Deleted 7 Boot Manager

raoul_1101

raoul_1101

Member
Hello all,

I made a rookie mistake, and would like some help.
In short, I deleted BOOTMGR and the Boot folder in root.
How I did so:
At first, I had Vista installed. I later installed Windows 7 to a different partition in a dual boot configuration. However, I never used Vista, and forgot my bootloader was on that partition. I recently reformatted the Vista part and installed Ubuntu 10.10. Now 7 can't find bootmgr (It was wiped clean).
So my thought- use the windows 7 disk and do a startup repair. However, when I boot to the 7 CD, it doesn't see my (or any) windows installation. I tried startup repair anyway. It completed, didn't fix anything. Next I tried running the command bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd from command prompt (on the windows 7 CD). I get access denied every time. I still have the linux install, so I can access all my files- just can't start windows.

So, my question- without doing a full restore (to like, last month), does anyone have a suggestion for how I can try to restore the boot manager to my Windows 7 installation?

Thanks in advance :)

EDIT: Please note, this is Grub2, not Grub1.
 
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I would just edit the ubuntu GRUB bootloader. You can put windows partition in the file and have it as the default too.
 
Really? Maybe I'm doing it wrong then. I did edit grub to point to the hard drive and partition of windows, but when I select it, I just get an error of missing BOOTMGR. I thought GRUB2 just pointed to BOOTMGR, not bypassed it. Am I completely off base?

EDIT: GRUB2, not Grub1. I wasn't clear.
 
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What is your hard drive format atm? and what is the command you are using on grub to try to boot to windows 7?
 
I'm probably using the wrong command :), I'm pretty new to Linux and am only going on what I got from a tutorial.
But here is my setup as of now:

sda1: Ubuntu (EXT4)

sdb1: File Storage (NTFS)
sdb2: Windows 7 (NTFS)
sdb3: Additional Storge (NTFS)

The only change I've made in my bootloader:
Code: 
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

menuentry "Windows 7" {
    set root=(hd1,2)
    chainloader +1
}

### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

Right now, the error is:
Code: 
error... cannot get C/H/S values

EDIT: Sorry, I noticed I wasn't clear. This is GRUB2, not GRUB1.
 
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Hmm. So let me just make sure..

Hd1,1 should be a small partition <100 MB or so
hd1,2 Is your windows partition
hd1,3 is a partition you setup for storing files

is that right. From what i have seen, windows 7 puts the loader on a small partition usually before your windows partition.

Since this isnt working, it could be the bootmanager.. I wouldnt think removing vista would do that.. anyway have you tried to run the windows 7 disk with the ubuntu hard drive removed?
 
Well, my guess is that Vista and 7 were sharing a boot manager (but you said this is unlikely, so I'm not sure). Although, the partitions I listed were all the partitions on the HDD.
I didn't try the recovery disk with the drive removed, but I disabled it in BIOS. Would that not be sufficient?

If not, I'll give it a try. I'll wait for your response though, because my case SUCKS and I hate having to open it when I don't have to.

And thanks a bunch for your help.
 
raoul_1101 said:
Well, my guess is that Vista and 7 were sharing a boot manager (but you said this is unlikely, so I'm not sure). Although, the partitions I listed were all the partitions on the HDD.
I didn't try the recovery disk with the drive removed, but I disabled it in BIOS. Would that not be sufficient?

If not, I'll give it a try. I'll wait for your response though, because my case SUCKS and I hate having to open it when I don't have to.

And thanks a bunch for your help.
Click to expand...

Hmm, if you disable it it should be fine.
This is tough. Grub should be able to boot into windows. Its also weird that the repair console isnt finding the install...
Are you still getting the error... cannot get C/H/S values error? If so is it only with windows or both windows and linux?
lastly do you have a floppy drive installed, if not is it enabled in the bios or disabled?
 
Yes, that is still the error I am getting.
I'm going to get a couple different Windows 7 CDs tomorrow to see if any of them yield a different result.
I am only getting this error trying to start windows, Linux boots fine.
I don't have a floppy drive installed, and I disabled it in BIOS.

:(
 
Just wanted to put in my two cents: When you tell GRUB to chainload Windows, it points it to the bootmgr, which is in a folder on the primary Windows HD or partition. The small partition is what Windows stores its built-in recovery tools on, and a couple boot files I believe.
Just wanted to give some input :)
 
lucasbytegenius said:
Just wanted to put in my two cents: When you tell GRUB to chainload Windows, it points it to the bootmgr, which is in a folder on the primary Windows HD or partition. The small partition is what Windows stores its built-in recovery tools on, and a couple boot files I believe.
Just wanted to give some input :)
Click to expand...

Awesome, that's what I thought was going on. Wasn't sure about that little partition thing though. Would it make sense that all the bootmanager files were on the Vista Partition then? Otherwise, I have no clue what happened to them.

Can windows survive fine without that little partition it makes? If not, and that partition is gone, do you know if the recovery CD's startup repair can (if there is room somewhere) make a new little partition for it to use?
 
raoul_1101 said:
Awesome, that's what I thought was going on. Wasn't sure about that little partition thing though. Would it make sense that all the bootmanager files were on the Vista Partition then? Otherwise, I have no clue what happened to them.

Can windows survive fine without that little partition it makes? If not, and that partition is gone, do you know if the recovery CD's startup repair can (if there is room somewhere) make a new little partition for it to use?
Click to expand...

run fdisk /dev/sdb and print out the partitions. post the output.
 
raoul_1101 said:
Awesome, that's what I thought was going on. Wasn't sure about that little partition thing though. Would it make sense that all the bootmanager files were on the Vista Partition then? Otherwise, I have no clue what happened to them.

Can windows survive fine without that little partition it makes? If not, and that partition is gone, do you know if the recovery CD's startup repair can (if there is room somewhere) make a new little partition for it to use?
Click to expand...

I don't know, I've never had this dilemma. I may go simulate it in Virtual Box later, but I'm pretty sure you should be able to fix it with the Windows 7 DVD.
 
brian said:
run fdisk /dev/sdb and print out the partitions. post the output.
Click to expand...

I'm probably missing a simple tag or something, but if I put that into terminal, I get:
Code: 
WARNING: DOS-compatible mode is deprecated. It's strongly recommended to
         switch off the mode (command 'c') and change display units to
         sectors (command 'u').

Command (m for help):

Not sure where to go from there.
(Sorry if I'm a little noobish with this)
 
Okay, so I finally gave in and did a complete restore of my windows installation, destroying my Ubuntu one (it restored the old Vista). I then used Easy BCD to move the bcd from the Vista drive to the Windows 7 driver (the bootloader was, in fact, on the Vista partition) so I wouldn't have to deal with this in the future.

Thanks all for your help!
 
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