15 replies to this topic

[onething]

I recently did an error in my Windows 7 that led it to not want to fire up Win7 even in safe mode. It says error can not open recovery file. To my surprise someone on the internet had the same error and solved it by firing up Ubuntu, perhaps booting it from a dvd? into a partition? and erasing a file that's at the heart of our problem.

The forum is in spanish and i registered right now immediately after reading it but i'll have to wait until I can open up threads or even talk for a moderator to activate my account, so I can actually message him to ask what he did.

BUt meanwhile, or in case the mod takes too long, I thought I'd ask here.

Is there something I'm missing with this concept? How could Ubunti possibly have access to the files inside a Win7, not only access but authority to erase any given file?

Any relevant tutorial out there for this? Any misstep to look out for if indeed this is possible? (ive never touched anything remotely linux)

It's surprised me, that one OS could have access to the files in another OS, because they're supposed to be completely isolated, and I'm surprised and eager at the possibility I wouldnt have to format. It still doesnt make sense but if its possible its possible.

[WingedPanther]

Win7's security system is based on a completely different model from Ubuntu's. As a result, Ubuntu can access any file on the file system and do what it wants, as long as Win7 is not currently running.

A file system is JUST a file system. Does it surprise you that you can plug a USB hard drive into a computer and access files that were written by another? Does it suprise you that you can access network drives with multiple operating systems? At the end of the day, it's just data on a drive.

[Alexander]

If all you wish to do is remove a single file, Ubuntu can run off a live CD (the standard install disk, the live CD option) and delete the file. It should have a file manager and mount the Windows partition automatically, if not we can come to that.

The only thing I can think of that could go wrong is if your Windows drive was shut down physically, you may be required to run some checks (ntfsfix or related) to check the integrity of the partition before you can access and mount it.

[onething]

Ok, cool. I'm going in (i'll download ubuntu and stick it in a dvd and see how it goes)

I only have a black screenish kind of interface right now, because all I can do is press Esc or F2. I think it's escape that gives me three options. Two are to load from what seem like two OSes or hard drives, but really are the same windows7. The third has DVD in it so is most likely my dvd player.

[onething]

WingedPanther said:

Win7's security system is based on a completely different model from Ubuntu's. As a result, Ubuntu can access any file on the file system and do what it wants, as long as Win7 is not currently running.

A file system is JUST a file system. Does it surprise you that you can plug a USB hard drive into a computer and access files that were written by another? Does it suprise you that you can access network drives with multiple operating systems? At the end of the day, it's just data on a drive.

This usb hard drive would have to be a master one, not a slave, right?

[onething]

Guys, what kind of install does it have to be? Can Ubuntu run from the DVD? If not, does it have to be installed in the master Hard Drive of my Win7? Do I have to create a partition for it?

[WingedPanther]

You can run Ubuntu from the DVD without installing it. For right now, I wouldn't look into installing it.

Unless you are using a USB drive, don't worry about that. I tend to get long-winded sometimes.

[onething]

Well my Nero is telling me my 'compilation cannot be written on this kind of disc. Please insert a disc of the correct type or modify the settings to make it compatible with the disc'

What utter bull****.

It's a DVDR.

And Nero practically crashes whenever I so much as put a CDR inside the DVD player.

I'm not sure the DVD player tapes into CDRs in fact.. its one of those Optiarcs

Ubuntu is 685mb downloaded from their site.

****!

[onething]

OK, I panicked lol...

But my Vista Desktop is beyond weird.

It cant digest Flash and with every update crashes!

And with this cdr, the cdr would make Nero crash every time except when once inside it with the project already on go, the project telling me to add a cdr, so only then the introduction of the cdr doesnt make it crash.

Anyway, thats me babbling. All i wanna ask now, is why are the files inside my Ubuntu, the ones under 'OS', why are they greyed out? I can see all the folders and files of my previous installation, but the browsing powers seem to be very lame. I cant touch or open the files.

I hope its because I havent actually installed Ubuntu and I'm doing the trial. But i fear the worst, that the OS files wont let me touch them because they're write-only or something like that?

[WingedPanther]

You should have a .iso file. You don't open it, just burn it as an ISO file. You should not need Nero for this. burn ISO file Windows - Google Search

[onething]

Yeah thanks.

Anyway i finally got in there to the part in ubuntu where the files werent greyed out.

But the Win7ldr file the other guy talks about was just a 7loader.tag file in mine... erased it but still no work.

Now i hope i can find the win recovery dvd that supposedly came with my laptop

if not i'll have to learn to extract files from ubuntu to save them formatting!

[onething]

actually, last question, if i can do this with Ubuntu, surely i could do this with any other OS, including Windows, install a second OS in a new partition so it can manipulate and save the files that were nearly lost in the first OS, as a safeguard if a factory backdate install is required (which dont save .rar files in my experience)