Unable to boot Ubuntu

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

It's exactly the same as a WUBI install .. you choose which to boot at system startup .. but you can read and write to the Windows partition from within Linux.

Only difference is it's on a "proper" Linux partition, not in a "virtual" image on the Windows partition .. so fixing any problems is MUCH easier, and (as Window can't read/write to Linux partitions) Windows can't screw it up

[Markems0]

Sorry to say it's not worked. What i put in and the error is below.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mkdir /media/windows
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mkdir /mnt/ubuntu-wubi
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount /dev/sda1 /media/windows
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -o loop /media/windows/ubuntu/disks/root.disk /mnt/ubuntu-wubi
mount: you must specify the filesystem type
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

It's that line 4 again can we put a line of gobbledygook in line 1 just so we get passed line 4?
I am beginning to think I should just go for a proper install

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

OK, looks like the root.disk image is probably corrupt.

Try running chkdsk from within Windows

then just to check we're mounting the correct partition ..

Boot to the LiveCD, open a terminal and enter:

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sudo mkdir /media/windows

then

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sudo mount /dev/sda1 /media/windows

then

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nautilus /media/windows

When the Nautilus file manager opens, can you see the contents of your Windows C:\ drive .. and most importantly can you see a directory called ubuntu ?

[Markems0]

Hi.
I am having problems with the laptop. My cd drive has a fault and I cannot get it to boot from the live cd, sometimes it just misses the cd and goes to windows other times it starts loading from the cd then stops and dose nothing sometimes it works. This morning I have spent 2 hrs trying to get it to boot from the cd with no avail.  I have a new cd drive for the laptop but that is not seen inn the bios and only works once windows has started it becomes E drive.
So for the moment I am looking at new laptops and I will put proper install on that, thou I may try again later today when I am not so hacked off with this machine.
And I must say thank you for the help so far.

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

Sorry to hear you're having optical drive problems .. will the laptop boot from a USB stick ?

Your only other option is to delete your current WUBI installation .. from the Windows "Add/Remove Applications" control panel applet .. and to do another WUBI installation.

Not Ideal I know, as you've just learned, there ARE certain limitations with a WUBI install 

[EDIT]

Have you tried burning Ubuntu to a DVD rather than a CD (or vice versa), *sometimes* optical drives work OK with one,but not the other.

[Markems0]

Managed to get it booted from the live cd. Did the Inputs you said and yes I can see the directory called ubuntu.

My cd drive struggles to read dvd's and I only have the option to boot from cd or HHd in the bios. it is old!!

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

As I said then, the root.disk image must be corrupt .. AFAIK, there is no way to fix it if you can't loop mount it .. which we've already tried

If it would loop mount, you could have run fsck (file system check) on it .. but if you can't mount it, you're stuck.

Where do you want to go from here ?

[Markems0]

Thanks for all your help. i will remove Ubuntu via windows add remove programs then reinstall. My hard drive is split into 2 so what would I have to do to do a proper install?
I have been looking for a new laptop as well.

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

You'd have to use something like gparted to resize one of your windows partitions .. leaving room for a Linux partition.

How large are the partitions ? .. and what is on the second partition (not the C:\ drive) ?

[EDIT]

After thinking about it .. if your optical drive is playing up, you'd probably be better off doing another WUBI install.

To do a proper install you'd need to resize one of your Windows partitions .. ANY partition manipulation carries a *small* risk of partition table corruption, which *could* screw up Windows too (unlikely but possible) .. then you'd have an unbootable system and no easy way (due to the CD drive) to reinstall windows or Ubuntu.

The choice is yours .. but I'd be remiss if I hadn't pointed that out though

[Markems0]

It is 1 hhd split into 2,  c: @ 67GB and D: @ 97GB
I think am heading towards the easy option and buying a new machine the installing Ubuntu on that. If I email you some links would you give me your opinion on them and which one would be best for linux (to have everything working on it).

[BkS]

If your not able to boot directly from USB through the BIOS, you could always try booting using PLoP which is basically a bootloader, but allows you to boot from USB even if your BIOS doesn't let you.

[Markems0]

What is PLoP??

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

@BkS

If he has an iffy optical drive (so no reliable way to fix the Windows bootloader should things go wrong) .. are you *really* suggesting he overwrites his master boot record/bootloader ?

[BkS]

PLoP is basically a bootloader that lets you boot from a USB device from either your hard-drive, via a network, a usb-drive or cd-rom.

@Mark - He doesn't "have to" overwrite his MBR or bootloader. You can boot from a CD, or network and do it that way. More work? Yes, but it's still an option in my eyes. Although, I'd probably say you may want to back-up everything first.

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

@BkS

You're right but ..

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You can boot from a CD

Iffy CD drive ... remember.

or network

a) Older laptops may not have a network boot rom
b) Do you fancy doing the homework on booting PLoP via PXE across a network, then getting it to hand booting back to the USB stick .. I know I don't, even if it's possible 

Sorry Markems0 .. I'm not just being lazy here .. I'm not convinced that would be possible, and even if it is, it's a very complicated way of doing things.