Emergency w/ Ubuntu GRUB

So I have just Ubuntu on my computer, nothing else; I try using my recovery disc from Toshiba to reinstate Windows XP; basically it formats the HD and copies all the preinstalled stuff that came with my computer back on the disk. The operation was successful, but when I boot up.... I get the BIOS page, then a black screen stating:

Loading GRUB:
Error 17

I surmise that the recovery disc did not wipe the MBR clean; so in order to get an OS back up and running to write this thread, I reinstalled Ubuntu; how do I get Windows XP back and fix the MBR?

 

Did you install Ubuntu on another partition that you have created and is your Windows partition still "alive", meaning is it there but you just can't access it?

 

Yes; after recovery, I get GRUB and "Error 17" jsut before booting Windows; the system comes to a halt

 

Well, you could repair your mbr, with boot disc, try looking for either the ultimate boot cd or hiren's boot disc, of which I think the latter is much more robust, and I have actually used to repair my own mbr. Then, you reinstall GRUB, or just take the time and reinstall Ubuntu. That should work to repair your mbr, but if you want to repair your boot loader (GRUB), you would need a rescue cd, which is what I think you should do. At the boot screen type

linux rescue

Then,
chroot /mnt/sysimage

then,
grub-install --recheck /dev/hda

Hope this helps.

grub-install

 

If you want to fix your MBR, take your windows XP cd, and load it up. THen get into recovery console and type fixmbr and fixboot