I needed to re-install Windows 7 on my dual booting laptop. I just put the disc in and re-installed windows. Now the boot manager doesn’t appear anymore. How do I make it work again?
Its pretty important that I get grub to work. I’m going to write an article based on my master thesis. All that is in the OpenSuse partition along with a lot of other stuff I need. So formatting is not really an option. Can I reinstall OpenSuse and make it work that way?
I’m very new to this. I’ll need the simplest surefire way to fix this.
From your description it is possible that the windows installation has overwritten the Masterbootrecord and hence your previous GRUB installation.
You should get a Linux Live CD from somewhere and boot your PC again. You should also be able to use the SUSE installation CD. It should start a rescu system.
First thing you do then is to backup your Masters Thesis!!
Then you should post the partition table using this command:
fdisk
then we can start to work out a solution to your problem.
When I choose to boot from the Opensuse dvd I get these options (OpenSuse 11.1 64-bit):
Boot from Hard Disk
Installation
Repair Installed System
Rescue System
Check Installation Media
Firmware Test
Memory Test
I choose ‘Rescue System’ after it finishes loading, it says ‘Rescue login’. I can try and type ‘yes’. That didn’t help. I must be doing something wrong.
Once you manage to login using a SUSE rescue CD you can reinstall GRUB into the Masterbootrecord (this is done using Yast). Only do this if you feel confident about what you’re doing. Otherwise we walk you through step by step.
I don’t know how to log in into the rescue system. I stop dead when it says ‘Rescue login’. I don’t know what to do from there. I’ve tried typing fdisk. It just interprets that as a login name. Would choosing ‘Repair Installed System’ help?
Can you remember where (which partitions) you installed Linux and afterwards Windows?
sda1 could be the boot or swap partition of your Linux installation.
sda2 and sda3 are probably where your OSs are installed.
If your Linux installation is still on one of the two partitions, can you try to find the file /etc/fstab and post it here?
Maybe you can also now locate your /home directory with your data.
If you can find your data on sda2 or sda3 backup it now!
I don’t remember what device Linux was installed on. But I could tell from the partition sizes in Windows that the linux partition is still there. I don’t know how to get to it though. So I can’t back up my data. What are the commands to do so? Would it be easier to reinstall OpenSuse?
I don’t remember what device Linux was installed on. But I could tell from the partition sizes in Windows that the linux partition is still there. I don’t know how to get to it though. So I can’t back up my data. What are the commands to do so? Would it be easier to reinstall OpenSuse?
Use any linux liveCD to access and save your data. You can do this from the desktop with drag and drop add other methods.
>
> Ok I just contacted my brother. He told me how to log into the rescue
> system. Now I have the partition table:
>
>
> Code:
> --------------------
>
> Device Boot Start End Blocks
> Id System
> /dev/sda1 1 1437 11534336 27 Unknown
> /dev/sda2 * 1437 15919 116330496 7 HPFS/NTFS
> /dev/sda3 15919 30402 116331520 7 HPFS/NTFS
> --------------------
>
>
> I had to type it manually, so I hope it makes sense…
Partially.
I have no idea what type is “27”, it is not listed. I don’t
see there any linux partition, I think your windows reinstall formatted
and destroyed it. Sorry.
But let’s make sure. Perhaps the partition list is incomplete, lets
hope. Get a linux live CD, as others have recommended, and there type:
@ Carlos
you’re right, it is possible that the Windows reinstall destroyed the old partition table (no ext3 ext4 or reiserfs file system visible).
However this doesn’t mean the data is absolutely lost. Since there is a (half) finished Masters Thesis on the drive we ought to be VERY careful with advice.
I think the priorities should be to rescue the data before fixing the broken SUSE installation (if there is anything left to be fixed). Unfortunately I’m not an expert on data rescue.
But from my non-expert in data rescure view, if it is really important data:
stupid copy on a big external hard disk, maybe with linux text commands like dd or resync form a live system (Knoppix may be a special system for things like that).
trying to restructure (patitions and) contained data - better on the stupid copy.
If the data is important and has not been backed up, (Thats the one mistake you will be careful to only make once.) And has then been overwritten by your windows install,
And if you want any chance of recovering the data at a remotely affordable cost, do not boot from the hard disk, (boot from liveCD etc, only) do not write to the hard disk.
I apologize for the lack of clarification. My Master thesis is indeed on the linux partition but its handed in already. I’ve been to my final exam and passed with a C. My supervisor suggested me to write an article for a quarterly magazine, based on my master thesis. For that I need the linux partition. I’m not on a deadline with this as far as I know. I hope I haven’t caused too much of a ruckus.
I’ve put in the Ubuntu VD as I know for certain that it can run live. I found the linux partition and I’m backing up now to an external drive. They seem completely undamaged. I think Windows just messed with grub. Nonetheless I’ll use those commands you’ve posted and post the results.