Computer won't boot after windows 7 install.... :( [Solved]

Meskarune · 2009-10-31 02:24:48

I have 2 hard drives. The first drive is my main arch linux install. The second drive I use to install various operating systems. My school was selling windows7 for $30...I couldn't resist the cheap price...now I'm paying for it ><

I unplugged the hard drive with my arch linux install from my computer. (sda) Then installed windows 7 on the second hard drive. I reattached the first hard drive to my computer. (this was so i could avoid having to re-install grub)

My computer would not boot. I decided to install linux mint -- something I was going to do anyway -- that way I could boot into arch linux and fix things. Mint installed fine. But my computer STILL won't boot. I get grub error 22. What's up with that? Is this something to do with windows7?

Hard Drives:

/dev/sda1   ext2  /boot  100 MB
/dev/sda2   extended
    /dev/sda5  ext3 arch /  130 GB
/dev/sda3  ext3  arch /home  166 GB
/dev/sda4  swap  1.72 GB

/dev/sdb1  ntfs  windows7  65 GB
/dev/sdb4  ext3  mint / 19GB
/dev/sdb2  swap  1GB
/dev/sdb3  ext3  media  900 GB

Should I install grub to the MBR?

I checked to make sure that nothing in my arch linux install was erased using the arch install cd... I really need to get this fixed before classes on monday so any help would be appreciated.

Last edited by Meskarune (2009-10-31 04:26:39)

toxygen · 2009-10-31 02:34:17

yeah, i think windows installs its own bootloader to mbr, that's why i remember always having to install windows on it's own main 1st partition first, then install linux on a secondary drive/partition and overwrite windows mbr boot loader afterwards, so i think you will have to install grub to mbr.

iBertus · 2009-10-31 02:42:13

Typically, the procedure is to install Windows first and then Linux second. If you can't do that you will have to reinstall your linux bootloader to overwrite the Windows loader and then chainload your Windows install.

flamelab · 2009-10-31 02:44:46

Reinstall grub to mbr. Do it though a live cd / through a chrooted arch / through the arch installation cd

Meskarune · 2009-10-31 02:51:41

Installing grub to the MBR worked. Thanks. Now I have no excuse to not write my essay...

@IBertus I realize that. But I've run arch linux for a little over a year now and really don't want to reinstall. Also I just recently got windows 7. I unplugged the hard drive that arch linux was installed on when I installed windows. The last time I installed windows it was windows xp and I did the same thing -- unplugged the hard drive-- and had no problems, my arch linux grub was unchanged after I plugged the hard drive back in. But the windows 7 install was different, though I am not sure why.

PS. I heard that windows will override the MBR when it updates... so consequently it is bad to install grub to the MBR in a dual boot system. Will I have to be reinstalling grub all the time?

Xyne · 2009-10-31 02:59:41

You should keep the mbr on the same disk as Arch. You could then install anything to the second disk as if it were the main disk (after setting the boot order in bios or removing/disabling the first disk), reset your settings and just chainload the second disk from grub on the first. Each disk gets its own mbr and you don't have to deal with Windows' stupidity.

Then again, when you buy Windows, I suppose you're looking for the authentic Windows experience.

toxygen · 2009-10-31 03:04:09

Xyne wrote:

Then again, when you buy Windows, I suppose you're looking for the authentic Windows experience.

I was going to say, even at $30 you still managed to get the full windows experience at first boot!

Meskarune wrote:

PS. I heard that windows will override the MBR when it updates... so consequently it is bad to install grub to the MBR in a dual boot system. Will I have to be reinstalling grub all the time?

God i hope not. just stay away from windows if that happens
just thinking about tihs is giving me headaches.

Last edited by toxygen (2009-10-31 03:06:12)

fsckd · 2009-10-31 03:19:14

Why not run Windows in a vm? That's what I'd do if I had the hardware.

Meskarune · 2009-10-31 04:03:14

@fsckd I do run windows in a vm I have windows xp installed under arch and use it for japanese homework primarily. I installed windows 7 so I can play some newer games. Bioshock looks fantastic...and mirror's edge...

Also I need to stay on top of how the new versions of windows works. That way I can keep my job as a computer lab admin...

Arch Linux

#1 2009-10-31 02:24:48

Computer won't boot after windows 7 install.... :( [Solved]

#2 2009-10-31 02:34:17

Re: Computer won't boot after windows 7 install.... :( [Solved]

#3 2009-10-31 02:42:13

Re: Computer won't boot after windows 7 install.... :( [Solved]

#4 2009-10-31 02:44:46

Re: Computer won't boot after windows 7 install.... :( [Solved]

#5 2009-10-31 02:51:41

Re: Computer won't boot after windows 7 install.... :( [Solved]

#6 2009-10-31 02:59:41

Re: Computer won't boot after windows 7 install.... :( [Solved]

#7 2009-10-31 03:04:09

Re: Computer won't boot after windows 7 install.... :( [Solved]

#8 2009-10-31 03:19:14

Re: Computer won't boot after windows 7 install.... :( [Solved]

#9 2009-10-31 04:03:14

Re: Computer won't boot after windows 7 install.... :( [Solved]

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