GRUB loading before the MBR and causing issues

[ViewtifulD]

Hi,

I wiped out the original Windows XP installation on my Thinkpad X60s and replaced it with Ubuntu a while back. 

To do this, I installed GRUB prior to installing Ubuntu Linux.

I must have screwed up the installation in the past, but never realized it since Ubuntu ran perfect.

However, now I want to revert back to my original installation of the Windows XP from the ThinkVantage option.

But -- when I try to do this, GRUB shows up even before the MBR and throws an error and does not let me go any further ahead. I have tried re-installing with an external CD, but that fails as well. 

Can someone help me out with this issue? I need the MBR to show up before GRUB and continue my XP installation.

I cant send the details of my menu.lst if that helps.

 

Also, on a different note, will Lenovo cover my warranty (3 year extended) if I have a different OS installed?

Thanks to all in advance.

[buddinggeek · Accepted solution]

hello welcome to the forums

use any xp setup cd and enter the recovery console

select the windows partition and use the command "fixmbr"

that should remove grub

have you tried wubi for ubuntu?which installs on windows partitions as a program rather than a dual boot system..its a failsafe method for you try it 

[ViewtifulD]

Hi again

Thanks for this suggestion. I have attempted this in the past but did not use that command. 

Will give it a shot again using your method.

The reason I am letting go of ubuntu is because I cannot run and sync up my phone or my phone software (Nokia E71).

I am currently using VirtualBox and have windows running, but the bluetooth and the USB both failed in VBox.

Besides that, Ubuntu is awesome and I want to continue using it. I will try to re-install windows and attemp using Wubi. 

[Sxooter]

I run Ubuntu as well but kept my Vista home basic partition for just he kind of reasons you mention.

Plus the odd game of battlezone2 !! haha.

[ViewtifulD]

Thanks for your help on the using windows recovery.

One additional line of thought if someone encounters this issue. 

When you hit the system recovery console, the administrator password is blank. So, don't go nuts trying to enter in some old password (cause I did!).

Also, using the WUBI installer is awesome. I should have done this from the start.

[garytr23]

Or... you could tell grub to chainload the bootsector of the recovery partition.

the key line is "root (hd0,0)"