General :: Rescuing Windows Vista As Well As Fedora Through Bootable USB
Jun 1, 2010
My system was a dual-boot with Windows Vista and Fedora 9. During the installation of some updates of Windows vista I powered off the system and since then my Windows Vista gives blue death screen error. I think it as some MBR corruption issue for which I have searched these corrective steps:
Step 1:1. Put the Windows Vista installation disc in the disc drive, and then start the computer.
2. Press a key when you are prompted.
3. Select a language, a time, a currency, and a keyboard or another input method, and then click Next.
4. Click Repair your computer.
5. Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.
6. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Startup Repair.
7. Restart the computer.
Step 2: use bootrec.exe to fix MRB and BOOT
1. Put the Windows Server 2008 installation disc in the disc drive(you can use Windows Vista installation disc too), and then start the computer.
2. Press a key when you are prompted.
3. Select a language, a time, a currency, and a keyboard or another input method, and then click Next.
4. Click Repair your computer, and then click Next.
5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.
6. Type bootrec /fixmbr, and then press ENTER.
7. Type bootrec /fixboot, and then press Enter.
8. Restart the computer.
My DVD-ROM does not detect any media I insert into it. So I have created a Windows Vista's USB installation media.My Problem: At present Fedora boots normally. But when I will fix MBR, what will happen to fedora ? If it removes the grub, I will not be able to boot in fedora. Please suggest something. I think there must be a way to install grub through USB, but I don't know the 'howtos' of that.
I'm trying to help out a Windows Vista user by rescuing their data from a failing hard disk. When their laptop stopped booting, I immediately pulled the disk to get as much as I could off of it using another Windows box, but the process took days and ultimately choked on multiple bad sectors and stopped responding. I then hooked it up to my Ubuntu box via a USB disk dock and ran a ddrescue on the Windows partition. The operation took a week, then seemed to get stuck for another week on the "splitting failed blocks" phase. So I have an dd image and a log to go back to, but when I resume that process it still seems to use the disk and I don't see much progress.
I then tried a plain `dd` on the disk with `conv=noerror,sync` options, and that has been running for a few days now, but with input/ouput error messages every few seconds and seemingly no records going in or out. I think that's a bad sign.What's the best, and fastest, way to get the most data off the disk as possible and into an image file, and then perform any necessary operations on the image file so that the disk is no longer needed (since it seems to be just about dead)? Er, just realized I'd put "Windows 7" in the post title, but this is a Vista partition, and I can't change the title. They're pretty similar, with one OS being much less useful than the other, but I thought I'd better acknowledge my mistake.
i have recently started my masters degree program and i have to install fedora 11 for one of my courses. The problem is when i try to install fedora 11 on my laptop, it wipes out my windows vista installation. I want to keep vista. I have a sony vaio laptop model VGN-FW340D. 4GB RAM and 400 GB HD. i first shrink my hard drive to free up around 100 GB. Then i run fedora 11 DVD and let it make the partitions on my free space.. I have tried everything.. I chose use free space the first time, but i didnt work, it wiped out my vista, next time i chose custom layout and defined boot, root and swap partitions , but again it wiped out my vista.. I have read many guides to dual boot vista and fedora and have carried them out step by step, but nothing works.... Also i dont have vista installation DVD, i just have the recovery CDs, so everytime it wipes out my vista, i have to do system recovery, ive been trying for a week now, and its driving me crazy, i asked a friend of mine to help me out, he has dual boot system, and he tried it and it did the same thing, wiped out my vista... i just have one drive C: with two partitions, one small partitions which contains recovery files, and the rest of the partition has vista.......
I have an XD card with lots of pictures in it which suddenly stopped working, it gives me "card error" messages in my camera (and any other one) and it refuses to mount on my laptop's card reader (which does work in F11 for XD cards, I've tried other ones).So I'm trying to use some program to make an image of what's in the card, like ddrescue or dd_rhelp. But they all need me to mount the disk, which I just can't. I have tried to mount it manually, but I'm not even sure what device I should point to.
So my question is, how can I mount a faulty drive in such a way that any of these programs can make an image? Or maybe there is a smarter way to try to get my pictures back? (There are some non-free programs in Windows which may seemingly help, but I'd like to figure out how to do this in Linux).
I am on Ubuntu 9.04. I have a Vista disc which I have slipstreamed some drivers onto. (Basically, you copy them into the "upgrades" or "updates" folder)
I have copied all the files from the Vista disc onto my local Ubuntu drive. I have copied in the new files.
Then, I used Brasero to burn from the local Ubuntu drive to a blank DVD.
So, I checked, and all the files are there.
But when I start up the computer, it does not boot. It boots straight into GRUB, then Ubuntu. Wheras, when I stick in the original Vista disc, it does boot.
How do I get the new disc to boot? It has, surely, exactly the same files as the original....
I have a single hard-drive on a spare computer and I decided to try out Ubuntu on recommendation from a friend. I really like it now but at first I just dual-booted it, and now I want Vista gone. I know it's unnecessary to have just one OS but my hard-drive isn't particularly big and I'd prefer to have Ubuntu by itself. Can anyone tell me how to eliminate vista and leave Ubuntu as my sole operating system (I've all my files from computer on another computer so I don't have to worry about losing anything).
I'm a newbie to Linux and FC10. I recently installed FC10 on my laptop which has the following config:
AMD64, 1gb DDR2 RAM, 60 GB HDD, DVD Drive and ATI Chipset.
The problem is FC10 locks up randomly and I have seen a couple of threads on this. I want to uninstall FC10. However I'm unable to uninstall / remove the partition. When I try to boot up my laptop using a Windows CD (planning to remove the linux partitions from the WINdows setup) I only see a blank screen, the DVD keeps on spinning but nothing happens. I have tested the windows xp cd on other machines and works fine.
Having a major issue with my laptop. I am unable to boot into my Vista installation.I am currently posting this through my Fedora 11 installation which I had already. If anyone is interested, the BSOD error is:
As far as I know, a '7B' BSOD is usually a hard disk error but I am 100% sure the HDD is fine as I can read and write from both Fedora and Knoppix without issue. Steps taken so far: Obviously, I have tried the usual steps of trying to start windows in safe mode, last good config, and all of the F8 options. When they failed, I used fedora to check for some solutions online (Mostly useless answers from MS) and I found one successful case when a person flashed his BIOS back to an earlier time. Unfortunately, I cant get the BIOS update I got from the Dell website to boot from a USB drive (Says invalid boot disc - the BIOS on it is in the .exe format which I can't use in linux) and I do not have a floppy drive on the laptop.
So, I put in my Dell drivers and utilities CD hoping that it would give me some option to update (Or roll back) the BIOS but there was no such option. However, it did give me a load of diagnostic options including repair options by symptom so went with the "Unable to boot from BIOS". Unfortunately, that didnt help me at all. So, I got my Vista installation disc (OEM supplied) and managed to get to the repair menu (Which I had among my F8 options anyway) but this also has the option to reinstall. Unfortunately, it states that "Upgrade is unavailable" and that a clean install is the only thing I can select (At the expense of my files and settings).
As for the repair options, the automatic recovery doesn't seem to find any errors, asks to reset and see if all is well (It isn't). For some reason, system restore doesn't detect any restore points. There are no windows memory errors detected and I have no backups. So, i'm left with a command prompt that, by default, is asking for a file in this folder: X:/WINDOWS/System32/ I have no idea where it is getting the X: drive from - I have C and D drives for windows only. As per another online guide, I tried:
Computer has 3 partitions: windows swap, windows recovery, and 3rd, which currently has linux.
There is grub installed, which lets me choose to run windows recovery, or linux. Both boot fine.
But. I'd like to remove Linux, and use recovery to install windows. When I boot to recovery, and make it install windows, it does so, but after rebooting all I get is:
error: no such partition grub rescue>
ls shows 3 msdos partitions, but I don't know what to do with it further.
When I did boot Linux rescue, and overwrote first 446 bytes of /dev/sda to remove grub - computer doesn't boot at all.
I do not have any bootable windows disks, just the rescue. I do have another computer I can work on, so I can download stuff from internet if it would help me.
I have a Dell Mini 9 with only Ubuntu installed, I want to install Windows XP also but I don't have and can't get an external CD drive, so I need to make a windows installation from the usb.All the tutorials I found use windows to make the usb bootable, how can I make the same from linux?
I have windows vista 32bit oem that originally came with DELL system when I bought new. On the PC, MS$ sticker has the product key for windows vista.When I reformatted the disk and re-install windows vista natively on the machine for which it was licensed, it got automatically activated and passed MS$ genuine check. But I got into problems when using windows vista as guest os from fedora 13 host os using virtualbox on exactly same machine for which vista is licensed for. I go that MS$ : x -days to automatic activation, activate now link. Clicking on activate now it says invalid product key even I entered correct product key as it is on the PC.
I tried to create new windwos vista guest os 2 ways: 1) using existing native installation of windows vista by using vmware converter to create vmware disk image of the running windows vista and shutting down and log back into fedora 13 used this disk image as the storage in virtualbox and create windows vista guest. It starts up ok except for that activation issue. 2) using the windows vista dvd and using that as the source for new windows vista installation in virtualbox. All fine except got that activation issue.After killing my 2 days just for this I dont know whats next. Does that not make sense that I have a license for using windows vista on this specific pc, I am entitled to install it on that same pc as virtual or native or even both ways ?
This link: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/vista-vi icture/360 says starting with service pack 1 MS$ now allows virtual installation of windows oem. My native installation was updated to service pack 2 and I also updated the fresh dvd install of windows vista in virtualbox to service pack 1 and then service pack 2 but still no effect in regard to license activation.Did any one solved the problem in some way regarding this issue for windows vista, I would like to know.
I was wondering if Linux has that thing where when you put your mouse over the minimized window, it shows a little picture of it? Like in Windows Vista and 7?
I have installed Fedora 13 on my Dell desktop and reserved 270 GB space for future windows installation. But now I have problem to install Windows Vista 64. When I choose the reserved partition to install. It shows "windows are unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation". When I bought the pre-installed windows vista 64 PC, there is no problem to install Fedora 12. But in other way, it seems not workable.
I have Vista opertating system . I want to install Linx Redhat 5 in my Leptop. I had create parttion in my harddisk. I want to know at the boot time of linux where i want to set a path for new drive? Is there any link for that ?
I know how to do a dual boot. I have done it many many times. But 1 I always installed Windows first so I would not have any problems with Fedora grub, and 2 the computers I did dual boots on were ones that I didn't really care if something went wrong on. But I want to do a dual boot on my laptop which I do care if something goes wrong on. I have all my stuff backed up so its ok if I something goes wrong and I have to reinstall. But I would rather not have to set everything up on my laptop again. So my question is what is the best way to do a dual boot with Windows Vista (the one that came with my laptop) and Fedora 12. I already have Fedora 12 on my laptop. I need to do these things:
1. Make my Fedora 12 partition smaller to make room for Windows Vista. 2. Install Windows Vista without Windows Vista Grub messing up my Fedora 12 grub.
I understand that I am doing this at my own risk so please dont not respond. Like I said I have all my data backed up so I can reinstall if I need to. I would rather not but its doable.
I recently bought a new Netgear WNDR3300 Wireless-N router, and cannot seem to see the linux box in my windows network. (We have multiple Windows machines on my network, all in the same workgroup.) I also recently bought Avast anti-virus, and I think I have enabled the IP range of all computers to enable communication. I wonder if a media router has different needs than just the regular router I used to use. My samba file is minimal, I will post an example. I wish my Windows computer to access a drive marked /terminal on my linux box. I have a drive on my Windows marked E:Cher on my Vista box. My workgroup name is BRCR.
I have a laptop on which I would like to install Fedora 10. As the laptop has a broken CD drive I'm looking for a way to install it somehow else.
As I have a second PC with Windows Vista and a VMWare installed, I was thinking if that could help me in any way?
Is there a way how I can transfere Vista Business into a server and my Laptop can install it from there?
Also I could manage to get the ISO on the Laptops HDD (which is currently Windows XP), but haven't found a way how I can install it as I mounted the ISO to a CD drive, can access the files but windows xp wont let me install it from there.
I have Windows Vista Home Premium and I don't want to switch entirely to Fedora because I'm not as familiar with it as I am Windows. I mainly wanted to install Fedora for my Linux class at the Community College I attend. How do I install it with a dual boot so it doesn't take over Windows Vista? I had that happen once and it was a mess to fix and reinstall Windows Vista too.
I have installed Samba on my one of my computers that has Fedora 12 installed 192.168.1.2, and the other PC that has Windows Vista installed 192.168.1.3 Hostname Adam-PC Network: WORKGROUP. Both PCs are connected to Wireless Netgear Router with DHCP enabled on the router as well as the two computers. How do I set up File sharing on these two systems?
I have been using Windows Vista since I bought my laptop. Due to the need to use another operating system, I decided to go for Fedora. I read a some installation guides and was told that dual-booting will allow me use both OS without problems.Last night, I created three partitions on the hard disk, one of them is the primary partition for my Vista OS. Then I went ahead to install Fedora on one of the other partitions. The Fedora worked fine. Subsequently, I wanted to check some stuffs using Vista, but the computer showed my some prompt that said that my BOOTMGR is missing. However, Fedora still boots and works perfectly.Please what should do? I didn't back up my documents before installing the Fedora. How do I go back to Vista without formatting my hard disk.
I have a Gateway PC, that came with two partitions(not it is more): Vista + Recovery
I just downloaded and installed Fedora(latest image found on the website)
1. Re-sized Vista Partition to 650 Gb(using utility that came with installation), got 50 Gb free space
2. Installed Fedora on Free space
Decided to boot back to Windows(to check if it was left intact) , Windows boots into Recovery mode. It can't find the partition !
Fedora boots up fine. When my PC starts, it give me message that I have 3-5 seconds to choose what system to boot. Disk Utility shows that my HD is split into multiple partitions.
Really need to get back my Windows Partition. All my work is on it.
I have Fedora 14 server with installed cups, samba and shared printer. I am trying to print from Windows Vista computer. Printer is available via network, test page is printing as well as any text document. The problem is in printing of dvi and pdf files only. In this case, Windows sends printing task but the printer does not response. How can I fix this?
I'm new to linux systems and just installed Fedora 14 onto my Windows Vista laptop. I chose the shrink existing system option and then proceeded to install Fedora. The only problem is that when I choose Other in the Grub boot menu my Windows Vista goes straight to the recovery screen and does not boot. I don't want to do a point recovery. Is Vista not running because I shrunk it or because of some configuration that I did not add in the Grub files. How to solve this problem and get Vista running properly from the dual boot menu?
How do i install Foroda 15 side of windows vista,on my desktop, cannot see a box to select it, did install it once ask me to enter a root password when it installed it and rebooted a flashing icon to enter the root password but kept saying wrong password
I have 2 HDD's on my computer. On HDD 1 i have a Windows Vista installed, on HDD 2 my fedora is installed. I am so pleased woith the fedora system that i dont even use the windows system anymore.
Now i want to uninstall the windows. How can i do this the best way that the result is that the existing Fedora stays and boots on computerstart and that i can use the HDD where windows was on the fedora system to store stuff (now the fedora system cant see the windows hdd becouse its NTFS)
I had a fresh copy of Windows Vista installed (original from the factory)- and I followed a document of dual booting - however I think I did some mistake or automatic skip of install Grub boot loader-
Now my fedora 11 is running smoothly but windows vista is gone or does not boot - I don't have any boot disks- they give examples having floppy disk a boot disk- my laptop doesn't have floppy drive- I guess I could manage in cd or flash drive.
I see my computer's config in fedora desktop as computer:///250%20GB%20ATA%20WDC%20WD2500BEVS-6.drive computer:///250%20GB%20ATA%20WDC%20WD2500BEVS-6-1.drive computer:///PIONEER%20DVDRW%20%20DR-KD08HB.drive computer:///root.link
I noticed that the partition NTFS still exists and it has not been erased. I did install linux on hda5 since hda1 was partitioned with NTFS
Is there any manual and precaution to be taken while doing the same dual boot system ?
Or is it possible to have dual boot with the present config- although i am ready to install fresh window vista and fedora as my dual booting systems...
I had Windows Vista installed on my computer and created a partition to install Fedora 15. I chose the option to install fedora on any free space, so it should have installed on the empty partition. When I boot up, there are two boot options. Fedora and Other. When I select other, it gives an error:BOOTMGR not found.Is there a way to add Windows Vista to the Grub Bootloader by editing the grub menu. I don't know if it will help, but here is what I get when I run fdisk in the terminal:
Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
i urgently require ubuntu on my windows vista. i have ubuntu 9.01 in my pen drive. i have set first bootable at usb but still it does not detect my pen drive and start again windows .
is it not possible to install ubuntu after windows vista?
