I'm a new linux user so please be patient with me.
i was running WinXP and just installed Ubuntu on the same hard drive as a dual OS. i have 4 partitions on the drive EXT3, SWAP, NTFS and FAT32. however i am now unable to boot back to my WinXP.
it boots up, displays the loading screen and then just before displaying the login screen it start the boot process over again.
when i tried to repair the winxp installation using the install disk it couldn't recognize the NTFS patition.

Any Ideas??

can u boot in linux? did u install grub or lilo?

Linux is running great and i believe i have grub installed.
i think i may have installed grub on the MRB.

dawg3tt,

It sounds like the problem is with Windows, not Ubuntu or Grub.

If the Windows splash screen comes up (the little "cylon bar" going back and forth") then you are already through the Grub chainloader and anything "*nixy" is no longer the issue.

I've seen Windows XP do this before and it's usually related to a munged software install, or failing service. Try booting your Windows XP disk and doing a "repair installation".

A word of caution though, when you do a "repair installation" Windows will rewrite your MBR...destroying your ability to get to your Ubuntu installation.

Be sure to have a bootable Linux cd on hand (I use Knoppix and System Rescue for these) and lookup the procedure for repairing grub.

After you boot your Linux cd it should be

Grub

find /boot/grub/stage1

it will return something like

root (hdx,y)

Now type the command

root (hdx,y)

then type

setup (hdx)

Where x & y are the output of the find command.

Good luck.

i tried using the windows repair installation already but it would not recognize the NTFS partition where my windows installation is. i have read other posts about installing Grub onto the root partition instead of in the MBR.
Would moving Grub solve the problem and if so is there a way to move it to the root partition or is it too late?

To answer your last Q 1st, yes you could move GRUB, but that would create a more difficult problem: editing XP's boot.ini file to include an entry for your GNU/Linux installation. It is much easier to edit GRUB's menu.lst (formerly grub.conf) to include XP.

Before you installed GNU/Linux, what do you do to prepare XP for the addition? Specifically, are you using single HD & did you resize the XP partition to make room for the new OS? If so, did you do any of the items on the following check list:[list=1][*]"Take out the garbage" -- Remove unecessary files, including Disk Cleanup.[*]Run "checkdsk /f" or the GUI equivalent.[*]Defragment the disk.[/list=1] I have had partition resizing trash an XP installation when the last 2 were skipped.

I have two hard drives but only one houses both OS's (the other is just media). the main drive has 4 partitions: NTFS, FAT32, EXT3 and SWAP. all appropriate sizes for a dual OS. i had previously tried installing Debian and could boot between Debian and XP (i just couldn't log into debian) but i was using Lilo for that.
i defrag regularly and keep my disks pretty clean.

Do you get the Windows graphical screen(s), or just a text mode message ???.
What did you attempt - fixmbr, something else ???.

i had the same problem its if your using GRUB the wrong default might be selected here's what you do

open terminal

type in cd /boot/

type in sudo chown (your user name) -h (or -H) ./grub

then go to the properties for the grub folder then permissions then check all the check boxes

then cd ./grub

then ls

your looking for a file called menu.lst

next sudo chown (your user name) ./menu.lst

like before with the grub folder change the permissions on menu.lst

then type in sudo gedit ./menu.lst

once it opens the file you're looking for a line that looks like this:

default 0.
change the 0 (assuming you only have the 3 ubuntus (standard, recovery, and memtest86)) to a 4

Save the file and reboot, you should be set it should go in to windows at the GRUB screen now.

PS sometimes you have to do the chown command more than once

Ok.. LoNeLyZoRa, did that and restarted, chose XP in Grub, chose 'boot windows normally'. got the graphical windows boot screen (with the status bar and all). then a screen popped up that looks like the auto check screen after you crash or something, but instead it says 'auto check file not found - skipping auto check.' then the computer restarts. i tried it one more time, same thing happens only the auto check screen barely fashes on before it restarts.
i'm beginning to think it's not a linux problem anymore.

I'd tend to agree. If you are seeing the Windows graphics, grub has done it's job, and handed off (i.e. chainloaded) to ntldr.
The reason for my question is that occasionally people re-install grub, and accidently install over the top of the Windows partition rather than the MBR. In such a situation, you will get a failure to load ntldr.

As an aside, I have never had Ubuntu installs cause dual boot issues, and I've done a few.

well, looks like i may have to delete my XP partition and reinstall then.

I have a similar problem, except triple boot, 98SE, XP pro and Ubunto. All was fine until Ubunto saw the Windows installation and asked where I wanted to install it's master boot and gave me three (I think) options, first partition, something else - and I think it was 2nd partition or floppy. Not thinking clearly, I chose the first (C), which is where 98 resides. XP is on (D), and I know better than th think XP's MBR is anywhere but C. I was tired and thinking I didn't want it where XP was and just forgot about MBR being on C.

Now Ubunto and 98 boot fine, but obviously XP does not. Before I do any further damage, what is my recourse? This is a single 160 GB drive with Swap, ext3, Fat 32(primary) and NTFS on it. Format C and start over? Obviously it's a lengthy install and I'd rather not, but I'd rather do what better for a relative unversed user. I've used various ditro's for several years, installed them correctly, and have a SUSE/XP dual boot on one in the house, Ubunto/98 on another, Ubunto as a stand alone on a third. Triple boot is new to me until last night and I can get beyond my knowledge fast.

Help is appreciated. Grub is the loader.

JoeO,

Before you re-install, please post your menu.lst (formerly grub.conf). Your problem may be as simple as a missing XP stanza. (Hint: /boot/grub/menu.lst)

dawg3tt, Yes, but did you defrag immediately before re-partitoning for the GNU/Linux install?

LoNeLyZoRa,
Please do not take offense, but a little more attention to:

• Capitalization -- 'I' not 'i', we're not e.e.cummings here.
• Homonyns -- I think you mean "you're" not "your".
• Formating -- Use "Code" blocks or bold or italics or something to indicate what is to be entered.

would make your post much easier to read & understand. I think you have some good ideas there, but they're too difficult to follow.

I will try to get the post this afternoon. Not quite sure what I'm doing there; I'll be back if I can't figure it out.

This was a new HD with clean installs of 98 and XP just prior to the Ubuntu install.

Guess I didn't figure there was a need to defrag, so I didn't