Windows 7 Keeps Changing the MBR on boot (grub2)

I installed Ubuntu in my new notebook. It originally comes with Windows 7 installed on it. Everything works nice however every time i boot into Windows7 the grub menu doesn't work any more. i can't boot into windows or ubuntu any more.

How do I stop this? Its rather annoying to have to boot, chroot and fix this problem everytime.


Solution 1:

It sounds like you wrote over your windows mbr. From what I understand, its best to have the windows boot loader load up grub and then have grub let you get to Ubuntu.

First of all... I would make a backup of your system so you can always restore back to where you are right now. Some free backup tools:

  • cloneZilla
  • PING
  • macrium reflect

I would then try a fixmbr from microsofts recovery consol as described here.

Once you have windows booting up properly, you have a few options options.

  • You can avoid a lot of pain by using wubi to install ubuntu
  • You can try to install Ubuntu again from a CD and see if there is an option to keep the windows boot loader.

This site has a lot of information. You might want to take a look here.

Solution 2:

i found the problem, looks like Dell DataSafe utility was trying to restore my mbr. I uninstall it and then restore the grub2 menu. Everything is working well now.