The Ubuntu community has contributed 15752 ideas, 77802 comments, 1421719 votes
Idea
#1957: Installer should never overwrite MBR without permission.
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155
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Written by curtdodds the 29 Feb 08 at 23:55.
Category: Installation.
Related to:
Nothing/Others.
Status: New
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Description
Twice now, while installing ubuntu, my MBR has been overwritten. A simple option to not install grub, or to
install to the root partition would be welcome.
For existing multi-boot systems this is a real time killer.
Took me three days to recover first time. Second time was
last night. Haven't recovered all the partitions yet.
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Duplicates
Comments
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Eldmannen wrote on the 1 Mar 08 at 00:06
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I unplug my other Windows disk when I install Ubuntu.
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 Alan Pope (Ubuntu Developer) wrote on the 1 Mar 08 at 00:16
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If you don't overwrite the MBR in most cases you will not be able to boot to your new Ubuntu install.
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Vojtech Trefny wrote on the 1 Mar 08 at 00:18
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In the last step of installation is choise "Advanced" ;-).
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Hawke wrote on the 1 Mar 08 at 01:03
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Alan Pope, you are incorrect. The "standard" Windows MBR, as well as that from the Ubuntu 'mbr' package will boot the active partition. If Ubuntu simply marked its own partition as active and installed grub on that partition, it would work just as well, without overwriting the MRB.
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andyn wrote on the 1 Mar 08 at 11:59
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I don't know the solution but there is a problem. I had to re-install Windows in a dual boot system (happens a lot, it's Windows). Windows overwrote the MBR and Ubuntu was gone. I managed to get it back by creating a "super grub disk", but nobody should have to go through that. Windows doesn't have a "super grub" and I can't risk Ubuntu wiping out my Windows install. Maybe this is a Windows problem more than a Linux problem but the end result is he same and Microsoft aint gonna fix it. This means I can't risk adding Linux to my notebook.
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gtarider wrote on the 1 Mar 08 at 16:05
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@Hawke: indeed. But in order to install GRUB (or LILO) into the Ubuntu partitition currently one needs the alternative CD. There you have the choice. Therefor I'm pleading to have this option on the normal *buntu CDs. Alternative CD is not really for noobs.
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Ed Cahill wrote on the 3 Mar 08 at 02:03
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I very much agree with idea #1957 I told the Ubuntu Installer NOT to over write the mbr. (Or so I thought) but it did it anyway. I HATE that. This is windows like behavior where widows does what it wants instead of what you tell it to do. I wanted it to install the boot loader to a floppy so I could use the windows boot loader to load Linux. I have not been able to get Ubuntu to boot from a floppy. Can any one tell me how? I have been able to do this with other Linux's but not Ubuntu. I can't but feel sorry for all the inexperienced windows users who wanted to try Linux, installed Ubuntu and had their windows mbr overwritten by the Ubuntu Installer and lost access to their windows installation. And what bothers me most is you don't even tell them how to restore the windows mbr. How many people end up having to reinstalling windows and losing much data thanks to the Ubuntu Installer? You discourage people from trying Linux when you destroy their windows installation. The Ubuntu installer should NEVER over write the mbr without permission. The Ubuntu Installer is not easier when it gives you no install options just stupider so please fix this.
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nergar wrote on the 5 Mar 08 at 05:13
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You can turn skip the Grub installation if you select advance at the end of the installation, and if that doesn't work then file a bug.
This "idea" doesn't belong here
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Kingoftherings wrote on the 8 Mar 08 at 04:01
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Just add Windows to your Grub menu.lst. Thats all I do.
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useful_idiot wrote on the 10 Mar 08 at 16:03
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@Alan Pope
It depends on active partition. GRUB takes care of everything.
@Ed Cahill
Agree. Windows users, those who just want to *try* Linux want their Windows machine to boot properly. And it is actually the mechanism. If everything goes fine during installation, GRUB detects your Windows partition and you can boot Windows comfortably. However, if something has gone wrong, one should be able to recover MBR, but there is no general application. So rather than making changes in installer, we can have one simple application to recover MBR. idea#3985
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Niedzwiedz wrote on the 24 Apr 08 at 17:56
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For test there is Wubi. much better (for test) than installing and then removing.
And this "idea" is already implemented ;)
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Ape wrote on the 26 Apr 08 at 18:57
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Backup the menu.lst, so it's fast to recover when overwrited.
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