trouble with dual booting

[couts]

I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7.
At first I would get a menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to.
Since I have updated Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It only
boots to Ubuntu. I still have some things in windows I need and would
like to be able to use this program
Any help appreciated

[Aragorn]

On Wednesday 03 August 2011 16:56 in alt.os.linux.ubuntu, couts

Post by couts
I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7.
At first I would get a menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to.

Yes, that would be the GRUB-2 bootloader.

Post by couts
Since I have updated Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It
only boots to Ubuntu. I still have some things in windows I need and
would like to be able to use this program
Any help appreciated

I'd suggest looking around in your system administration menus for
something pertaining to the bootloader configuration and taking it from
there. I also recommend reading the following PDF...:

http://mdlug.org/presentations/Tomich/grub2.pdf

[shine]

Post by Aragorn
Yes, that would be the GRUB-2 bootloader.

Maybe, but maybe not. OP didn't state (among other things) which version
of Ubuntu s/he's installed.

[couts]

Post by shine

Post by Aragorn
Yes, that would be the GRUB-2 bootloader.

Maybe, but maybe not. OP didn't state (among other things) which version
of Ubuntu s/he's installed.

I have ver 11.04

[T i m]

Post by couts
I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7.
At first I would get a menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to.
Since I have updated Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It only
boots to Ubuntu. I still have some things in windows I need and would
like to be able to use this program
Any help appreciated

When you say 'alongside' Windows do you mean using WUBI or did you
install it onto it's own partition after booting from the CD etc?

Or, did the 'menu' give you just Windows 7 and Ubuntu or did it give
more things (like Memtest etc)?

Cheers, T i m

[couts]

Post by T i m

Post by couts
I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7.
At first I would get a menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to.
Since I have updated Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It only
boots to Ubuntu. I still have some things in windows I need and would
like to be able to use this program
Any help appreciated

When you say 'alongside' Windows do you mean using WUBI or did you
install it onto it's own partition after booting from the CD etc?
Or, did the 'menu' give you just Windows 7 and Ubuntu or did it give
more things (like Memtest etc)?
Cheers, T i m

I installed it on it own partition

[T i m]

Post by couts

Post by T i m

Post by couts
I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7.
At first I would get a menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to.
Since I have updated Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It only
boots to Ubuntu. I still have some things in windows I need and would
like to be able to use this program
Any help appreciated

When you say 'alongside' Windows do you mean using WUBI or did you
install it onto it's own partition after booting from the CD etc?
Or, did the 'menu' give you just Windows 7 and Ubuntu or did it give
more things (like Memtest etc)?
Cheers, T i m

I installed it on it own partition

Right, then assuming you did used to see the GRUB boot menu then try
as NoOp suggest and when in Ubuntu, open a terminal and enter:

sudo update-grub

That should scan the hard drive for both Linux and Windows (loaders)
and then add them to the GRUB menu for you.

If it doesn't seem to see your Windows install (you could try to mount
the W7 partition and see if it still exists .. Go to Places .. find
and double click it) and if it looks ok check in Synaptic Package
manager that you have 'os-prober' installed and if you haven't install
it and repeat the line above.

If you don't find Windows back in GRUB menu let us know what the
update-grub said.

Cheers, T i m

[NoOp]

Post by couts
I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7.
At first I would get a menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to.
Since I have updated Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It only
boots to Ubuntu. I still have some things in windows I need and would
like to be able to use this program
Any help appreciated

When in Ubuntu open a terminal:

$ sudo update-grub

post the output.

[T i m]

Post by NoOp

Post by couts
I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7.
At first I would get a menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to.
Since I have updated Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It only
boots to Ubuntu. I still have some things in windows I need and would
like to be able to use this program
Any help appreciated

$ sudo update-grub
post the output.

My money is on there is no os-prober. ;-)

T i m

[couts]

Post by couts
I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7.
At first I would get a menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to.
Since I have updated Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It only
boots to Ubuntu. I still have some things in windows I need and would
like to be able to use this program
Any help appreciated

I have different options like the memtest and then different ver of the
ubuntu kernel but nothing about booying to widows.
its as if it doesnt exist anymore

[Moog]

Post by couts

Post by couts
I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7.
At first I would get a menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to.
Since I have updated Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It only
boots to Ubuntu. I still have some things in windows I need and would
like to be able to use this program
Any help appreciated

I have different options like the memtest and then different ver of the
ubuntu kernel but nothing about booying to widows.
its as if it doesnt exist anymore

It sounds like you may have more kernels available than spaces in your
grub options.

I would install.
Grub customiser
https://launchpad.net/grub-customizer

You should then be able to remove unused kernel entries and hopefully
get the windows option back.

Worth a try.

[T i m]

Post by Moog

Post by couts

Post by couts
I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7.
At first I would get a menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to.
Since I have updated Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It only
boots to Ubuntu. I still have some things in windows I need and would
like to be able to use this program
Any help appreciated

I have different options like the memtest and then different ver of the
ubuntu kernel but nothing about booying to widows.
its as if it doesnt exist anymore

It sounds like you may have more kernels available than spaces in your
grub options.
I would install.
Grub customiser
https://launchpad.net/grub-customizer
You should then be able to remove unused kernel entries and hopefully
get the windows option back.
Worth a try.

I thought you could scroll through them if there are more than can be
displayed in the one std box? Or at least I'm pretty sure I have done
such on one of my muiti-Lini machines (but could well be wrong).

Cheers, T i m

[Moog]

On 2011-08-03, T i m illuminated alt.os.linux.ubuntu by typing:

<snip>

Post by T i m
I thought you could scroll through them if there are more than can be
displayed in the one std box? Or at least I'm pretty sure I have done
such on one of my muiti-Lini machines (but could well be wrong)

Well. Mine seems limited to 5 entries plus the memtests. I don't recall
previously tweaking this, but it is possible.

It does not currenty present an issue as I do not dual boot.

[Roy Strachan]

Post by Moog
<snip>

Post by T i m
I thought you could scroll through them if there are more than can be
displayed in the one std box? Or at least I'm pretty sure I have done
such on one of my muiti-Lini machines (but could well be wrong)

Well. Mine seems limited to 5 entries plus the memtests. I don't recall
previously tweaking this, but it is possible.
It does not currenty present an issue as I do not dual boot.

I used to leave all the entries in place until I upgraded and never had a
problem, but I don't think I have done this under GRUB 2. Now I keep the
last 3 versions and don't dual boot so I don't know whether this is a
problem in GRUB 2.

[*Hemidactylus*]

Post by Roy Strachan

Post by Moog
<snip>

Post by T i m
I thought you could scroll through them if there are more than can be
displayed in the one std box? Or at least I'm pretty sure I have done
such on one of my muiti-Lini machines (but could well be wrong)

Well. Mine seems limited to 5 entries plus the memtests. I don't recall
previously tweaking this, but it is possible.
It does not currenty present an issue as I do not dual boot.

I used to leave all the entries in place until I upgraded and never had a
problem, but I don't think I have done this under GRUB 2. Now I keep the
last 3 versions and don't dual boot so I don't know whether this is a
problem in GRUB 2.

With Lubuntu I have an entry in GRUB for previous Linux versions. I
think that might be a catchall for previous kernels. If so that's the
fix to Grub screen overload on dual boot machines.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10720316

Yes, and it is elegant.

[HoneyMonster]

Post by Moog

Post by couts

I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7. At first I would get a
menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to. Since I have updated
Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It only boots to Ubuntu. I
still have some things in windows I need and would like to be able to
use this program
Any help appreciated

I have different options like the memtest and then different ver of the
ubuntu kernel but nothing about booying to widows. its as if it doesnt
exist anymore

It sounds like you may have more kernels available than spaces in your
grub options.
I would install.
Grub customiser
https://launchpad.net/grub-customizer
You should then be able to remove unused kernel entries and hopefully
get the windows option back.
Worth a try.

If you suspect that that is the issue, wouldn't it be simpler for OP to
start by posting the output from "dpkg -l | grep linux-image"?

[Moog]

Post by HoneyMonster
If you suspect that that is the issue, wouldn't it be simpler for OP to
start by posting the output from "dpkg -l | grep linux-image"?

I was trying to second guess the ability of the poster and add some
understanding of how grub2 works using a decent graphical tool.

But yes. That would show if it is the issue or not. It would not be able
to solve the OP's issue should it be the reason.

The grub customizer would.

[HoneyMonster]

Post by Moog

Post by HoneyMonster
If you suspect that that is the issue, wouldn't it be simpler for OP to
start by posting the output from "dpkg -l | grep linux-image"?

I was trying to second guess the ability of the poster and add some
understanding of how grub2 works using a decent graphical tool.
But yes. That would show if it is the issue or not. It would not be able
to solve the OP's issue should it be the reason.
The grub customizer would.

I don't disagree at all. It's just that OP posting the output of the
command here *first* would have allowed diagnosis of the problem before
embarking on the (GUI, probably best in this case, I agree) fix.

Plus we might have been able to suggest purging some unwanted old
kernels, and the Grub2 issue might have automagically fixed itself as a
result.

You were right, though. Well done.

[NoOp]

Post by Moog

Post by couts

Post by couts
I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7.
At first I would get a menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to.
Since I have updated Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It only
boots to Ubuntu. I still have some things in windows I need and would
like to be able to use this program
Any help appreciated

I have different options like the memtest and then different ver of the
ubuntu kernel but nothing about booying to widows.
its as if it doesnt exist anymore

It sounds like you may have more kernels available than spaces in your
grub options.
I would install.
Grub customiser
https://launchpad.net/grub-customizer
You should then be able to remove unused kernel entries and hopefully
get the windows option back.
Worth a try.

$ sudo update-grub

would have shown all kernels as well as any Win entry. Example:

$ sudo update-grub
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-30-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-30-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-29-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-29-generic
Found Microsoft Windows XP Professional on /dev/sda1

Had he done that & provided the output as requested & if the output was
similar to the above, then it would be a simple matter of just telling
him to how to scroll down to the Win entry. Also would have been easy to
tell him which kernal images he could/can remove.

IMO if he can't figure out how to scroll down to the Win entry, he's
quite liable to screw something up with a GUI based Grub Customizer.
https://answers.launchpad.net/grub-customizer
https://answers.launchpad.net/grub-customizer/+faq/1355

[Moog]

On 2011-08-03, NoOp illuminated alt.os.linux.ubuntu by typing:

<snip>

Post by NoOp
$ sudo update-grub
$ sudo update-grub
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-30-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-30-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-29-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-29-generic
Found Microsoft Windows XP Professional on /dev/sda1

Correct.

Post by NoOp
Had he done that & provided the output as requested & if the output was
similar to the above, then it would be a simple matter of just telling
him to how to scroll down to the Win entry. Also would have been easy to
tell him which kernal images he could/can remove.

Correct.

Post by NoOp
IMO if he can't figure out how to scroll down to the Win entry, he's
quite liable to screw something up with a GUI based Grub Customizer.
https://answers.launchpad.net/grub-customizer
https://answers.launchpad.net/grub-customizer/+faq/1355

Did you miss the OP's post where he stated that grub optimizer solved
it for him?

You may have given different advice. Fine. We're different people.

I believe I read the situation correctly. I think the OP was not
interested in terminals and textual output followed by a stream of
config file editing and multiple postings to achieve a solution.

In fact, I believe he learned more about grub using the Graphical front
end than he would have done running away from terminal entries.

Your way...as obvious as it seems to most experienced users... looks
extremely difficult to someone not used to it.

I don't think I've done anything other than solved someones problem and
hopefully created a linux user rather than someone who thinks "it's too
hard".

Troubleshooting should always be the path of least resistance.

My opinion of course.

[NoOp]

Post by Moog
<snip>

Post by NoOp
$ sudo update-grub
$ sudo update-grub
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-30-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-30-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-29-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-29-generic
Found Microsoft Windows XP Professional on /dev/sda1

Correct.

Post by NoOp
Had he done that & provided the output as requested & if the output was
similar to the above, then it would be a simple matter of just telling
him to how to scroll down to the Win entry. Also would have been easy to
tell him which kernal images he could/can remove.

Correct.

Post by NoOp
IMO if he can't figure out how to scroll down to the Win entry, he's
quite liable to screw something up with a GUI based Grub Customizer.
https://answers.launchpad.net/grub-customizer
https://answers.launchpad.net/grub-customizer/+faq/1355

Did you miss the OP's post where he stated that grub optimizer solved
it for him?

No I didn't miss that. But in the process you had him install an
non-standard/non-ubuntu-supported/non-repo package via a PPA (*Personal
Package Archive*) to do it. A few simple terminal commands would have
resolved the problem.

https://help.ubuntu.com/10.10/add-applications/C/adding-repos.html
<quote>
Adding a Personal Package Archive (PPA)
...
You download and install PPA packages at your own risk. Ubuntu,
Launchpad and Canonical do not endorse these packages. You must be
certain that you trust the PPA owner before you install their software.
</quote>

While I do use PPA's from trusted sources, I don't recommend them to
apparent new users.

Post by Moog
You may have given different advice. Fine. We're different people.
I believe I read the situation correctly. I think the OP was not
interested in terminals and textual output followed by a stream of
config file editing and multiple postings to achieve a solution.
In fact, I believe he learned more about grub using the Graphical front
end than he would have done running away from terminal entries.

I very much doubt that... but I guess we'll never know.

Post by Moog
Your way...as obvious as it seems to most experienced users... looks
extremely difficult to someone not used to it.

How difficult is it to:

$ sudo update-grub

Certainly (IMO) easier than:
https://launchpad.net/~danielrichter2007/+archive/grub-customizer

Post by Moog
I don't think I've done anything other than solved someones problem and
hopefully created a linux user rather than someone who thinks "it's too
hard".
Troubleshooting should always be the path of least resistance.

It should indeed. And in this case, again IMO, would have been to simply
do as I suggested.

Post by Moog
My opinion of course.

[Moog]

On 2011-08-04, NoOp illuminated alt.os.linux.ubuntu by typing:
<snip>

Post by NoOp
It should indeed. And in this case, again IMO, would have been to simply
do as I suggested.

Good lord.

There are two ways to do things. Both achieve a result.

There is

1) My Way
2) Your Way

You are adamant that "2) your way" is correct.

I have already stated that both ways are.

Do us all a favour. Crawl out of your superiority complex.

Cheers

[*Hemidactylus*]

Post by Moog

Post by couts

Post by couts
I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7.
At first I would get a menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to.
Since I have updated Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It only
boots to Ubuntu. I still have some things in windows I need and would
like to be able to use this program
Any help appreciated

I have different options like the memtest and then different ver of the
ubuntu kernel but nothing about booying to widows.
its as if it doesnt exist anymore

It sounds like you may have more kernels available than spaces in your
grub options.
I would install.
Grub customiser
https://launchpad.net/grub-customizer
You should then be able to remove unused kernel entries and hopefully
get the windows option back.
Worth a try.

My grub screen with 11.04 Lubuntu has the current kernel, an option for
previous Linux versions, and the Windows atrocity. I'm thinking previous
Linux versions could be a catch bin for previous kernel overload, but I
could be wrong. It at least would prevent kernel option overload on the
initial boot screen if so.

Flame the sometingorotherdroid. Duck and cover.

[couts]

On 11-08-03 11:56 AM, couts wrote:


Using the grub customizer, I was able to change some of the menu and
noticed the windows entry was there. just not showing up on the screen
I was able to remove some of the entry and notcied I could just scroll down.

Thank you very much every body for the help

Post by couts
I first installed Ubuntu alongside Windows7.
At first I would get a menu giving me the choice of which os to boot to.
Since I have updated Ubuntu , I dont have that choice anymore. It only
boots to Ubuntu. I still have some things in windows I need and would
like to be able to use this program
Any help appreciated

[Moog]

Post by couts
Using the grub customizer, I was able to change some of the menu and
noticed the windows entry was there. just not showing up on the screen
I was able to remove some of the entry and notcied I could just scroll down.
Thank you very much every body for the help.

No problem.

I'm glad to have assisted.

[Paul J Gans]

Post by couts
Using the grub customizer, I was able to change some of the menu and
noticed the windows entry was there. just not showing up on the screen
I was able to remove some of the entry and notcied I could just scroll down.

Well, that's a bug, isn't it? Ubuntu should remove some or most of
the ancient system entries to prevent that sort of thing.

[NoOp]

Post by Paul J Gans

Post by couts
Using the grub customizer, I was able to change some of the menu and
noticed the windows entry was there. just not showing up on the screen
I was able to remove some of the entry and notcied I could just scroll down.

Well, that's a bug, isn't it? Ubuntu should remove some or most of
the ancient system entries to prevent that sort of thing.

No it's not a bug. No Ubuntu shouldn't remove some any entries; the
kernels are still active, still available, and should only be removed
*only* by the user. I sometimes boot into 2 or 3 different kernels to
test somethings, if Ubuntu were to autoremove my other kernel images I'd
be pretty pissed off.

The OP *always* had the option to "just scroll down" and it doesn't
matter how many kernels he/she had in the grub menu. Unfortunately, due
to the grand GUI the OP installed I doubt we'll ever know just how many
he/she actually had there...

[*Hemidactylus*]

Post by NoOp

Post by Paul J Gans

Post by couts
Using the grub customizer, I was able to change some of the menu and
noticed the windows entry was there. just not showing up on the screen
I was able to remove some of the entry and notcied I could just scroll down.

Well, that's a bug, isn't it? Ubuntu should remove some or most of
the ancient system entries to prevent that sort of thing.

No it's not a bug. No Ubuntu shouldn't remove some any entries; the
kernels are still active, still available, and should only be removed
*only* by the user. I sometimes boot into 2 or 3 different kernels to
test somethings, if Ubuntu were to autoremove my other kernel images I'd
be pretty pissed off.
The OP *always* had the option to "just scroll down" and it doesn't
matter how many kernels he/she had in the grub menu. Unfortunately, due
to the grand GUI the OP installed I doubt we'll ever know just how many
he/she actually had there...

Funnt thing that my Grub screen has a submenu for "previous Linux
versions" and this averts previous kernel version overload.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10720316

[RedAcer]

Post by *Hemidactylus*

Post by NoOp

Post by Paul J Gans

Post by couts
Using the grub customizer, I was able to change some of the menu and
noticed the windows entry was there. just not showing up on the screen
I was able to remove some of the entry and notcied I could just scroll down.

Well, that's a bug, isn't it? Ubuntu should remove some or most of
the ancient system entries to prevent that sort of thing.

No it's not a bug. No Ubuntu shouldn't remove some any entries; the
kernels are still active, still available, and should only be removed
*only* by the user. I sometimes boot into 2 or 3 different kernels to
test somethings, if Ubuntu were to autoremove my other kernel images I'd
be pretty pissed off.
The OP *always* had the option to "just scroll down" and it doesn't
matter how many kernels he/she had in the grub menu. Unfortunately, due
to the grand GUI the OP installed I doubt we'll ever know just how many
he/she actually had there...

Funnt thing that my Grub screen has a submenu for "previous Linux
versions" and this averts previous kernel version overload.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10720316

grub version numbering is odd. I've got Grub 2 on Ubuntu 10.04, but
it's actually 1.98. 1.99 comes with 11.00, do you happen know if it can
installed with 10.04 ?

[Paul J Gans]

Post by NoOp

Post by Paul J Gans

Post by couts
Using the grub customizer, I was able to change some of the menu and
noticed the windows entry was there. just not showing up on the screen
I was able to remove some of the entry and notcied I could just scroll down.

Well, that's a bug, isn't it? Ubuntu should remove some or most of
the ancient system entries to prevent that sort of thing.

No it's not a bug. No Ubuntu shouldn't remove some any entries; the
kernels are still active, still available, and should only be removed
*only* by the user. I sometimes boot into 2 or 3 different kernels to
test somethings, if Ubuntu were to autoremove my other kernel images I'd
be pretty pissed off.

Ok, but I don't agree with you. One needs a backup kernel in case
the new one doesn't work on your equipment. It does not need five
of them. And there are serious reasons why those kernels were
superceded.

Post by NoOp
The OP *always* had the option to "just scroll down" and it doesn't
matter how many kernels he/she had in the grub menu. Unfortunately, due
to the grand GUI the OP installed I doubt we'll ever know just how many
he/she actually had there...

If one doesn't want to upgrade (I'm still running 10.04), then
just don't upgrade.

[Henry Crun]

Post by Paul J Gans

Post by couts
Using the grub customizer, I was able to change some of the menu and
noticed the windows entry was there. just not showing up on the screen
I was able to remove some of the entry and notcied I could just scroll down.

Well, that's a bug, isn't it? Ubuntu should remove some or most of
the ancient system entries to prevent that sort of thing.

Ubuntu *will not* remove anything unless you tell it to.
The way to do this is to go into Synaptic, look for "linux-image", and select
"Remove completely" on the installed versions you want to remove, then click
"Apply". This will rebuild the GRUB2 menu to contain only those versions which
remain. Unless you *REALLY* know what you're doing *DO NOT REMOVE THE CURRENT
VERSION* (the latest installed.)

[Paul J Gans]

Post by Henry Crun

Post by Paul J Gans

Post by couts
Using the grub customizer, I was able to change some of the menu and
noticed the windows entry was there. just not showing up on the screen
I was able to remove some of the entry and notcied I could just scroll down.

Well, that's a bug, isn't it? Ubuntu should remove some or most of
the ancient system entries to prevent that sort of thing.

Ubuntu *will not* remove anything unless you tell it to.
The way to do this is to go into Synaptic, look for "linux-image", and select
"Remove completely" on the installed versions you want to remove, then click
"Apply". This will rebuild the GRUB2 menu to contain only those versions which
remain. Unless you *REALLY* know what you're doing *DO NOT REMOVE THE CURRENT
VERSION* (the latest installed.)

That's an interesting philosophic position. My choice would be to
allow the number of previous kernels to be kept to be set by the
user. Taking the choice out of the user's hands is unlinux-like.