Cannot reach any OS (operating system not found)

Question

I know that there are several posts about operating system not found problem. But my situation is severe. My company will start to develop embedded systems on Linux at the end of this year and I wanted to get familiar with Linux.

I wanted to install Ubuntu 12.04. First, Ubuntu did not recognize windows partitions. I try to solve this problem (I do not know and remember what I did here but I think this is the problem). After several hours I manage to install Ubuntu on a 50 GB partition (in fact I think that I successfully install). After rebooting the computer, I see the screen OS not found. I realized that I cannot install Ubuntu properly and cannot boot from Windows 7 now. I use my Windows 7 disk to repair Windows 7 but installation cannot see any harddisk partition and cannot find anything to repair or re-install.

I am in a desperate situation since my work on my work computer is about to get lost. My boss is not happy with that and give me time to solve this problem by the end of this day.

Please Help!!!!!

Ekrem.

Can you please pop in the Ubuntu Live CD that you might have used to install, and then download and run this script - [Boot Info Script](http://sourceforge.net/projects/bootinfoscript/) - and then paste it in a site like [Ubuntu's Pastebin](http://paste.ubuntu.com) and edit your question to share the link with us? — Nitin Venkatesh, Aug 16 '12 at 06:44
I download Boot Info Script but do not know how to use it :( — Ekrem Bayraktar, Aug 16 '12 at 06:50
Once you've extracted the folder, take a look at the readme file in there, it'll guide you through it :) Here's a [weblink](http://sourceforge.net/projects/bootinfoscript/files/bootinfoscript/0.61/) to it. — Nitin Venkatesh, Aug 16 '12 at 06:56
look at my answer http://askubuntu.com/questions/142750/after-installing-ubuntu-from-usb-grub2-cant-be-installed/142751#142751 — Rahul Virpara, Aug 16 '12 at 07:03
By the way when I click on boot-repair or call it from terminal it directly starts updating and then scanning system. I do not see such a console in your post. — Ekrem Bayraktar, Aug 16 '12 at 07:12

Max Tither · Answer 1 · 2012-08-16T07:18:40.270

1

From your pastebin, it appears you still have windows. Give this a try:

Boot into Ubuntu and open the terminal(Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard) or look for it in the dash. Once opened, type the following commands:

sudo grub-install "(hd0)"
sudo update-grub

This will install grub(the boot manager for Ubuntu on you hard drive.

That should do it.

Tell me if it works. Hope this helps you.

PS. Tell me if you get a picture similar to this:

Example of what sudo update-grub renders

edited Aug 16 '12 at 07:18

answered Aug 16 '12 at 07:12

Max Tither

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ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo grub-install "(hd0)" /usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: cannot find a device for /boot/grub (is /dev mounted?). ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ – Ekrem Bayraktar Aug 16 '12 at 07:21
How many hard drives do you have on your computer? – Max Tither Aug 16 '12 at 07:22
1

At first I have three, one is for windows and two other seperate partitions. When I was trying to install Ubuntu, I divide another 50 GB part, after that I divide a 10 MB space for bios (ubuntu installation ask me to do) and 4 GB swap area. – Ekrem Bayraktar Aug 16 '12 at 07:25
You can maybe use the software that Virpara told you(Specificly in the Grub location tab) As for the console that pops up, that is fine. The software is a GUI for the commands – Max Tither Aug 16 '12 at 07:37
but I cannot reach that GUI screen – Ekrem Bayraktar Aug 16 '12 at 07:48
yes when I type, a scanning screen comes and scans infinitely, last night I leave the computer in that state hoping that the problem can be fixed after some time but it did not... – Ekrem Bayraktar Aug 16 '12 at 07:53
Try typing boot-repair-gtk – Max Tither Aug 16 '12 at 07:54
How can I add screen shots here? – Ekrem Bayraktar Aug 16 '12 at 08:08
Forum do not let me to upload images due to reputation points :( – Ekrem Bayraktar Aug 16 '12 at 08:14
My boot-repair window is much different than the one in the link. I do not have anything under Grub locations and Grub options tabs! – Ekrem Bayraktar Aug 16 '12 at 08:15
Any other comments, suggestions??? I can add images after getting 10 reps :( – Ekrem Bayraktar Aug 16 '12 at 08:32
Hello, you can download [The Ultimate Boot CD](http://www.ultimatebootcd.com). You will need to burn it onto a CD and then boot from it. First get it while I create a new answer will a walk through on how to use it. – Max Tither Aug 16 '12 at 15:10

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 13 '12 at 04:57

Here are few steps that might help you solve your problem

First, boot into your Windows 7 repair disk and click on startup repair. Once the repair is over, you will be able to boot into windows. After you boot into windows, follow the steps in this link to remove Ubuntu:

Go to ubuntu.com and download the windows installer for Ubuntu and install it.

After installation, you will be able to boot into both the operating systems. Hope it helps

Cannot reach any OS (operating system not found)

2 Answers2