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Problem with my main computer

Milk-Drops

Milk-Drops

Member
I am currently posting this post on Ubuntu. The problem is that I really didn't want to post this using Ubuntu.

I decided to try out Ubuntu because I heard that linux was so awesome. I got a live disk and decided to install a dual boot. I selected the option that let me install Ubuntu alongside windows so I could dual boot.


Just in case I backed up all my files and made a recovery disk. When I rebooted my computer after the install, I wasn't given the option to boot into either system, it immediately took me into Ubuntu. According to my file folders I still Have all my Window's files, but for some reason I can't dual boot. Is there anything I can do?
 
Sounds like a Microsoft boot issue. You can try hitting the F8 key (or whatever key takes you into a boot menu) during the POST. Another thing is to use your Microsoft CD to repair a possible corrupted boot file. If you have your Microsoft files yet, then it just not booting and there's something with goofy with the boot sector. I get the feeling it's the Microsoft, and not the Linux. But then again, why would you want to use Microsoft any longer? :toofunny
I went cold turkey and dumped the Microsoft altogether. Seriously, you can transpose the Microsoft files (I.e. personal files such as docs, pictures, videos etc) to the Ubuntu folder and your Ubuntu computer will open them just fine.
 
Well now my computer won't boot period. The reason I still use windows is because windows supports photoshop while Ubuntu doesnt. The thing is I never had a problem with windows. I'm only now experiencing problems since I installed Ubuntu. Worse. Now I have to work from an iPad until I figure out why neither are booting.
 
Actually Tim, Linux will read all the MS files just fine where they are. When I boot into Linux, I have access to all my files that are in the MS partitions. So there's no need to migrate them into any of the Linux folders.

Anyway, I unplugged my Windows disk so Ubuntu didn't even know it was there during the install. I never combine OSs on the same disk. I always run two or more disks in my PC. This way I can always use the Disk boot menu (F12 on my PC) to choose OSs.

But after the install, I plugged the disk back in and Ubuntu saw it during boot up and added it to the boot menu. :lol

Now when I boot up, it brings me to a screen that lists all the various kernels (and recovery modes) available to me and at the end of the list is the option to boot into Windows. I don't need the boot menu after all. I just told Bios to always load from the Ubuntu disk.

Meatballsub, all I can do is recommend you go to the Ubuntu forums and start asking questions. You're not the first to have this problem. Normally, GRUB (the utility that manages all your operating systems) usually detects all loaded OSs and adds them to the boot menu.

I don't know why this happened to you.
 
Meatballsub said:
Well now my computer won't boot period. The reason I still use windows is because windows supports photoshop while Ubuntu doesnt. The thing is I never had a problem with windows. I'm only now experiencing problems since I installed Ubuntu. Worse. Now I have to work from an iPad until I figure out why neither are booting.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that you had the issues. Ubunto is usually pretty good at installing grub.

As far as photoshop, that should run just fine in Ubuntu.
 
Yeah, I've been going online as well seeing what others were saying about this because it struck my curiosity. I've been seeing a lot of GRUB issues mentioned. Obviously it is something with the boot. I think I've even saw some sort of repair tool that Ubuntu had but that was late last night and I don't remember --- I think it was this:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/110722/windows-xp-no-longer-boots

That was for Ubuntu 11.10 which was late last year but it should be recent enough to get an idea.

With Linux you should be able to boot up live CD and then have the computer operating well enough to run such a utility. Then once the boot is fixed, boot up without the CD and see what happens.

I know I jumped to conclusions pointing the finger at the Microsoft, but can you blame me? :lol

Seriously, even Linux has it's bugs, but there's usually work-arounds and they address the issue quickly.
 
I'm glad for the help and thankful. Yeah I wanted to switch because Ubuntu and mint sounded and looked pretty good with the features they offered and the custimizablity. I'll check out the link and see what I can find.
 
Alright I finally got my computer to boot into ubuntu. Now I'm grabbing boot repair. Now I'm starting to feel like so have control of my computer again. :)
 
Meatballsub said:
Well now my computer won't boot period. The reason I still use windows is because windows supports photoshop while Ubuntu doesnt. The thing is I never had a problem with windows. I'm only now experiencing problems since I installed Ubuntu. Worse. Now I have to work from an iPad until I figure out why neither are booting.
Click to expand...

There should be a Binary for Ubuntu Linux.. Usually it doesn't take long for them to release those. If not, You can learn the process of unpacking and building tar version packages. They SHOULD have one of those. Tar packages are the packages in their original form, Before being custom made for any particular OS. So thats why you have to unpack it, compile it and build it to get it to work. But I would only recommend this if you cant find a binary (The ones that are already custom compiled for your OS) or if you just want to learn the process. Otherwise I would just try to find a binary.
 
I'm running boot repair and it is showing Window's 7 in the advanced options. Still trying to figure out how to boot it, I placed a flag on it, but so far its still immediately booting me into Ubuntu. I'll get this figured out eventually.
 
Vic C. said:
If you want to run your Photoshop, try this:

http://www.junauza.com/2010/02/how-to-install-adobe-photoshop-on.html
Click to expand...
Thank you for the link Vic, I actually was looking into WINE. :)

In the end, I was finally able to get Ubuntu to boot. I still can't get my Windows to boot, but I'll survive. The only things I'm a tad perturbed on is the loss of my Itunes and Photoshop, but since I still have my IPad, I still have my Itunes cloud and I still have my photoshop disc.

I think what I'll end up doing is just finaly invest in building a new machine and buying Window's 8 when it launches. This way I can fully load Ubuntu on my new machine and use Virtual box to house Windows 8 for my gaming needs.

I'm liking Ubuntu, but I also want to try out Mint and Debian. Thankfully I discovered virtual box. :) I loaded an Old Copy of XP onto the virtual box and plan on slapping the Window's 8 beta in there as well.

This experience has taught me a lot actually. :)
 
Well, at least you're taking this well. I guess that's the last time when I recommend Ubuntu I'll tell people they can use dual boot to ease them into it. Rather, they should just use an old computer dedicated to Linux.

To be quite honest, this is why I went cold turkey and switched completely over to Linux. So I must confess, although I know what's involved, I really never personally experienced a dual boot because I figured there may be problems. We have so many computers here that I just kept one for Microsoft (for my wife's medical billing program needs Microsoft) but the rest of mine is on Linux.

I still have a feeling this is a Microsoft corruption --- now whether the Linux install did that or it just can't work with it, I'm not sure. Others have dual boot so I suppose something got corrupted somewhere.
 
I still prefer the idea of two disks instead of two machines. pressing one function key to get to the boot menu (instead of a boot manager like GRUB or whatever) isn't that big a deal.

In the end, I was finally able to get Ubuntu to boot. I still can't get my Windows to boot, but I'll survive. The only things I'm a tad perturbed on is the loss of my Itunes and Photoshop, but since I still have my IPad, I still have my Itunes cloud and I still have my photoshop disc.
Click to expand...
Getting Photoshop to work with WINE shouldn't be an issue. Getting ITunes to work may big a little bit more of a problem.

I also wouldn't hold my breath waiting for either one of them to come up with a Linux package. :shame

I doubt Debian does anything that Ubuntu can't. Both use the Gnome desktop and Ubuntu can install and run every .deb package I've run across. That's because it's a debian-based OS. Mint looks to be good, but they seem to be going commercial fast, too fast. Instead of advertizing for $$$ very clearly and openly on the site, they should be targeting corporations and educational institutions instead.
 
A couple of weeks ago, I corrupted my XP Pro install (not from a virus).

Although I've been sort of missing my Paint Shop Pro and a few other Windows programs, I've been procrastinating about redoing XP.

So, tonight I decided to install Virtualbox. XP is up and running as we speak, doing it's updates in the background.

I discovered a feature called, seamless mode! It's 'awesome'. All I see is the XP taskbar. Everything else incorporated into the Ubuntu desktop! Both XP windows and Linux windows running side by side.

Who would have thunk it... and NO dual booting anymore. Just set up a couple of shared folders which "seamlessly" shares file with both OSs.

I'm ecstatic. :D I'm going to do the same thing at work. :yes No more native Windows installations for me. :lol


added: I've never seen XP run so fast either. LOL
 
That is awesome Vic.


Also, everyone, I just got my computer to boot into Windows :). I went into Boot repair and set it to repair my MBR. When I finished that I updated Ubuntu and then restarted my computer. It worked. I have my Windows back. Now I'm going to try what Vic said and install virtual box and set up seamless mode. Oh yeah. :) Thanks everyone. :D
 
Meatballsub said:
That is awesome Vic.


Also, everyone, I just got my computer to boot into Windows :). I went into Boot repair and set it to repair my MBR. When I finished that I updated Ubuntu and then restarted my computer. It worked. I have my Windows back. Now I'm going to try what Vic said and install virtual box and set up seamless mode. Oh yeah. :) Thanks everyone. :D
Click to expand...

Glad you can boot up in windows again, but I'm baffled because I thought you tried the boot repair a few days ago and only the Ubuntu started? What did you do differently this time?
 
tim-from-pa said:
Glad you can boot up in windows again, but I'm baffled because I thought you tried the boot repair a few days ago and only the Ubuntu started? What did you do differently this time?
Click to expand...
Oddly enough, I updated Ubuntu through the updater and then ran boot repair after changing the options to repair the MBR.

I ran the MBR before, but this time for some reason it worked. :) I don't know how, but it did. Maybe its a 4th of July miracle. :)
 
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