Afrer several attampts to install Ubuntu 8.04 alonside Vista Premium I've now give up !!
I've tried various suggestions that have been posted to fix this problem (I've had GRUB errors 2 and 21)but to no avail.
Apparently Ubuntu doesn't like RAID. I have a Dell Inspiron 1721 with 2 SATA discs (160Gb) and AMD processors and the system is configured as RAID0 (which you can't turn off - which was one of the suggestions)
All I want is to get my laptop to boot into Vista so I can do a 'Restore to previous'
I've obviously got the Ubuntu Live CD so I need some kind person to provide me with srep by step instructions on how to edit the BIOS so it'll boot into Windows.
I know how to get into Terminal so all I need is an idiots set of instructions (I'm no geek !)
I really don't wnat to format my hard drive !!!
How-To Geek Forums » Windows Vista
Tweak BIOS to boot into Windows Vista
(19 posts)
StevePaul,
I'm not familiar with your machine but I did a quick search on the product.
Have you downloaded and read the setup / service manuals ??
One was around 220 pages so it may be awhile before you get an answer unless someone in the forum has a setup similar to yours.
http://support.dell.com/suppor...../index.htm
Be patient.
Kindest Regards,
Rick P. ♥ :)
This won't help .... the problem I have is that I can only boot from the Ubuntu Live CD !! The install of Ubuntu screwed up my MBR and all I get is a GRUB error 2 whcih apparently means it can't find what it needs to load Ubuntu properly. As I said in my post I've tried various solutions that I've found posted but none seem to work.
I need to short cut the boot process so that I can get into Windows then do a 'Restore to previous ....'
What I really need is a Linux expert who can provide detailed instructions of what I need to do from the Live CD to change my BIOS to boot into Windows ...
Rapidly getting to the point where I simply format my hard drive and start again.
All you can do in BIOS is change the boot drive from your CD: to your C: drive. After that, you can take a look at your boot.ini (should be C:\boot.ini) and verify that it is pointing to your Windows directory (this is based on XP, not at my Vista pc, but I'm pretty sure they haven't changed that). Please note, if your MBR has actually been overwritten, odds are you will be looking at a reinstall.
Thought there was a way of editing the content of the boot record ... Anyway have been experimenting with different search values to get an answer to my problem and have come up with about 4 or 5 options to try later. Just frustrated at the moment that I haven't got ready access to a PC or Internet.
Well that's easy, the BIOS is hard coded on a chip on the Motherboard and the only way to change it is to flash it. Just download the latest version from your Motherboard manufacturer and put it on a usb stick. Change your current BIOS to boot from the usb first and after you save those settings just reboot. Flashing the BIOS usually only takes about 5 minutes or so, once it has completed you can go back into the BIOS and change your boot disk order and make any other tweaks you want. Just keep in mind, if the BIOS flash fails, you pretty much brick your motherboard and will need to replace it.
Probably not the place to ask this, but as your from the USA what do you do to remember 9/11.
Not really religious myself, but have just been to a remembrance service with my youngest children, organised by their school. Felt it was the appropriate thing to do.
The nearest I've gotten to this situation was the Birmingham pub bombings of the early seventies.
StevePaul,
You have (2) Topics going on same issue.
From yesterday.
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StevePaul,
Nice machine !!!!
After reading the manual, evidently DELL locked the drives together by using the Bios Setup.
If you unlock them now, you will lose everything.
If you ordered the the machine with (2) HDs, DELL should have sent you a OEM copy of Vista.
I would call DELL and see what they will do for you.
DELL ought to have had sense enough to ship at least a Restore CD with a machine which can be configured as a Raid 0 or as a Raid 1 (10) machine (especially a Laptop).
That's why I stay on the backs of the OEMs so bad.
They will do anything for a quick sale.
Kindest Regards,
Rick P. ♥ :)
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Posted 17 hours ago # Edit Top StevePaul
Member
Posts: 30Yeah, ordered this direct through Dell. Got a copy of the Vista CD thats not a problem.
Problem is the bloody thing (there I go again!) isn't recognising any drives or operating systems.
The additional problem I've got is that I've recently moved house and where I'm at haven't got an Internet connection installed !! (can you believe it in this day and age - I know I should have checked before I moved !)
Have to be honest Dell support is really quite good (in my experience)the last time I had a problem I ended up talking to a very nice man somewhere in India.
Got Knoppix on my pendrive, now just need to burn it to a CD and give it a whirl, mind you can't do it on my laptop 'cos its holding the drive for Ubuntu ...
Posted 3 hours ago # Top
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The ONLY WAY to fix the machine is to figure out if you want to run as a RAID 0 or RAID 1 machine, Use Bios Setup to setup Raid choice and then WIPE the the HDs AND then RE-install DELL OEM Vista CD. To WIPE and REFORMAT the HDs, you are going to have to pick up a copy GHOST OR make your own Boot CD with Utilities for doing so.
That is the BAD news.
The GOOD news is you have a GREAT (2) HD Laptop that can be configured in RAID 0 or RAID 1.
(SOLVED) on member's second topic concerning SAME issue.
Kindest Regards,
Rick P. ♥ :)
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