Linux Dual boot setup, doesn't boot into linux

sudhanshu123

sudhanshu123

Disciple
hello everyone,i need some urgent help.
I installed linux mint today on a partition in which windows wasn't installed.i also installed it's bootloader in that partition.(is this wrong?because there was an option to install the bootloader on the whole hdd too)so when i restarted i got no option to boot into mint and got into windows(7).what have i done wrong?
 
Hi,
If seems the bootloader got messed up. For dual boot to work correctly, you will have to install grub into MBR instead of partition. so now, Boot up the Linux Mint via Live CD again. Mount your newly installed linux mint and then run grub-install command.

detailed help:
here may be times when a user needs to either move or reinstall a GRUB 2 installation. GRUB 2 needs to be reinstalled when a user is presented with a blank screen with only the word "GRUB", no prompt, and no ability to enter commands. This often happens when the MBR of the booting device is altered and GRUB 2 is removed, such as when Windows is installed after Ubuntu. Additionally, if a user cannot boot into an operating system at all, even using the rescue mode mode, a complete reinstallation of GRUB 2 may be necessary.

Reinstalling from LiveCD
Click to expand...
If you cannot boot from GRUB 2 review the section Boot Problems and Rescue Mode. If a reinstall becomes necessary follow these instructions. Two methods are presented; both require booting from a LiveCD (Ubuntu 9.10, Karmic Koala or later version). If the first method does not work, follow the second method, which is more complex and contains more options and instructions.

SIMPLEST - Copy GRUB 2 Files from the LiveCD
This is a quick and simple method of restoring a broken system's GRUB 2 files. The terminal is used for entering commands and the user must know the device name/partition of the installed system (sda1, sdb5, etc). The problem partition is located and mounted from the LiveCD. The files are then copied from the LiveCD libraries to the proper locations and MBR. It requires the least steps and fewer command line entries than the following methods. If for example Windows is on sda1 and Ubuntu is on sda5, and Windows has overwritten the MBR, then the target for grub installation will be /dev/sda5, and the MBR in the boot sector of sda will be re written for grub.

  • Boot to the LiveCD Desktop (Ubuntu 9.10 or later).
  • Open a terminal by selecting Applications, Accessories, Terminal from the menu bar.

    Determine the partition with the Ubuntu installation. The fdisk option "-l" is a lowercase "L".
  • sudo fdisk -l
    Click to expand...
    If the user isn't sure of the partition, look for one of the appropriate size or formatting.
    Running sudo blkid may provide more information to help locate the proper partition, especially if the partitions are labeled. The device/drive is designated by sdX, with X being the device designation. sda is the first device, sdb is the second, etc. For most users the MBR will be installed to sda, the first drive on their system. The partition is designated by the Y. The first partition is 1, the second is 2. Note the devices and partitions are counted differently.
    Mount the partition containing the Ubuntu installation.
  • Code: 
    sudo mount /dev/sdXY /mnt

    Example: sudo mount /dev/sda1 Note: If the user has a separate /boot partition, this must be mounted to /mnt/boot Note: If the user has a separate /home partition, this must be mounted to /mnt/home. Encrypted home partitions should work.
    Run the grub-install command as described below. This will reinstall the GRUB 2 files on the mounted partition to the proper location and to the MBR of the designated device.
  • Code: 
    sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sdX
    Example: sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda
  • Reboot
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https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2
 
ok thanks for the reply but i got linux working by totally reinstalling it and installing the bootloader over the hdd but now i have a new problem.now when my pc boots up and i get the option to go into either windows or linux,if i try to move the selection or even press any button the pc just boots in the selection that was selected.by defaullt in the menu linux is selected so when i try to press the down button and go over windows,the pc just boots in linux.it seems the buttons or selecting methods are not working properly.how can i correct this and boot into my beloved windows?i am stuck in linux here.

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

ok,so i used super grub2 disk to boot into windows again and again did a clean installation of mint which seemed to fix the "hang" of the option menu.thanks to gaurish for replying to me.
 
sudhanshu123 said:
ok,so i used super grub2 disk to boot into windows again and again did a clean installation of mint which seemed to fix the "hang" of the option menu.thanks to

gaurish for replying to me.
Click to expand...

No Problem, You're most welcome:)
 
Er just an advice. Reinstalling the OS is not a solution, it's avoiding the problem.

With Linux you are free to experiment. Even if you completely screw up X,you can still be sure that your data will be there.
 
Dunno about that. I've screwed up X multiple times, and just used the recovery mode to back my data up to a backup drive. I believe you have to experiment to learn linux and it gives you all the tools to do so.
 
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