Boot Problems!

Hello everyone,
I had Ubuntu installed and somehow when updating Ubuntu got removed. Well now when I restart the computer GRUB tries to start up but the stuff it's supposed to be pointing to isn't there so now I can't boot into anything. So I need help, what do I do? This is on my XP desktop. I do have my Vista laptop though if I need to burn a program or disc to use on the other computer. My most important docs are on the desktop though so this help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

 

Download and burn GAG.
Install it.
Done.

 

Ok I'm going to use my other computer to burn the GAG iso to a disk and then try to get it to work on the other computer from there.

 

Good luck.

 

Thanks, I've finished downloading the iso and I'm trying to get it on a disc. I have Roxio it's stops halfway into burning it on the disc.

 

Try ImgBurn or CDBurnerXP. Each is free and works well.

 

Or BurnCDCC, which is very fast and lightweight.

 

Thanks guys, I'm going to try the ones you suggested! You've all been a big help, hopefully I can get it fixed.

 

Good Luck!

 

I downloaded the ISO onto a disc using CDBurnerXP (BurnCDCC says the ISO is too small). After inserting it into my computer, there's just a little underscore that flashes, nothing more. I was thinking, there's an option "Bootable CD" in CDBurnerXP, should I check that?

 

I'd use Imgburn, much easier, just put the CD in your other computer and boot from it.

 

Ok thanks, I'll try that. If it doesn't work I'm going to hit the sack and give it a go again tommorow. Got to wake up early in the morning, The help is SO much appreciated, this is really stressing me out!

 

It did the same thing again, with just the blinking underscore like this _ and then after a little while the GRUB error shows up again. For some reason it looks like these burning programs aren't creating the right discs that are bootable based off the iso? I think that's the problem, because I have the right iso file needed that should boot. I've tried like 4 different programs and got like 7 discs CD-RW discs lying around I used to try to get it to work. On the computer I'm trying to fix, I had Sonic RecordNow and it always worked burning bootable ISO Linux DVD's. Anyway, I guess I'm going to try to get to bed and work on it tommorow. I was hoping to have it fixed today since it's so important. Thanks everyone for the help! Hope somehow I can get it to work....

 

Is BIOS set to boot from a CD?

 

Yes, I have the BIOS set to boot from a CD. It works fine booting from a CD like when I boot from the Mandriva Live CD (which I burned on the computer that has the problem). I don't know what the issue is, I've tried quite a few different image burning programs....

 

Stupid question, but did you try redownloading gag?

 

I just tried doing that and it WORKED! I tried downloading it once before but now it works and it's bootable with Super GRUB now! I'm just trying to figure out how to get it all fixed now!! Anyone have an idea on how I do that? Also. it looks like Mandriva is now on my computer where Ubuntu was before. I did that when I popped in the live CD to try to fix everything. That's OK though, if I can get to where I can boot both Windows and Mandriva from GRUB I'll be happy.

 

It has a lot of options, like restoring the Windows MBR, etc. I'm not sure which to do?

 

restore the windows mbr.
edit: If mandrivia is installed it would fix grub, so it looks like it isn't installed.

 

Mandriva is installed, because I booted into it from Super Grub. It didn't fix GRUB though for some reason...

 

Well, I tried to restore GRUB with SuperGRUB but it wouldn't work (gave me an error code...15) so I had Windows restor it's MBR and now I can boot into Windows fine. I'd like to be able to have it to where Mandriva is included in the bootloader, but I don't know how to do that. Guess I'll just have to use the SuperGRUB CD if I ever want to boot into Mandriva Linux.

 

Reinstall mandrivia. It should install a working grub

 

Ok thanks, I'll try that!