How to restore the

Ubuntu/XP/Vista/7 bootloader
(Updated for Ubuntu 9.10)
This How-to is for windows dual booters who reinstall an operating system only to find that it has
taken away access to their other operating system.
Whether you want to restore the XP, Vista, 7 or Ubuntu (Grub) bootloader, this guide will walk you
through it.

All three parts of this tutorial require that you boot from a cd. If you don't know how to do this,
check here.

If you have made a mistake and want to revert the changes, simply follow the instructions for
reinstalling the previous bootloader. For example, if you have installed vista over ubuntu, try to get
the ubuntu bootloader back, but want to get the vista bootloader back, simply follow my
instructions for installing the vista bootloader.

How to restore the Ubuntu grub bootloader (9.10

and beyond)
First you need to find out what your drives are called. You can do this by going to a terminal and
typing:
Code:
sudo fdisk -l

You will get something like this:

From that you need to find the device name of your Ubuntu drive, something like “/dev/sda5″.
So, still in the terminal, type:
Code:
sudo mkdir /media/sda5
sudo mount /dev/sda5 /media/sda5

And then, to reinstall the grub:

Code:
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/media/sda5 /dev/sda

Push enter and you’re done! Of course you need to replace “/dev/sda5″ and “/dev/sda” with what
you found in the fdisk output.

How to restore the Ubuntu grub bootloader (9.04

and older)
First of all, all credit for this part of the tutorial goes to catlet. I am simply rewriting his tutorial to
have all three bootloaders in this tutorial.

So, lets begin. To restore the grub, you must boot off the ubuntu live cd. Any ubuntu live cd will
do.

Once there, open a terminal (Applications>Accessories>Terminal) and type this:

Code:
sudo grub
Next, you need to find which hard drive ubuntu and the grub is installed to. You do this by running
this command:

Code:
find /boot/grub/stage1

Take note of what it returns (something like (hd0,1).)

Now you need to tell Grub where it is installed. Using the output of the last command, change this
one and run it:

Code:
root (hd<a>,<b>)

Replacing <a> and <b> with what you got back before. For example, if "find /boot/grub/stage1"
gave me "(hd0,1)", you would run "root (hd0,1)"

Ok, so thats the configuration over and done with. Now we just need to run one command to install
the Grub to your hard drive:

Code:
setup (hd0)

Now to quit and check if it has worked:

Code:
quit

Code:
sudo reboot

Make sure you have taken the live cd out of your disc tray. All going well, you should start back up
and see the grub once again.

How to restore the Windows XP bootloader

For this you will need your Windows XP installation CD. Boot into it now.

You will get to a part where it asks if you want to repair or recover. To do so, press "r".

If prompted, enter your Windows XP administrator password. This will leave you at at a command
line, so type in the following two commands:

Code:
fixboot

Code:
fixmbr

Then type
Code:
exit
then remove your XP cd. If everything has gone well, you should come to your XP bootloader.

How to restore the Windows Vista or 7 bootloader

To restore the Windows Vista/7 bootloader, you must first boot off your Windows Vista/7
installation DVD.
If you have one of the many OEM computers that didnt come with a Vista/7 installation disk, you
can get the same effect with a Vista recovery disk, which you can download for Vista or Win 7.
When you get to the Regional settings, select your Location/Keyboard setting then click next. On
the next page you must click on "Repair your computer."

On the next page, if it finds your Windows Vista/7 installation, make sure it is UNSELECTED before
clicking next.
Then click on "Command prompt". From there, type in the folowing:

Code:
bootrec.exe /fixboot

Code:
bootrec.exe /fixmbr

Now close the two windows and click "Restart."

Take out your Vista/7 DVD and hopefully, you will be left with your Windows Vista/7 Bootloader.
__________________
Quote:

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma
Gandhi