Yes another issue :mad:

makmillion · 08-03-2007, 10:30 PM

I've removed the partitions that Ubuntu was using, ext3 and swap, and created a new partition, ntfs, to install Windows Vista Ultimate on.. and now when I boot the computer I get 'LOADING GRUB - ERROR 17'.

Can someone please walk me through how to setup this computer to boot directly to Windows XP, but keep both partitions?

tlarkin · 08-03-2007, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makmillion

I've removed the partitions that Ubuntu was using, ext3 and swap, and created a new partition, ntfs, to install Windows Vista Ultimate on.. and now when I boot the computer I get 'LOADING GRUB - ERROR 17'.

Can someone please walk me through how to setup this computer to boot directly to Windows XP, but keep both partitions?

you need to clear out your MBR

boot off your windows xp cd, and go into recovery console

type fixboot

or boot off a DOS boot disk and type

fdisk /mbr

that should fix your issue.

PC eye · 08-03-2007, 11:03 PM

The first step after removing the Linux distro would be to see the XP mbr rewritten. You boot with the XP install cd to the recovery console to use the "Fixboot" and "Fixmbr" commands there. Answer yes to the confirmation to see that done. The XP installer can't be used to remove Linux partitions. For that the "Platform Independent" note the emphasis on platform independent of GParted live for cd is one free tool just for that. The last of those and latest is the 0.3.3.0 release found at http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...kage_id=173828

The fun part will be trying to get Vista to install to the second primary once you create that. When tried here on a drive with XP Pro the installer refused to copy files to a second partition prepared for it. Instead XP Pro had to reinstalled on another drive since Vista wanted to take over completely. XP however can be installed to a second primary later without an entry in the new Vista boot loader. Free tools like the EasyBCD and VistaBootPRO tools for editing the new boot loader don't seem to be able to add OSs in for some reason. One article for manual use of the BCD editor to add XP in also got nowhere fast. But this is on a multiple drive system here.

makmillion · 08-03-2007, 11:05 PM

I have a recovery disc for XP Home, that's all... will it work? If so, is this going to re-install XP or overwrite my current install in any way?

tlarkin · 08-03-2007, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makmillion

I have a recovery disc for XP Home, that's all... will it work? If so, is this going to re-install XP or overwrite my current install in any way?

Go here

http://www.bootdisk.com/

Download the DOS boot disk

Copy it to a floppy or bootable CD. Boot off of it, and run fdisk /mbr

You'll be fixed.

makmillion · 08-03-2007, 11:10 PM

I actually just went there through google, but I'm not sure which file to download? Could you explain which DOS file I need? ..and once I have it, do I just burn it to a CD and throw it in that PC ?

tlarkin · 08-03-2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makmillion

I actually just went there through google, but I'm not sure which file to download? Could you explain which DOS file I need? ..and once I have it, do I just burn it to a CD and throw it in that PC ?

windows 98se dos disk would do fine. it is an exe file and wants to write to a floppy disk so it looks like you'll have to do it on floppy.

makmillion · 08-03-2007, 11:31 PM

I don't have a floppy drive in this computer, my only option is to buy a floppy drive? Isn't there some way to put it on a CD?

tlarkin · 08-03-2007, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makmillion

I don't have a floppy drive in this computer, my only option is to buy a floppy drive? Isn't there some way to put it on a CD?

try DOS cd rom here

http://www.bootdisk.com/popfiles.htm

makmillion · 08-03-2007, 11:40 PM

Those run $4, I suppose I'm stuck ripping apart another PC for it's floppy drive.

EDIT: or keeping an OS I won't use (Ubuntu) in order to accesss XP and Vista :\

08-03-2007, 10:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
makmillion Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: ~/.mak/ Posts: 775	Yes another issue :mad: I've removed the partitions that Ubuntu was using, ext3 and swap, and created a new partition, ntfs, to install Windows Vista Ultimate on.. and now when I boot the computer I get 'LOADING GRUB - ERROR 17'. Can someone please walk me through how to setup this computer to boot directly to Windows XP, but keep both partitions?

08-03-2007, 11:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,699	The first step after removing the Linux distro would be to see the XP mbr rewritten. You boot with the XP install cd to the recovery console to use the "Fixboot" and "Fixmbr" commands there. Answer yes to the confirmation to see that done. The XP installer can't be used to remove Linux partitions. For that the "Platform Independent" note the emphasis on platform independent of GParted live for cd is one free tool just for that. The last of those and latest is the 0.3.3.0 release found at http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...kage_id=173828 The fun part will be trying to get Vista to install to the second primary once you create that. When tried here on a drive with XP Pro the installer refused to copy files to a second partition prepared for it. Instead XP Pro had to reinstalled on another drive since Vista wanted to take over completely. XP however can be installed to a second primary later without an entry in the new Vista boot loader. Free tools like the EasyBCD and VistaBootPRO tools for editing the new boot loader don't seem to be able to add OSs in for some reason. One article for manual use of the BCD editor to add XP in also got nowhere fast. But this is on a multiple drive system here. __________________ Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175 Is EBay going out of the Auction Business? http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1 Last edited by PC eye; 08-03-2007 at 11:07 PM.

08-03-2007, 11:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
makmillion Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: ~/.mak/ Posts: 775	Those run $4, I suppose I'm stuck ripping apart another PC for it's floppy drive. EDIT: or keeping an OS I won't use (Ubuntu) in order to accesss XP and Vista :\ Last edited by makmillion; 08-03-2007 at 11:45 PM.

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08-03-2007, 11:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
makmillion Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: ~/.mak/ Posts: 775	I have a recovery disc for XP Home, that's all... will it work? If so, is this going to re-install XP or overwrite my current install in any way?

08-03-2007, 11:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
makmillion Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: ~/.mak/ Posts: 775	I actually just went there through google, but I'm not sure which file to download? Could you explain which DOS file I need? ..and once I have it, do I just burn it to a CD and throw it in that PC ?

08-03-2007, 11:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
makmillion Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: ~/.mak/ Posts: 775	I don't have a floppy drive in this computer, my only option is to buy a floppy drive? Isn't there some way to put it on a CD?