Member Avatar for rahim_fayaz

I had ubuntu and windows7 at my laptop,change windows7 with windowsXP ,
after that again install windows7.Now ubuntu dose not work,
ubuntu12.04 disapeared from boot list,
what should I do?

Edited by rahim_fayaz
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Short diagnosis and safe first step. Reinstalling Windows typically replaces the machine's boot manager (MBR or EFI) with the Windows boot manager, so GRUB and its Ubuntu entry disappear even when the Ubuntu partitions remain intact. As observed, that behavior is common; and suggested Windows-side tools and Boot-Repair respectively. If the Ubuntu partition still exists, restoring GRUB from a live Ubuntu session is the most direct and reliable repair.

BIOS / MBR (common on older laptops) — manual chroot recipe:

# identify partitions
sudo lsblk -f
# mount the Ubuntu root partition (replace sdaX)
sudo mount /dev/sdaX /mnt
# bind system dirs and chroot
for d in dev proc sys run; do sudo mount --bind /$d /mnt/$d; done
sudo chroot /mnt
# install GRUB to the disk (replace /dev/sda with your boot disk)
grub-install /dev/sda
update-grub
exit
# cleanup and reboot
for d in run sys proc dev; do sudo umount /mnt/$d; done
sudo umount /mnt
sudo reboot

UEFI systems require mounting the EFI System Partition (ESP) and reinstalling the grub-efi package:

sudo lsblk -f         # find EFI (vfat) and root
sudo mount /dev/sdaX /mnt
sudo mount /dev/sdaY /mnt/boot/efi   # EFI partition
for d in dev proc sys run; do sudo mount --bind /$d /mnt/$d; done
sudo chroot /mnt
apt update
apt install --reinstall grub-efi-amd64
grub-install
update-grub
exit
# unmount and reboot

Quick troubleshooting notes: confirm correct device names (sda vs sdb) with lsblk or fdisk -l; mount a separate /boot if present; run update-grub so Windows is detected (os-prober may be needed). If partitions were reformatted during the Windows reinstall, back up any remaining files from a live session (use rsync -av or cp -a) before attempting destructive repairs. The manual chroot method complements (and avoids dependence on) tools mentioned earlier by and and usually restores a working dual-boot when the Linux filesystem is still present.

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Member Avatar for silvercats

I used this software long ago to get back my erased(from boot menu onlyy) windows. you can get ubuntu too. I do not remeber how to do it exactly but find some tutorials online.

http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/#comparison . (you can download the free version which is enough after registering)

Member Avatar for rahim_fayaz

I have tried this one before I wrote this problem,it did not work
becaus ubuntu was installed primary and this software dosnt supporte primary,
anouther way please..

Edited by rahim_fayaz
Member Avatar for mrstumckay

I recommend running your Ubuntu LiveCD or from a USB stick and downloading 'Boot-Repair' by following the instructions found here Click Here ..click on 'Recommended Repair' once you've scanned your system, it fixes most problems.

Hope this helps. :)

Member Avatar for sbesch

Not to beat a dead horse, but please, everyone should take rahim's experience as a warning. From a Windows perspective, THERE ARE NO OTHER OPERATING SYSTEMS!! When you install Windows (Any version) any existing boot loader will be creamed. As far as I know, only Windows does this. At the very least, 'nix type systems all cooperate very nicely with other OS's. This is why it is always strongly recommended that you install Windows FIRST, then unix/linux/etc. If you don't, then you have to jump through a lot of hoops to reconstruct the 'nix boot loader. The suggestions already given should work for you. If not, there are thousands of HowTo's on the Web that are addressed at solving your exact problem. As long as Windows didn't reformat the entire drive, you can recover from this. It's a pain, but possible. Basically, what has to be done is this:

1) The windows boot loader has to be copied and stored away for use by the linux boot loader.
2) The location of the original linux install has to be located.
3) The linux boot loader must be re-installed and set up to boot linux.
4) The linux boot loader must be configured to "chain" to the Saved copy of the Windows boot loader. Windows cannot be booted directly by the linux boot loader because the Windows boot loader is odd, proprietary and unique to Windows. That's why the Linux loader must chain to a copy of it when you want to boot Windows.

Thankfully, all these steps are automated for you by the various repair tools mentioned by other posters. You can do it manually, but it is really touch&go, risky, a bit hard and would only be recommended in very extreme circumstances.

A worst case scenario would be that none of the tools work. You can always use a linux live CD to locate your files on the linux partition and save them to a removable media (for example a thumb drive or usb disk). Then reinstall linux and let it handle setting up the Dual Boot. Once installed, copy your files back into the new linux install. If Windows creamed your entire linux partition, then I hope you made a backup before installing Windows. If not, I am really sorry this had to happen to you.

Best of luck!!

Edited by sbesch because: spelling
Member Avatar for rahim_fayaz

I'm so glad for all your useful guidances.
Thanks,
R.

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