help me recover partition table, please!!

Question

I tried to install Ubuntu, made a hash of the partitions, and now have a system that does not boot.

First I used the shrink disk tools in Vista to shrink the main NTFS partition to create 20GB empty space.
Then I used the Ubuntu Live CD (install option) to create a primary partition for linux. But it also wanted a partition for swap file. I stupidly selected the Vista partition (I know!.. thinking linux could use some space there). On a second attempt I selected the 10G System Restore partition for linux swap. (OK it was late and my brain absent:).

Now Vista does not boot. I get the word Microsoft and the progress bar thing, then just a blank screen (yes I waited for ages).

Used the Ubuntu installer to restore the partition to remove the 4th partition (linux) and restore the Vista partition to full size again.

Tried booting from the Dell Windows Installation DVD, but get same thing. Tried System Recovery and all other options under special boot options (F12).

Tried TestDisk and Gpart. I think the current partition table looks about right, but the discovered partitions do not:

TestDisk Results

Current partition table:

Disk /dev/sda - 320 GB / 298 GiB - CHS 38913 255 63
Current partition structure:
Partition Start End Size in sectors
1 P Dell Utility 0 1 1 6 254 63 112392
2 P Linux Swap 7 2 60 1312 109 13 20971520
2 P Linux Swap 7 2 60 1312 109 13 20971520
3 * HPFS - NTFS 1312 109 14 38912 254 63 604053185 [Local Disk]

Detected partitions:

Disk /dev/sda - 320 GB / 298 GiB - CHS 38913 255 63
Partition Start End Size in sectors
* FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 6 254 63 112392 [DellUtility]
P FAT32 LBA 7 0 1 4184 254 63 67119570 [NO NAME]
P Linux 36364 0 1 38912 254 63 40949685

fdisk -l results

root@ubuntu:~# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 7 56196 de Dell Utility
/dev/sda2 8 1313 10485760 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 * 1313 38913 302026592+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

the original partitions were roughly:
1. Dell Utility 55MB
2. System Restore 10GB
3. Vista NTFS 288GB

HELP !!

sl956 · Answer

Hello giddaymate,

There is no swap *file* in Linux but a swap *partition* that has to be formatted as such (this has considerable performances advantages over a swap file on the main partition à la Windows).

I fear that the source of your problem is not any problem with the partition table but the fact that you reformated (as swapfs instead of NTFS) your Vista partition then your System Restore partition (!).

I do not see any easy restoration procedure. You will probably have to reinstall Windows (which will wipe out everything) from CD/DVD, then reinstall Ubuntu (not on your windows partition this time).

Sorry for the bad news...
--
Sam Lee

Message Edited by sl956 on 05-20-2007 12:25 AM

giddaymate · Answer

I could still read the Vista file system using Knoppix. Tried to repair the partition table but couldn't work it out. Maybe it was only the MBR corrupted? Anyway I have reformatted and re-installed. Tx anyway.

arzajac · Answer

Since you were able to browse your files using Knoppix (or any other live cd) your filesystem was intact.  You most probably would have been able to make a full recovery by simply changing the partition type back to NTFS.   You can do this using cfdisk from a live cd (like the Ubuntu cd or Knoppix).  Open a terminal and run   sudo cfdisk /dev/sda   and then select the first partition and change the typce back to ntfs (I don't know the number offhand, but they are displayed in cfdisk)   Alternatively, if your filesystem has been formatted, you can recover most of your files using a tool called foremost.  See here:   http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=401093&highlight=foremost+recovery

giddaymate · Answer

thanks for the advice arzajac. I think I did change the partition type somewhere along the way.

The fdsik and cfdisk result showed NTFS (07).

cfdisk result:

Partition Table for /dev/sda

         ---Starting---      ----Ending----    Start     Number of
# Flags Head Sect Cyl   ID Head Sect Cyl     Sector    Sectors
-- ----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----------- -----------
1 0x00    1    1    0 0xDE 254   63    6          63      112392
2 0x00    2   60    7 0x82 254   63 1023      112640    20971520
3 0x80 254   63 1023 0x07 254   63 1023    21084160   604053185
4 0x00    0    0    0 0x00    0    0    0           0           0

I think the Ubuntu (6.06) installer writes Grub to the 1st partition, and wipes out the Vista boot loader. Maybe that explains it? Not sure why Grub didn't load though (must avoid doing this stuff when half asleep :smileywink:)

Linux General

help me recover partition table, please!!

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