0

I had Windows and installed Ubuntu alongside. Somehow GRUB wouldn't recognize Windows, so I erased the Windows partition and attempted to reinstall it, however I got error messages like "the partition is not windows-compatible". My partitions:

  • /dev/sda1 - Ubuntu
  • /dev/sda5 - Ubuntu swap
  • /dev/sda6 - A previously installed Ubuntu version-not using it anymore
  • /dev/sda7 - only data, no OS

I could potentially delete all partitions if needed except my data partition (sda7).

Zanna
  • 70,465
Roy
  • 61
  • 7

1 Answers1

0

Use gparted to resize the Ubuntu partition, and then create a new partition with the NTFS file system. Then install windows from the CD to that partition (it will automatically pick that up as the partition to install to). You may need create an Ubuntu liveCD, and use it to reinstall grub, as windows will have replaced grub with its bootloader. (I can provide a link on how to do this if necessary). TL;DR make sure there is an NTFS partition somewhere on the disk.

Zanna
  • 70,465
w4etwetewtwet
  • 999
  • That's what I did, I should have mentioned it explicitly. I think it has something to do with windows bootloader and wanting to be the first partition on a disk? – Roy Jul 28 '13 at 21:33
  • Could be. Sorry I didn't realise you'd already done that, I couldn't see an NTFS partition in the image. I take it you deleted it when it didn't work? – w4etwetewtwet Jul 29 '13 at 08:18
  • Yeah that's right – Roy Jul 29 '13 at 09:21
  • Windows does not have to be the first partition although it usually is. But it does have to be a primary partition formatted NTFS with the boot flag. You can install a second version of Windows to a logical partition but the second version puts all its boot files in the first install that is a primary partition. Or you can create just a small Boot partition that is primary NTFS with the boot flag. – oldfred Jul 29 '13 at 18:21