Arch Linux

maat7043

Member

Registered: 2015-01-27

Posts: 2

MBR broken during Archboot installation

So after using several different Linux distros on virtual machines over time I decided to give Arch Linux a try on a new partition alongside Windows 7.  During the installation process I was having trouble with getting my network setup so I exited the installation and tried to escape to Windows to read up more in the Wiki. Apparently I made a mistake because I can no longer boot up windows.

Steps I took:
1. Download Archboot .iso
2. Create a bootable USB
3. Shrink my single 1 Tb HDD by 65 Gb to make room for the Linux partitions
4. Boot my PC from the USB
5. Went through the motions of Archboot to define my new partitions
/ 15Gb
/Home 50Gb
swap 2Gb
2007Kb for Bios

After the failed attempt I reverted to a Linux Mint Live CD to try and work this out.  Im currently cloning my HDD with Clonezilla to make sure I don't screw things up further.  At this point what I want to do is take a couple of steps back and see if I can read up a bit more and see what I did wrong setting up the dual-boot partitions and formatting.  Can anyone lend some advice on how I can get Win7 back up and running? Once I have 7 running I will give Arch another shot.

I am pretty certain that I will somehow return my Windows bootloader to MBR and just delete the new partiotions, but I am not exactly sure the best way to proceed.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Last edited by maat7043 (2015-01-27 04:21:38)

headkase

Member

Registered: 2011-12-06

Posts: 1,977

Re: MBR broken during Archboot installation

See: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/32523/ho … -problems/

"/fixmbr" and "/fixboot" should be all you need to do.  Finish your clone of your drive first though, just in case it makes things worse.

maat7043

Member

Registered: 2015-01-27

Posts: 2

Re: MBR broken during Archboot installation

Do you think it's necessary to use a tool like GParted to remove the new partitions I created first?

headkase

Member

Registered: 2011-12-06

Posts: 1,977

Re: MBR broken during Archboot installation

It shouldn't be.  They'll just show up as either non-DOS or unallocated space in the Disk Management snap-in in Windows if you look.  They should be ignored by Windows.

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: London

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 7,744

Website

Re: MBR broken during Archboot installation

If the fine advice given by @headkase doesn't work, post the output of:

# parted -l

That "2007Kb for BIOS" partition is only needed for GPT disk booting in non-EFI mode -- Windows will not boot in non-EFI mode from a GPT disk.

I'm thinking that you may have changed your partition table type during the aborted installation attempt...

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Are you infected with Wetiko?