Partitions --- installing Linux + Vista

[Zico]

Hope the subject is on-topic for this NG...

I just irreversibly screwed up my Windows Vista notebook while
attempting to install it in dual-boot mode --- Ubuntu Linux + its
Vista.

After screwing it up, I found out that I should have resized the
partition from within Vista's own Disk Management tool ... Instead,
thinking that it would be the only way, I tried G-PartED, and resized
the partition.

Now Vista won't boot; the BIOS-based recovery (from the "hidden"
partition) won't work. I'm only left with ordering installation CDs,
which I'm told the Tech Support does not have in stock, and they
estimate that it could be around $40 anyway --- I'm already furious
that I was forced to buy Vista just because I wanted a notebook;
I'm not going to pay *extra* for what I already unwillingly and
choicelessly paid for)

With that said, well, I did pay for Vista, so at least I'd like to
have
the option to use it once in a while if I need to or want to.

Is there any "hack" or quick fix for this partition mess? Ubuntu
installs like a charm, but Vista won't boot (even after installing
Linux's boot loader and sending it to boot from the Vista partition),
since it does not seem to like the current partition table's state;
same thing for the BIOS --- since it it does not find the partition
table *exactly* as it was, it does not offer me to proceed with the
recovery procedure from the "hidden" partition.

Any hope for me?

Thanks,
-Zico

 

[Rod Speed]

Hope the subject is on-topic for this NG...

No it isnt.

I just irreversibly screwed up my Windows Vista notebook while
attempting to install it in dual-boot mode --- Ubuntu Linux + its Vista.

 

[Arno Wagner]

Hope the subject is on-topic for this NG...

It is.

I just irreversibly screwed up my Windows Vista notebook while
attempting to install it in dual-boot mode --- Ubuntu Linux + its
Vista.

After screwing it up, I found out that I should have resized the
partition from within Vista's own Disk Management tool ... Instead,
thinking that it would be the only way, I tried G-PartED, and resized
the partition.

I think Gnu Parted cannot currently resize NTFS partitions in non-destructive
mode. It can resize FAT32. Was the Vista-partition NTFS?

Now Vista won't boot; the BIOS-based recovery (from the "hidden"
partition) won't work.

That is strange. This one should allways work, unless it was
screwed up by the people that designed it.

I'm only left with ordering installation CDs,
which I'm told the Tech Support does not have in stock, and they
estimate that it could be around $40 anyway --- I'm already furious
that I was forced to buy Vista just because I wanted a notebook;
I'm not going to pay *extra* for what I already unwillingly and
choicelessly paid for)

If the hidden-partition approach does not work, they ought to
give you the CDs for free. Don't tell them you installed Ubuntu.
Tell them it does not boot and the BIOS recovery does not work.

With that said, well, I did pay for Vista, so at least I'd like to
have
the option to use it once in a while if I need to or want to.
Is there any "hack" or quick fix for this partition mess? Ubuntu
installs like a charm, but Vista won't boot (even after installing
Linux's boot loader and sending it to boot from the Vista partition),
since it does not seem to like the current partition table's state;

Does it not react at all, or does it complain? If it complains then
the hack would be to go back to the original partition sizes.
Possibly. MS manages to screw up allmost anything.

same thing for the BIOS --- since it it does not find the partition
table *exactly* as it was, it does not offer me to proceed with the
recovery procedure from the "hidden" partition.

Any hope for me?

Can you tell the BIOS to reconstruct the original Partition
table?

Arno

 

[Zico]

I think Gnu Parted cannot currently resize NTFS partitions in non-destructive
mode. It can resize FAT32. Was the Vista-partition NTFS?

Yes. My memory must be seriously betraying me nowadays; I was sort
of 100% certain that I had done this exact procedure with Win2K and
WinXP machines (always with NTFS).

That is strange. This one should allways work, unless it was
screwed up by the people that designed it.

I thought it was strange, but since I don't know the details and the
internals of G-PartED, I'm not sure about the reason why it's
happening.

If the hidden-partition approach does not work, they ought to
give you the CDs for free. Don't tell them you installed Ubuntu.
Tell them it does not boot and the BIOS recovery does not work.

That makes sense; I mean, after all, I do find it an abuse and
very poor service that they give me a lousy hidden partition
with the OS, when I'm actually paying for it (and the physical
media is like, what, a few cents' extra cost?)... Anyway, I'll
stop -- the ranting part *is* indeed off-topic

Does it not react at all, or does it complain? If it complains then
the hack would be to go back to the original partition sizes.

Interesting. Before installing Ubuntu (and after resizing the
partition), it would give me a text screen with two choices:
- Repair what's preventing Vista from Starting
- Start Windows Vista normally

In both cases, I do see the Windows logo and the progress
bar moving, but only for a few seconds; then the screen
goes blank and the thing dies.

Can you tell the BIOS to reconstruct the original Partition
table?

??? I'm not familiar with this option/procedure; how would
I do that? Is it a special option available on some BIOSes?
How would I determine if I can do it?

I guess attempting to resize it to its original size with G-PartED
itself would be out of the question?

Thanks,
-Zico

 

[Arno Wagner]

Yes. My memory must be seriously betraying me nowadays; I was sort
of 100% certain that I had done this exact procedure with Win2K and
WinXP machines (always with NTFS).

Very unlikely ;-)

I thought it was strange, but since I don't know the details and the
internals of G-PartED, I'm not sure about the reason why it's
happening.

That makes sense; I mean, after all, I do find it an abuse and
very poor service that they give me a lousy hidden partition
with the OS, when I'm actually paying for it (and the physical
media is like, what, a few cents' extra cost?)... Anyway, I'll
stop -- the ranting part *is* indeed off-topic

Once I wanted the XP disks for my IBM ThinkPad. The guy on the phone
told me he could send them to me for 40 EUR, but that I should phone
hardware support (he even gave me the number) and claim I could not
install from the hidden partition to get them for free. A bit
convoluted, but still good service in my book.

Interesting. Before installing Ubuntu (and after resizing the
partition), it would give me a text screen with two choices:
- Repair what's preventing Vista from Starting
- Start Windows Vista normally

In both cases, I do see the Windows logo and the progress
bar moving, but only for a few seconds; then the screen
goes blank and the thing dies.

I think you may have installed Ubuntu over part of the data of the
old partition. Before you wrote to the new partition, the data was
still essentially there. Now it is not.

??? I'm not familiar with this option/procedure; how would
I do that? Is it a special option available on some BIOSes?
How would I determine if I can do it?

Look whether it gioves you the special option somewere.

I guess attempting to resize it to its original size with G-PartED
itself would be out of the question?

You can do that. But I seriously doubt it will help. Best get the
CDs.

Arno

 

[Zico]

Hi again, and thanks for your comments and advice.

I think you may have installed Ubuntu over part of the data of the
old partition. Before you wrote to the new partition, the data was
still essentially there. Now it is not.

I was quite careful with that --- Vista was a brand new installation,
so it shouldn't be fragmented. G-PartED highlights the part that
is used, and the marker was way below the point where I shrunk
the partition to (the disk is 80G, had 70GB available, so I resized
it to 35GB ... I think Vista does not touch anything beyong 10 or
12 GB ... Now, there's again the issue that MS may be screwing
up everything they touch! )

Look whether it gioves you the special option somewere.

I'll check it out -- sounds like an interesting option to familiarize
myself with anyway.

Thanks,
-Zico

 

[Arno Wagner]

Hi again, and thanks for your comments and advice.

I was quite careful with that --- Vista was a brand new installation,
so it shouldn't be fragmented. G-PartED highlights the part that

Aha, so this is not Gnu Parted after all. It seems to use the
same base library and additional programms. GParted claims to be
able to resize NTFS, while Gnu Parted definitely cannot do that.
It seems Gparted uses the ntfstools, which are still betta and
known to be not too reliable, AFAIK.

is used, and the marker was way below the point where I shrunk
the partition to (the disk is 80G, had 70GB available, so I resized
it to 35GB ... I think Vista does not touch anything beyong 10 or
12 GB ... Now, there's again the issue that MS may be screwing
up everything they touch! )

Hmm. Then maybe sizing it back would help. But my current theory
is that either something got overwritten or the ntfstools
screwed something up. Seems to me the Gparted people are quite
optimistic claiming full, unconditional NTFS support, when the
base-tools are still beta.

I'll check it out -- sounds like an interesting option to familiarize
myself with anyway.

Arno

 

[oogabooga]

I just irreversibly screwed up my Windows Vista notebook while
attempting to install it in dual-boot mode --- Ubuntu Linux + its
Vista.

I recall people saying early Vista isn't all that concerned with
anything but itself. In the monopolistic sort of way. All that
security and RIAA stuff you know.