T40 Recovery After Ubuntu Installed -- GRUB Prevents Startup

[bvaughn]

After installing the Ubuntu version of Linux on a T40, I decided to dump it. I used the product recovery CDs to restore the Windows XP operating system (which the Ubuntu installation process had wiped out, although I didn't intend for that to happen) and factory settings. Apparently the recovery process concluded successfully. However, now when the Thinkpad startup process begins, the GRUB loader -- somehow left over from the Linux installation (I guess) -- tries, but of course fails, to start. The Thinkpad hangs there. I had thought that all vestiges of the the Linux installation would be wiped out by the recovery process. How can I get past that GRUB-loading problem?

[Marin85]

You need to perform XP startup repair. For that purpose you need some "clean" XP installation/upgrade media (noLenovo XP recovery CDs). Boot into it, start the recovery console and type Fixmbr. Reboot without the CD and see if windows can boot normally. If not, then boot again in the XP repair console (using the XP installation media) and type Fixboot, then reboot. The boot problem should be fixed now.

Hope this helps,

Marin

[bvaughn]

Hmmm. The only version of Windows XP that I have is the version installed on my ThinkPads. (I have three of them, in addition to the T40. I have a T42p, a T41, and an X41.) I have no CDs for XP. Is the XP recovery software separately available? If so, what is it called? I'll try to find it.

Thanks for your reply, Marin.

[Marin85]

Since you don´t have an XP installation media, the only other way to use XP recovery console is to install it from inside windows, which is not possible in your case since you cannot boot into windows (which is actually the problem here).

This is what I would do in your case:
1. Reinstall Linux on the largest free space, this should fix the grub error, and grub should display the windows entry as well
2. Boot into windows
3. Use EasyBCD to reinstall the XP bootloader instead of grub.
4. Then you can wipe out the linux partitions and use the free space.

[carbon_unit]

You could try the Master boot record repair kit.

[Marin85]

You could try the Master boot record repair kit.

Great utility from Lenovo! Thanks for pointing it out. It makes one´s life much simpler. I guess Lenovo has similar utility for Vista too.

[bvaughn]

I wasn't able to get anywhere with either suggestion.

1. Marin's suggestion to reinstall Linux . . . didn't work because (a) not knowing how to implement the instruction to reinstall "on the largest free space," I simply ran the Ubuntu installation again, and (b) I never get an option to boot into Windows.

2. Trying to use "the Master boot record repair kit" . . . didn't work because the CD image file, repairmbr.iso, didn't produce anything on the CD, which was "full" but contained zero bytes after two attempts (using a re-writable CD) to burn the image. I tested the CD burner software (IBM's RecordNow!, which comes installed on a ThinkPad) by test-burning a different *.iso file, and the process worked as expected. So I'm suspecting that there's a flaw in the repairmbr.iso file. After the Lenovo-derived file didn't work, I tried downloading the file from the IBM ftp site, but that copy also didn't work.

Thanks for your suggestions, gentlemen. Have you any additional thoughts on how I could proceed?

[Marin85]

To (1): What do you mean by "I simply ran the Ubuntu installation again"? When installing Ubuntu, the final preparation step is to set up the partitions you want Ubuntu to use. One of the options there is "guided install - use the largest continuous free space". This is what I was referring to in my previous post. The first option in that prompt is "guided install - shrink windows partition and install Ubuntu..." I guess this is what you have chosen. Performing any other options may have lead to erasing the existing windows partition.

To (2): I just checked that .iso and as a matter of fact it´s empty. It doesn´t contain anything. Strangely enough, this recently seems to be the case with other .isos from Lenovo as well...

AFAIK, there are bootable programs that can reinstall NTLDR (NT bootloader) for XP. Google for UBCD (universal boot CD), it contains Smart BootManager that should let you boot back into windows XP. From there you will be able to install XP repair console and fix the MBR.

[bvaughn]

Thanks, Marin. I got the Ultimate Bootable CD and perused the lists of tools on it. It's quite impressive.

I was able to use Smart BootManager to get Windows started, but I had to use it repeatedly and had to close numerous error messages (mostly caused by lack of disk space; I don't understand why disk space is so limited) by clicking Cancel, and eventually I was presented with a message box regarding System Preparation Tool. I don't know how to respond to that. There are three choices (Factory, Audit, Reseal) and three options as well as a selection list for shutdown mode. Not knowing how to proceed at this point, I shut down the computer (pressed and held the power button).

What now? Can you give any direction on how to proceed from that point?

Some alternatives that have occurred to me . . .
1. Assuming that the problem concerns the MBR, I'm wondering whether it makes sense to try using MBRtool to write/refresh the bootcode, then try again with the IBM recovery CDs. Any thoughts on that?
2. Another idea might be to run the Free FDISK tool with the /mbr switch (if it's possible with that tool), which is something I read about in the Wikipedia article "Master boot record":

Though it is possible to directly manipulate the bytes in the MBR sector using various Disk Editors, there are tools to write fixed sets of functioning code to the MBR . Since MS-DOS 5.0, the DOS-mode program FDISK has included the (undocumented, but widely used) switch /mbr, which will rewrite the MBR code.

Let me say frankly that I have no expertise in the matters about which we have spoken in this thread. In other words, when it comes to monkeying with the MBR and other aspects of the operating system, I'm a rank newbie.

Also, I have no concern about losing anything on the hard drive. It contains no data and no application files (except for OS files, which I expect to replace using the IBM recovery CDs once the booting problem has been fixed). I am ready to treat the hard drive as a new drive if necessary. Indeed, I have wondered whether the simplest solution would be to use a partition tool on the UBCD (such as the Ranish partition tool) to re-partition the drive before using the recovery CDs.

[Marin85]

To be honest, I have never used UBCD or those tools, and I would be careful with those tools as some of them may damage the HD if not being used properly.

I think there is simpler solution to your problem (sorry, I guess it took a while till I found what I was looking for):
How to fix your Windows MBR with an Ubuntu liveCD

Or alternatively, you could accomplish such tasks with Super Grub Disk and here Super Grub Disk wiki.

Hope this helps this time more

Marin

[bvaughn]

Marin . . . you've come up with some evidently useful (and heretofore obscure) tools for this problem. Thanks. I'll look into what they can do.

Yesterday, having decided to grab the bull by the tail and face the situation, I used the Cute Partition tool on the UBCD to delete all partitions on my hard drive. (This was OK with me, since I had nothing of value on the drive.) I then used the IBM recovery CDs to reinstall Windows XP, and that worked without a hitch. Today I spent a lot of time getting updates and SP3 downloaded and installed. So I guess you could say that I solved the problem by the application of brute force.

My election to remove Ubuntu had less to do with my interest in trying Linux and more to do with my short-term need for a Windows computer on which to try some new and potentially harmful software. I expect to return to trying Ubuntu again, and then I might need the tools you found.

Thanks very much for your constant help.

[Marin85]

Yes, true, such tools are always somewhat obscure That´s why I was looking for this Ubuntu action as it is much simpler than the others. Glad that you have found even simpler solution (and actually very intuitive).

Cheers,

Marin