My experiences with Linux/Vista Installations
15 Sep 2009 Leave a Comment
in Computers and Internet, Linux/fedora/ubuntu Tags: linux dual boot, vista ubuntu dual boot
I would like to share my experience with Ubuntu dual booting with vista installation.
To be frank, it was terrible. My computer had Vista Ultimate installed first. I had installed Ubuntu through WUBI (a program where ubuntu is installed as a program under Windows) but I had to reinstall it twice because of some stupid grub problems. Every time I try to boot to Ubuntu a “grldr missing” error occurs. So, I had no choice but to reinstall ubuntu. I learnt that it might be due to the fact that sometimes you need to hard-reboot your computer (reset button). Hence, I made up my mind to install ubuntu on a regular partition.
The unfortunate thing that happened was that my hard disk was made dynamic, and another mistake I did was to download the desktop version of Ubuntu. I learned later that I had to use alternate version of ubuntu. I proceeded with the install and ubuntu installed fine. But the only problem was that Vista was not loading at all. So, I took my recovery CD and tried to correct boot problems by executing the following on the console:
bootrec \fixboot and bootrec \fixmbr.
Unfortunately, the grub got deleted and i was no longer able to boot into ubuntu either. I was in a situation where I had no operating system on a computer that can run a billion instructions a second (Intel Quad Core). I found some help on ubuntu and tried to fix the grub, but to my series of misfortune all data on my hard disk was erased due to disk failure. This is sure turning out to be a nightmare. The only thing that was to my advantage was that I had backed up my entire computer through vista (not the backup files option, but backup computer) on an external hard disk. From the recovery CD, i tried to restore my system. It reported an error (some %2 or so, i vaguely remember). This definitely is a nightmare, a situation no one would want.
What are my options? I had only one final option: to install Vista afresh and try to recover data from the backup made earlier. I did the same and reinstalled vista. But there was no way of recovering files from the type of backup I had made. It was not recoverable from vista’s tools. I observed the backup file format and they had 4 VHD files. I had 4 primary partitions on my system. It was a direct mapping and I searched how to open VHD files. Bingo, there was one:WINIMAGE
I mounted each of my partitions and extracted the files from the VHD files. I was saved from the nightmare and finally it was sunlight all round (physically: It was morning 6). So folks, what is the lesson I learnt: never mess up any partitions to dynamic disks unless you have a solid reason to. Always have a backup of your files (not of your computer) before you try anything, else, you are at the edge of the world. Be careful with your data: they are important if you think they are important, else the purpose of a computer is just junk.
Without WinImage software, I cannot imagine myself getting scoldings from my father. Folks, be careful with your computer and back up before trying anything.
PS: I never quit trying. I installed fedora core 11 linux version on a separate partition and it is working great and it is co-operating with Vista.
