Ubuntu (and similar linux Debian distrubitions) general technecal thread

[Rushlight]

there doesn't seem to be one of these anywhere, so i though i'de make one :)

Over the last 1-2 years a bug killed my windows partition, so I've been forced to use Linux for everything from starcraft to game development and audio recording/playback.
I'de love to see who else is running similar operating systems, and has similar bugs(hopefully with solutions).

Now onto the first problem (yay!!)  :birdy:

So ive got a 32bit version of Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS, and a broken Windows 7 Partition.
the other computer is  running 12.04.2 LTS with a broken Windows XP partition (also 32 bit)

This is the second computer that Ubuntu has fried the windows partition on as soon as i use root to cd somewhere.
Files remain intact, linux confirmes that the NTFS fine system is perfectly in order, yet grub cannot find windows.

using the windows repair disk, it claims the same NTFS file system is corrupt and inaccessible, and that there is no windows (even though every file and folder is intact and there). Grub fins the windows recovery image, yet the recovery image claims the "restore images" are missing (the iso file containing the factory default image).

The further i try to repair this problem, the more mysterious it gets.

Thoughts?

[Sasha]

I just had hiked 40km from Stave lake to Maple ridge, to make the last leg back home on the first 701 and can hardly think, but, How did you install Ubuntu, did it move the Windows partition? What is your harddrive layout?

Is Windows on a virtual and not primary partition? I recall it must be primary, if that was since modified.

Have you tried running ntfsfix (part of ntfsprogs) to see if this would correct any filesystem subtleties that would prevent GRUB from loading it?

Tigerface.

[Zen]

This isnt a general linux thread, this is a specific question about dual booting.

Tigerface makes some good suggestions about fixing your existing ntfs partitions.

You should use windows drive manage to make blank partition space in the future, or use two physical drives, one for each OS. This will avoid any linux install from messing with existing partitions, which is always dangerous.

Nothing is stopping you from re installing windows, so the statement about being "forced" to use linux makes no sense.

[Rushlight]

well, it turns out is was a problem with the harddrive partitions themselves. the one that contained Ubuntu also just blue so i wiped my HD and used my windows disk image. I have Windows working like bran-new, but no linux anymore XD
I also lost EVERYTHING on my hardrive. Anyway i figured out the issue: and may this be a warning.
Some Ubuntu installations have a problem where by if you open Nautilus as root, and make ANY modifications on an NTFS disk it screws over the filesystem and makes its unrecognizable to windows. because this un-known modification was made by root, no windows repair can't fix it (and Ubuntu just sees a normal NTFS disk).
long story short: do NOT USE ROOT NAUTILUS unless your whole computer is running linux.

Btw, the linux partition failed because of a glitch in the cleanup program, it miss-moved something and screwed up the whole disk.

[Zen]

That was my suggestion: do not use a linux rool to adjust an NTFS partition. Only let windows do that. Or use separate drives for each OS.

Also, you shouls only adjust partitions on a fresh install. If you have used a machine for a while, and try to change the partition size, you are at a huge risk of losing data.