Major problems after Ubuntu install

2nd July 2007, 06:51

Scenario:
My AMD machine;

HDD 1 = Seagate 80GB SATA WindowsXP
HDD 2 = Maxtor 120GB SATA Formatted for Ubuntu install

Used Ububtu Live CD which obviously boot's through the Windows OS asking if you want to try a Live version. I wanted to install a copy of Ubuntu onto HDD 2 physically seperating the Operating Systems.

Result I wasn't happy because Ubuntu installed a command prompt onto the HDD 1 (Windows XP disc) which then gave you the option of booting to Ubunut first, and at the bottom of a Ubuntu - options list WindowsXP.

I would Choose XP for some applcations and Ubuntu to learn more. HDD 2 Maxtor was going to be my Native Ubuntu or Linux disc for writing reviews. Overclocking the system corrupted something, and then I was unable to access Win XP or Ubuntu.

Now after trying to remove Ubuntu and trying to format the WinXP Disc usuing the Win XP boot disc it won't work. The XP CD loads all the drivers and then when it gets to the Win 32 FAT it just re-boots and that's it. SO I can't get inot Repair to change the MBR.

I also can't find a Linux based CD to access the drive so I can even install Ubunu again. It seems as if there is enough Win XP NTFS to prevent Linux repair or install and enough Linux rememnst on both drives to crash Win XP install disc.

I really need help. I taken both drives out of the AMD sstem and hooked then up to my Intel system (WindowsXP based) where I can only read one of the drives. In the BIOS the drives show up but through Windows only one does the orignal HDD 1 Seagate drive with Windows XP and the Ubuntu command prompt. So I tried formatting that disc through my WinXP Intel system, but even after that WindowsXP won't intsall on that disc?

PLEASE HELP

2nd July 2007, 09:33

Try removing all partitions using the windows disk management util. Then create new partitions and format them as NTFS (don't use the quick method).
This usualy works for the Windows drive, the linux drive probably needs a re-partitioning and formatting through linux.

jmke · 2nd July 2007, 09:59

start Windows recovery console, type "fixmbr" at command prompt

2nd July 2007, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmke

start Windows recovery console, type "fixmbr" at command prompt

Quote:

The XP CD loads all the drivers and then when it gets to the Win 32 FAT it just re-boots and that's it. SO I can't get inot Repair to change the MBR.

...

jmke · 2nd July 2007, 17:08

it was early and posted quickly

mount the HDD as slave on other machine, fix it there

Bosw8er · 2nd July 2007, 23:10

I had a similar problem with a linux distro and two disks and everything went corrupt.

I unhooked drive 2 (linux)
Boot with W98 dos disk
dosprompt-> fdisk /mbr
Reinstall/repair w2k

I completly lost all data on the w2k partition, which was no problem because all data is on a seperate partition ... and this good practise is what you did too .. not?
Afterwards i installed a bootmanager and i still could use the linux distro on disk 2.
From then on i used images for all PC's. Now it takes only 10 minutes to recover from a totally corrupt system, with hardly any data loss.

Succes!!

10th July 2007, 12:29

Thank you all I've tried every suggesion entioend.

I removed drives attached to my Intel rig and formatted those which were able to be read. The drive I couldn't format was the drive I'd intended the entire installation of Ubuntu to be installed on, NOT partition my Windows.

Anyway formatted them both and still they would not allow Win XP install disc to get past the pointn where 6you can access Repair.

Win98 is a good idea and I was able to get in there and type the comand FIXMBR, tio no avail?

Cannot reformat eaither of the drives? Very mysterious. I think just need to find a "boot-from" CD like Knoppix which I'm workin with now.

Thnak you

jmke · 10th July 2007, 12:33

if you are sure the data on there can be erased, you can try a low level format utility downloaded from the manufacturers website

piotke · 10th July 2007, 15:40

What I do, is taking a linux install cd, boot and start installing linux. Let the partition manager from linux do its' work and retry the HDD.

Sidney · 11th July 2007, 22:14

I have had two S.M.R.T. failures 4 years ago. If you have not tried the Diagnoistic Tool from HDD manufacturer, get it. At least, you know what the problem is. It requires Floppy booting.

2nd July 2007, 06:51	#1
Liquid3D Posts: n/a	Major problems after Ubuntu install Scenario: My AMD machine; HDD 1 = Seagate 80GB SATA WindowsXP HDD 2 = Maxtor 120GB SATA Formatted for Ubuntu install Used Ububtu Live CD which obviously boot's through the Windows OS asking if you want to try a Live version. I wanted to install a copy of Ubuntu onto HDD 2 physically seperating the Operating Systems. Result I wasn't happy because Ubuntu installed a command prompt onto the HDD 1 (Windows XP disc) which then gave you the option of booting to Ubunut first, and at the bottom of a Ubuntu - options list WindowsXP. I would Choose XP for some applcations and Ubuntu to learn more. HDD 2 Maxtor was going to be my Native Ubuntu or Linux disc for writing reviews. Overclocking the system corrupted something, and then I was unable to access Win XP or Ubuntu. Now after trying to remove Ubuntu and trying to format the WinXP Disc usuing the Win XP boot disc it won't work. The XP CD loads all the drivers and then when it gets to the Win 32 FAT it just re-boots and that's it. SO I can't get inot Repair to change the MBR. I also can't find a Linux based CD to access the drive so I can even install Ubunu again. It seems as if there is enough Win XP NTFS to prevent Linux repair or install and enough Linux rememnst on both drives to crash Win XP install disc. I really need help. I taken both drives out of the AMD sstem and hooked then up to my Intel system (WindowsXP based) where I can only read one of the drives. In the BIOS the drives show up but through Windows only one does the orignal HDD 1 Seagate drive with Windows XP and the Ubuntu command prompt. So I tried formatting that disc through my WinXP Intel system, but even after that WindowsXP won't intsall on that disc? PLEASE HELP Last edited by Liquid3D : 2nd July 2007 at 06:54.

2nd July 2007, 09:59	#3
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	start Windows recovery console, type "fixmbr" at command prompt __________________

2nd July 2007, 17:08	#5
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	it was early and posted quickly mount the HDD as slave on other machine, fix it there __________________

2nd July 2007, 23:10	#6
Bosw8er Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,711	I had a similar problem with a linux distro and two disks and everything went corrupt. I unhooked drive 2 (linux) Boot with W98 dos disk dosprompt-> fdisk /mbr Reinstall/repair w2k I completly lost all data on the w2k partition, which was no problem because all data is on a seperate partition ... and this good practise is what you did too .. not? Afterwards i installed a bootmanager and i still could use the linux distro on disk 2. From then on i used images for all PC's. Now it takes only 10 minutes to recover from a totally corrupt system, with hardly any data loss. Succes!! __________________ "Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that."

10th July 2007, 12:33	#8
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	if you are sure the data on there can be erased, you can try a low level format utility downloaded from the manufacturers website __________________

2nd July 2007, 09:33	#2
wutske Posts: n/a	Try removing all partitions using the windows disk management util. Then create new partitions and format them as NTFS (don't use the quick method). This usualy works for the Windows drive, the linux drive probably needs a re-partitioning and formatting through linux.

10th July 2007, 12:29	#7
Liquid3D Posts: n/a	Thank you all I've tried every suggesion entioend. I removed drives attached to my Intel rig and formatted those which were able to be read. The drive I couldn't format was the drive I'd intended the entire installation of Ubuntu to be installed on, NOT partition my Windows. Anyway formatted them both and still they would not allow Win XP install disc to get past the pointn where 6you can access Repair. Win98 is a good idea and I was able to get in there and type the comand FIXMBR, tio no avail? Cannot reformat eaither of the drives? Very mysterious. I think just need to find a "boot-from" CD like Knoppix which I'm workin with now. Thnak you

10th July 2007, 15:40	#9
piotke [M] Reviewer Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 5,003	What I do, is taking a linux install cd, boot and start installing linux. Let the partition manager from linux do its' work and retry the HDD. __________________ .

11th July 2007, 22:14	#10
Sidney Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 15,738	I have had two S.M.R.T. failures 4 years ago. If you have not tried the Diagnoistic Tool from HDD manufacturer, get it. At least, you know what the problem is. It requires Floppy booting. __________________ lazyman Opteron 165 (2) @2.85 1.42 vcore AMD Stock HSF + Chill Vent II

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