[SOLVED] Ubuntu destroyed my Vista 64bit!

Forums › Linux › [SOLVED] Ubuntu destroyed my Vista 64bit!

chakkaradeep

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#27464 27-Oct-2008 10:37

After a long time, I downloaded Fedora 9 and Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex RC to see how it performs in my Quad Core. I booted the Fedora Disc and the partitioner failed to start in 1900x1200 display mode and also told me that my Hard-disk was not GPT partition. The Partitioner showed that all of my 500GB was free, which was not. Then I thought let me boot into Ubuntu Live CD 64bit. The Live CD booted up pretty fast and it detected the display as 1900x1200. Great! But, again the Ubuntu installer too showed that all of my 500GB is free, which was not.

I thought something was wrong and rebooted the machine. Now I am not able to boot into Vista! What a crap! So, I put my Vista installation disc and choose to Repair - It is giving me error saying that - The System Recovery is not possible in this system! I went ahead installing and now Vista too shows that my full 500GB and gives a error message that Vista cannot be installed as the hard drive is a GPT Partition. Why did Ubuntu change my hard drive partition layout to GPT ? Fedora didnt attempt to do it and it asked me about it.

Anybody have any suggestions?

Regards,
Chaks

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#173830 27-Oct-2008 11:40

There's no special Live CD of Ubuntu, but you can start Ubuntu from the regular CD in live mode or in installation mode - maybe you just made the wrong choice and the installation mode repartioned your HDD.

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chakkaradeep

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#173834 27-Oct-2008 11:43

inquisitor: There's no special Live CD of Ubuntu, but you can start Ubuntu from the regular CD in live mode or in installation mode - maybe you just made the wrong choice and the installation mode repartioned your HDD.

Every Ubuntu CD is a Live CD (???) and you get options when you boot.

1) Try Ubuntu before installing
2) Install Ubuntu
3) Boot from local hard disk

And I had chosen to try before installing.

chakkaradeep

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#173840 27-Oct-2008 12:07

According to this doc,

Windows Server® 2008 and Windows Vista® SP1 include the following support for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) on Intel Itanium-based and x64-based computers:
•    Disk partitions support the GUID partition table (GPT) disk format.
•    Windows® Setup can initialize the system's hard drive to use the GPT format and create an EFI system partition.
•    The system can install and service boot environment files on the EFI system partition, including the Windows Boot Manager, Boot    Configuration Data (BCD), and related font files.
•    The system includes EFI versions of the Windows Boot Manager and Windows resume boot applications.
•    The system automatically manages nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) boot entries that reference the partition that contains Windows Boot Manager.

I think somehow when loading Live CD, it detected the Hard Disk and deleted the EFI system partition (???) which would make Vista fail to boot. I cant think of any other reason (???)

So, the question is, do Linux distros support this kinda UEFI?

blakamin

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#173843 27-Oct-2008 12:24

So you are saying you ran a live cd and it partitioned your HDD without you running the install?
That's extremely weird. Where was the iso from? The live cd should in no way write anything to HDD...
Did it boot to vista after you tried fedora?

btw, you can get an "alternate" disc which is just an installer. No "live" bit

barf

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#173844 27-Oct-2008 12:24

you have a MacBook and EFI support is experimental in Ubuntu.
try bootcamp + MBR/PC partition layout for supported environment.
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-420866.html

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chakkaradeep

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#173855 27-Oct-2008 14:29

barf: you have a MacBook and EFI support is experimental in Ubuntu.
try bootcamp + MBR/PC partition layout for supported environment.
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-420866.html

I didnt try in my Macbook, but in my Desktop Quad Core. I chose to run Live and then I started the installer, saw the options, but never chose to install.

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chakkaradeep

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#173856 27-Oct-2008 14:32

blakamin: So you are saying you ran a live cd and it partitioned your HDD without you running the install?
That's extremely weird. Where was the iso from? The live cd should in no way write anything to HDD...
Did it boot to vista after you tried fedora?

btw, you can get an "alternate" disc which is just an installer. No "live" bit

Yes, I just ran a live cd. I got the ISO from Ubuntu website. I downloaded it from here

Fedora gave me a message asking whether my partition was a GPT or not. I wasnt sure what it was, so I selected NO and rebooted. No problems in booting into Vista.

JoeBloggs

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#173872 27-Oct-2008 16:49

Just one more headache in the install that is Linux. On the plus side, 7 months from now, when the system is operational and you've found drivers and software for your needs, Ubuntu is said to run quite nicely and even has some Vista-esque pretty designs.

chakkaradeep

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#173876 27-Oct-2008 17:09

I had to recreate the Partition Layout to MSDOS and glad Vista Installer picked up! Vista is back now! phew, what an experience...Let me try Linux after few years then....

blakamin

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#173938 27-Oct-2008 20:30

JoeBloggs: Just one more headache in the install that is Linux. On the plus side, 7 months from now, when the system is operational and you've found drivers and software for your needs, Ubuntu is said to run quite nicely and even has some Vista-esque pretty designs.

That's pretty pathetic and I'd expect more from someone who hangs out on geekzone.

edit... and here's a thought... stay out of the linux thread if you have nothing constructive to say.

chakkaradeep: I had to recreate the Partition Layout to MSDOS
and glad Vista Installer picked up! Vista is back now! phew, what an
experience...Let me try Linux after few years then....

Glad you got it sorted, but don't let that, and w*nkers, put you off... my amd64 laptop and an old cele machine both run intrepid without a hassle... much quicker than vista with way better graphics on the laptop, and nothing ever vista-esque about... compiz actually works and makes aero look like the s***e it is.

barf

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#174007 28-Oct-2008 10:28

you could always ask for your money back

oh wait..

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JoeBloggs

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#174023 28-Oct-2008 11:51

blakamin: That's pretty pathetic and I'd expect more from someone who hangs out on geekzone.

I tell it like I see it, go have a tanty elsewhere. Just because you think Linux is the holy grail doesn't mean everyone else does. I have great respect for the Linux kernel but I don't have my head so far up Torvalds @ss that I can't admit there are still serious problems for consumers accessing and using Linux as their main OS.

Chakkaradeep, don't let him put you off either. There are lots of Vista-like features implemented in Ubuntu 8.1 to make migration easier. They've even created transparent window bars etc. Install and integration with all your peripherals (some may just never work) is a nightmare comparatively. However once/if you find software that fits your needs Linux is very stable and efficient.

freitasm

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#174071 28-Oct-2008 14:09

chakkaradeep: phew, what an experience

Of course you had backups, right? Programs fail and you can blame only yourself if you got a scare like this one.

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chakkaradeep

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#174086 28-Oct-2008 15:00

freitasm:
chakkaradeep: phew, what an experience

Of course you had backups, right?

Yes, I had backups

kinsten

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#174093 28-Oct-2008 15:27

Sounds a lot like my experience at the end of last year. And the Vista full PC backup saved my ass.
Want to get a whole other pc to use Linux on next time. Although I do have a whole HDD just sitting there waiting to be used atm, lol..... time to dive back in.

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