partition booting order

[that_tech_guy]

So I was deleting some partitions I didn't want, and that windows didn't make and I didn't delete the primary partition, I know this because if I did then windows would crash, but when I restarted my computer it wouldn't boot, my Theory is that the computer is booting from an empty partition slot or there was a booting partition that I accidentally deleted or the hard drive is failing. I can access all my files on a Linux computer and I have a vista install disk (if that help's)

[DigitalHermit]

-snip-

 

Try this:

1. Delete all partitions.
2. Create the windows (NTFS) partition (using advanced settings in the windows installer, make sure you allocate the appropriate disk space)
3. Create the Linux (ext4) partition (mount point of this one should be '/') and a small swap space.
4. Ensure that GRUB/boot loader will install to the root of the drive (can't post screenshot... but the option should show the device(HDD) name)

This should work... It's what I did on my laptop to dual boot Linux Mint 17...

[that_tech_guy]

im not trying to install linux, i have annother laptop that runs on linux, the computer that is having the problem runs on windows 8.1 and my computer is not booting, what i want to do is either replace the missing partition (if that's the case.) or find out what is wrong with the primary partition with windows on it

[DigitalHermit]

im not trying to install linux, i have annother laptop that runs on linux, the computer that is having the problem runs on windows 8.1 and my computer is booting from a empty partition, what i want to do is delete that partition or make it a lower priority, but it is hard to do that because it wont boot into windows

 

What I instructed has something to do with boot orders...

 

Basically the data on the drive will go like this

 

|GRUB|                    Windows                        |   Swap   |       Linux       |

 

The Windows part may be split into two for a system-reserved partition and the GRUB/boot loader partition will not be displayed, but it's there...

 

What's important is having GRUB before Windows...

[that_tech_guy]

im a little confused, i just want to make my computer boot from the right partition and if it is then I want to know if windows broke or something.

[DigitalHermit]

im a little confused, i cant change the boot order of the partitions, i just want to delete that partition then my computer will boot but i cant delete it, in windows vista install it wont let me delete the partition.

 

I think there's something up with your boot loader...

 

Can you post a screencap from Windows Disk Management (or something similar)?

[that_tech_guy]

I can't figure out how to attach a picture but here is what windows vista install shows for drives

 

Disk 0 partition 2 TI10649800F   total size:213.2 GB    free space: 98 GB

Disk 0 unallocated Space            total size:9.5 GB       free space:9.5 GB

 

There was 2 more but one was a flash drive and the other was a partition like the bottom one with nothing on it.

[DigitalHermit]

I can't figure out how to attach a picture but here is what windows vista install shows for drives

 

Disk 0 partition 2 TI10649800F   total size:213.2 GB    free space: 98 GB

Disk 0 unallocated Space            total size:9.5 GB       free space:9.5 GB

 

It should look like this:

 

The ones not marked NTFS are ext4 and swap space partitions...

That's where Linux is installed... From what you gave me, it appears that Vista can't determine that it's ext4...

 

Try doing what I suggested earlier... It should fix your problems... I've gone through the same thing before...

[that_tech_guy]

i cant start windows so i cant view the partition manger.

[DigitalHermit]

i cant start windows so i cant view the partition manger, but i think if i have another computer running windows , with the hard drive plugged in it will work and i can manage partitions!!! (i will tell you if it works.

 

You don't need to get into Windows...

 

Change the boot order in the bios to have the Windows Installer disc (on a DVD I presume) to come up first... There should be options to partition the disks there...

Then use your Linux live USB, to (re)install GRUB and Linux on the unused partition...

[William12h]

Install Windows to a USB or CD or Use ur restore disk. Boot into that and then try to do it.

i cant start windows so i cant view the partition manger, but i think if i have another computer running windows , with the hard drive plugged in it will work and i can manage partitions!!! (i will tell you if it works.

[MrAnderson1992]

I always stress to have 2 partitions minimum anyway. Windows on 1 data on the other. That way when you fuck things up like you have done you can reinstall windows if you can't be bothered to work out how to fix it.

[SlayerOfHellWyrm]

Do you still have the Windows OS disc, or a recovery USB?

[SlayerOfHellWyrm]

You don't need to get into Windows...

 

Change the boot order in the bios to have the Windows Installer disc (on a DVD I presume) to come up first... There should be options to partition the disks there...

Then use your Linux live USB, to (re)install GRUB and Linux on the unused partition...

Or you know... use it (Windows install disc) to delete the partition that he wants to delete via the install disc. Why you're involving Linux, idk, since he stated he's not trying to dual boot.

[DigitalHermit]

Or you know... use it to delete the partition that he wants to delete via the install disc. Why you're involving Linux, idk, since he stated he's not trying to dual boot.

 

...

 

Ok then...

[that_tech_guy]

ok so the problem has changed now, so there are no partitions but the one with windows on it, my computer is set to boot from the drive and when it boots the drive it says: checking media [Fail] then says No bootable device -- Please restart the system. any ideas?

[SlayerOfHellWyrm]

ok so the problem has changed now, so there are no partitions but the one with windows on it, my computer is set to boot from the drive and when it boots the drive it says: checking media [Fail] then says No bootable device -- Please restart the system. any ideas?

Are you leaving anything plugged in, like a USB, or external HDD?

[that_tech_guy]

no I have no usb drives in, the disk drive is ejected so it can only boot from the ssd

[MrAnderson1992]

When you say there are no partitions apart from the windows one does this mean you did a fresh install or does this mean you did it in disk management? If it's the second one then I think it may not be set to active anymore from all the playing around. If that's the case and you have another computer or access to one, download Ultimate Boot CD, put in on a USB drive with a tool like UniversalUSB and then boot into it. Type FDisk and then follow the steps to make sure it's set to active (this can also be done with an XP or earlier disc)

[that_tech_guy]

I did not do a fresh install of windows and yes I did remove the partitions using windows but when I restarted the computer would not boot. The computer did not crash because I didn't delete the primary partition it just won't boot now

[MrAnderson1992]

Then do as I said. Btw you cannot delete that partition when you are on it. Windows stops you, plus you can't delete your C:, like with the old command prompt scripts. These are just myths. My last comment is your best and easiest way to sort it. Crack on and let us know how you get on.

[that_tech_guy]

ok the problem is that I deleted the partition that makes windows boot but it didn't crash because it was done booting, so I have to buy windows 8 again

[DigitalHermit]

ok the problem is that I deleted the partition that makes windows boot but it didn't crash because it was done booting, so I have to buy windows 8 again

 

No need to buy windows again... You can use the key to get an iso from windows (i think)...

[MrAnderson1992]

Downloading an ISO is not illegal they even list them on the downloads page of Microsoft site. Put in your own key and your done. You should be able to use system repair to do this, anyhow if you need to reinstall then delete all partitions on your drive, the add 2 new partitions, one for data and one for windows. You will then have no need to mess with your partitions again.

[SlayerOfHellWyrm]

You can get Windows ISO's directly from Microsoft, and re-use your key. The only problem you may have, and reason to re-buy Windows, is if your original version was OEM, since OEM keys only get one use.