Help: Just installed Ubuntu and now can't boot into Windows 7!

I just installed ubuntu, during installation I chose the side by side option so I will have windows and ubuntu installed on the same computer. But now every time I turn on the computer it boots into Ubuntu by default. I thought there would be a screen with options of which OS to load but there isn't.

I know windows didn't get erased or anything because in Ubuntu when I click on the hard drive I can see all window system and personal files in there. So what is the matter? How can I get the option of which OS to load at boot?

P.S. this is my 1st time trying linux and I'm not even that sure about how installing programs on linux works.

Jake

Posted 2010-08-22T06:04:15.813

Reputation: 51

Installing programs on Ubuntu is easy: they are all collected on special servers (called repositories) and you can install them by marking a checkbox in the Ubuntu Software Center application. – JanC – 2010-08-22T07:55:09.647

This site is a perfectly fine place to ask your question. But you have a better chance at getting more focused help (e.g. with screenshots for Ubuntu instead of more generic command line manipulations) by asking on the Ubuntu-specific Stack Exchange site.

– Gilles 'SO- stop being evil' – 2010-08-22T09:47:18.313

Hey Jake, check out VirtualBox. It makes trying different operating systems very easy. http://www.virtualbox.org

– Joe Internet – 2010-08-22T14:28:41.933

Could you run the following command from a Terminal in Ubuntu and see if it lists Windows? sudo update-grub – Bobby – 2010-08-23T11:47:38.790

Answers

The normal situation when you install Ubuntu after installing Windows (and keep the Windows installation) is that Ubuntu takes responsibility for booting the machine. Before Linux proper loads, you should see a menu (shown by the bootloader, which is called Grub) where you can select whether to boot into Ubuntu or Windows.

If you don't see this menu, it means the installation didn't do what it should have. Try pressing Shift a little after your computer starts, before the BIOS finishes initializing. This will show the menu.

Within Ubuntu, you can configure the bootloader by editing /etc/default/grub. The settings are documented on the Ubuntu website. Back up the original file and don't change anything you don't understand. You need to run the update-grub command for the settings to take effect.

Gilles 'SO- stop being evil'

Posted 2010-08-22T06:04:15.813

Reputation: 58 319

You need to get Windows to show up in the GRUB boot menu. When the computer turns on, you should get a brief screen with boot options; it may say something to the effect of "Press Esc for options, starting in 3... 2.. 1..". Press ESC when prompted, and see if Windows 7 is on the list. If it's not, you'll have to add it yourself. The exact process to do this will depend on your system configuration, take a look at these postings.

nhinkle

Posted 2010-08-22T06:04:15.813

Reputation: 35 057

If you don't want the Ubuntu installation you can insert your Windows CD and repair the bootloader. Once you are back in Windows you can use easybcd to manage Windows bootloader and have the options to select OS. http://easybcd.en.softonic.com/

Next time use Wubi which installs Ubuntu along Windows in a hassle free way.

user47123

Posted 2010-08-22T06:04:15.813

Reputation:

I had exactly the same problem after installing Ubuntu 14.10 on a disk with Windows 7 on it. What solved it was running this command from Ubuntu:

sudo update-grub

That detected Windows 7 and added it to GRUB. Had to reboot twice, once past a "Missing operating system" message, but it worked in the end.