition you may have options. technically as I understand it. if you can get an install disk for the exact version of vista you had; your license on the computer case should be valid. The license is tied to the computer and is for that VERSION of vista, not necessarily their install. that being said if you can source that disk it should work. if you call Sony they can provide you with one; but they will undoubtedly wanna charge you I'm guessing $30, $60, what ever number they choose.

I dunno if going to seven is actually what you want from your post, but you are correct that if you bite the bullet and buy a copy of seven it would be installable. but by far not the most cost effective method unless you actually WANT Seven

on top of this you really need to understand how duel boot works before you go partitioning. you will need multiple partitions on your hard disk, like pieces of a pie for it to work, each piece holds one thing. a partition for Windows, and At the very least a / "root" partition for linux and a Swap partition. if your experimenting with linux and may change or add systems in the future. I would suggest a fourth partition for /boot because that moves grub off the root partition of your linux system and allows it to stand independently alone. (supposidly, they have changed a lot in grub two that this may not be the case anymore)

I'll also put forth that I often set up a partition (Usually NTFS) for data, this partition will show up as D on windows, and can be mounted in Linux. this is where I store all my data, that way I can access it from either system. especially useful when one of the systems is refusing to boot or work correctly.

this answer is in by no way compleate, but hopefully it gives you an idea of what you wanna do. I'll be watching the thread if you have any additional questions of me.

Hope It was Helpful
TeddyB

1 members found this post helpful.

Use gparted-live-cd erase everything hopefully you didn't destroy hd. I've done it before.

As far as windows you can reinstall using any wins/vista disk if you have the key, it's on the back of computer.
Same thing if you have to change hd. A new hdd is not that difficult or expensive to replace.
You can download wins/vista from ms.

This link was for my case :
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...fer-to-844011/

When you reinstall wins, you're give the option of partition size if you actually read the small print at create partition window.
I never really paid attn in the past because I never had a reason to worry about partition size. If you chose your partion size here you can save yourself from having to resize before installing the distro of your choice.

Good Luck

Hi,

Thnx for the detailed answer.
My aim is not to buy win 7. I just want my old system back; and maybe ubuntu.
I reinstalled ubuntu; and can access to my hard disc. Fortunately, the recover partition is still there. I can see it from within Ubuntu harddisc management. Vista and my original programs are still there.

Now, how can I reinstall Vista. Grub2 gives me the option to select during boot-up process to select either Linux sda5 or Windows loader sda1 or Windows loader sda2.

sda1 is my recovery partition; if I choose it, the sony recovery partition starts, and I can format the disc; rearrange the partitions, etc.
The sda2 is for the windows booting, as I guess. Selecting that option only leads to a black screen saying that. "Windows is preparing to start for the first time" Then, nothing happens.
Linux option, so sda5 functions superb.

I am stucked at this point. Do you think creating a copy of the recovery partition from within Ubuntu on a DVD; and then booting from that can solve my problem???

Go to the Sony web site and see if they will sell you a factory restore disk. They usually cost about $15. Most manufacturers only keep them in stock for about 4 years.

This is probably the best suggestion you will get !!!

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/e...5-83960458e2ec

http://systemdiscs.com/

EDDY: that is ONLY the SP 1 upgrades NOT the vista installation disc this person is in need of but nice try.