Fixing Boot Problems - After GRUB, Linux or Partition

Fixing Boot Problems - After GRUB, Linux or Partition - Intro

If you have been using some kind of multi OS boot loader on you computer and then decide to go back to a single OS you could run in to problems with booting your computer.

If you are migrating from a Linux type boot loader then start at step 1. If you have only been using windows then skip to Step 2.

Fixing Boot Problems - After GRUB, Linux or Partition - Step 1

The first thing to check is that your your disk is "flagged" a a boot drive. The easiest way to do this is to boot a copy of puppy linux from a live CD, and run "gparted". Once you are at the puppy linux desktop choose:

Menu > System > GParted Partition Manager

1. Select the Drive with Windows (sda internal drive for example)
2. Click OKAY button.
3. Right Click on the Windows Partition
4. Select "Manage Flags"
5. Check the "Boot" check box.
6. "Close" the check box screen
7. Shutdown system

At this point remove the puppy linux live CD and try to reboot. This may work on its own. If not proceed to Step 2

Fixing Boot Problems - After GRUB, Linux or Partition - Step2

Next we need to fire up the recovery console, which is done by booting from your relavnet operating system CD / DVD.

For XP

1. Boot from CD
2. Choose to Repair Console. At command prompt. . .
3. Type "fixmbr" press enter, confirm prompts.
4. Type "fixboot" press enter.
5.  Type "exit"

For Windows 7, 8 and 10

1. Boot From CD
2. Run Start Up Repair

or . . .  .

1. Boot from CD
2. Run Reocvery from Command Prompt
3. Type "cd\" to change directory to hard drive. Enter
4. Type "bootrec"
5. Choose a switch such as /fixboot or /fixmbr e.g. bootrec /fixmbr
6. You can also "rebuidlbcd"

After try all of the aaove if you still can't boot properly . . .

Fixing Boot Problems - After GRUB, Linux or Partition - Step 3

A full repair i.e. copying over you windows install. 

For XP this is:

1. Boot from CD
2. Press Enter to "Setup XP"
3. Press "r" to repair.

This will look like you are doing a fresh install, but really you will be re-installing over the existing OS so much should be the same.

 Please post any comments below. .  .

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