Using rescue and recovery on a dual boot system

[relativistic]

I have a linux partition (Ubuntu) and a windows vista partition on my T60. I use Grub to choose between them.

Recently, due to a virus, my windows partition got screwed up. I'd like to just return it to its factory default using the rescue and recovery partition. I can use grub to boot into the R&R partition, and I'm about ready to start it going. However, I'm concerned. I've from a friend that he used something like this, and it reformatted his entire hard drive, both his linux and windows partitions. Will the lenovo rescue and recovery do this? Or will it leave the linux partition alone?

Also, will it touch the boot sector or grub? Will I have to reconfigure any boot stuff once its done?

Thanks!

[ryengineer]

You'll be given an option by Rescue and Recovery to keep or delete the linux partition.

[relativistic]

Well, you were right, but now I'm in deeper trouble.

While it was recovering, it errored. It said something like
%s failed at recovery.

When I tried to reboot the computer, the grub boot loader was gone. Instead, I was greated by some other one, which stated that it couldn't boot from any device. It said that for the ATA HDD0 there was no valid operating system. I assume this is where it was looking for windows. I don't suppose there's any way to get this boot loader to recognize linux, is there.

Anyways, I tried to load the linux install cd (ubuntu is the flavor), which should allow me to either run a streamlined version of linux to reinstall linux, OR let me reinstall ubuntu completely. Luckily, my home directory is on its own partition, so doing the later would be fine.

However, it can't even do this. When I select Install Ubuntu or Try Ubuntu on the cd splash screen, the whole thing freezes. Now, I don't get this. If alls I've done is screw up the hard drive, why would it freeze when running a program from disk.

Any help or advice would be VERY appreciated.

[ryengineer]

Try using Testdisk.

In addition you can fix Rescue and Recovery using:

How to reenable the F11 function (Product Recovery Program). (It works, I've personally tried it)

Or if you've a floppy drive then use the following instead:

Rescue and Recovery - Recovery repair diskette.

[mariner]

Been there, done that.

What has happened is that the Windows recovery is not complete and a bootloader has not yet been installed.

I used a boot CD to "Boot from first hard drive". Windows started and completed its installation.