Dual Boot Windows 7 – Reinstall Windows 7 Without Affecting Dual Boot Ubuntu

dual-bootwindows 7

I have dual boot configured with Windows 7 (32bit) and Ubuntu 12.04(64bit). I installed Ubuntu after windows, now my windows is corrupt due to some virus and I need to reinstall it. Currently when I start my PC, grub loader comes up and I need to select Ubuntu or Windows.

I was wondering how can I install windows again and still have my Ubuntu install? Is there a way to do this?

I do not want to install Ubuntu again and lose my settings and data there.

Thanks,
Ketan

Best Answer

Point to note: By dual boot you meant Ubuntu not installed by wubi.

Install windows 7 as usual in the same drive as it is now. It will replace the GRUB and ubuntu will not be bootable. But ubuntu isn't deleted. You can recover it using a simple tool boot-repair without complicated commands.

Boot using ubuntu disk after installation of windows 7.

Use boot-repair to perform a Recomemnded Repair . Instructions are here

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create entry in 40_custom(don't remove anything) in directory /etc/grub.d

gksudo gedit /etc/grub.d/40_custom

add an entry like this

menuentry "Windows 7" {
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Modify the set root value of course. Determine the hdd by typing: sudo fdisk -l . For example, /dev/sda1 is (hd0,1) if its on the second HDD: /dev/sdb1 >> (hd1,1)..and so on. You can understand the syntax from this I guess. After you made the modifications, do sudo update-grub and you can try to boot it. BTW grub actually can't boot windows the only thing it can do is to chainload(to call) windows bootloader.

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Try opening Ubuntu terminal and executing command

sudo update-grub

Best Answer

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