Bushwacked by Linux Installation (My own fault)

zep321 · 20. Oct 2014, 06:23 PM

while installing linux to my win 8 computer I made an egregious error and wiped out my win 8 o/s.
The linux installation,however, was successful (pyrrhic victory?)
Now I cannot boot from dvd drive or usb drive unless it's a linux product.
Have access to the bios, Have no restoration or recovery media and don't know if it would boot if I did have it.

Any help woukd earn my undying gratitude.

Jojo Yee · 21. Oct 2014, 05:26 AM

Upon installation of Linux, such as Linux Mint, it offers the installation type.

If you have chosen "Erase disk and install Linux Mint", your Windows OS partition can be overwritten. One of the good options is to choose "Install Linux Mint alongside them" if you wish to dual boot Linux with Windows.

A step-by-step guide on installation is available from various resources such as this and this.

You will have to reinstall Windows or recover your device if you've chosen the option of erasing the disk.

zep321 · 21. Oct 2014, 01:07 PM

Thanks for your fast reply,JoJo.

My problem is that nothing except Linux will boot no matter which media (hdd, dvd drive, bootable usb ). I am in the process of obtaining a restoration disc from the mfr (Gateway
sx2185 desktop ). I strongly suspect that this also will not boot.
If not, what alternatives do I have? Thank you

torres-no-tan-magnifico · 21. Oct 2014, 02:04 PM

You state that you have access to the BIOS, but not whether it is set to boot from a CD/DVD or HDD.
The following is a list of rescue tools that might help:
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-...-mac-machines/
Good luck!

Pierre2 · 30. Dec 2014, 03:45 AM

Quote:

If you have chosen "Erase disk and install Linux Mint", - means that your Windows OS partition Will be overwritten

this is where the installer has changed, - the 'installed side by side' option has gone.
- newbies don;t know enough, to go with the 'something else' option.

Burn-IT · 31. Dec 2014, 04:12 PM

It wouldn't hurt the writers of the Linux install to detect that the options chosen will wipe out other OS's and any Windows install partition/files.
The last time I did a Windows install it did warn me that I was overwriting a none empty partition and ask if I was sure?

20. Oct 2014, 06:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
zep321 Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 7	Bushwacked by Linux Installation (My own fault) while installing linux to my win 8 computer I made an egregious error and wiped out my win 8 o/s. The linux installation,however, was successful (pyrrhic victory?) Now I cannot boot from dvd drive or usb drive unless it's a linux product. Have access to the bios, Have no restoration or recovery media and don't know if it would boot if I did have it. Any help woukd earn my undying gratitude.

21. Oct 2014, 05:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jojo Yee Maestro di Search Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7,824	Upon installation of Linux, such as Linux Mint, it offers the installation type. If you have chosen "Erase disk and install Linux Mint", your Windows OS partition can be overwritten. One of the good options is to choose "Install Linux Mint alongside them" if you wish to dual boot Linux with Windows. A step-by-step guide on installation is available from various resources such as this and this. You will have to reinstall Windows or recover your device if you've chosen the option of erasing the disk. Last edited by Jojo Yee; 21. Oct 2014 at 05:35 AM.

21. Oct 2014, 02:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
torres-no-tan-magnifico Copy Editor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,118	You state that you have access to the BIOS, but not whether it is set to boot from a CD/DVD or HDD. The following is a list of rescue tools that might help: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-...-mac-machines/ Good luck! __________________ (Mx16 + Cx1 + Lx2) + (Tx5 + Nx2 + Bx33)

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21. Oct 2014, 01:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
zep321 Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 7	Thanks for your fast reply,JoJo. My problem is that nothing except Linux will boot no matter which media (hdd, dvd drive, bootable usb ). I am in the process of obtaining a restoration disc from the mfr (Gateway sx2185 desktop ). I strongly suspect that this also will not boot. If not, what alternatives do I have? Thank you

31. Dec 2014, 04:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
Burn-IT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 553	It wouldn't hurt the writers of the Linux install to detect that the options chosen will wipe out other OS's and any Windows install partition/files. The last time I did a Windows install it did warn me that I was overwriting a none empty partition and ask if I was sure?