Cannot boot into Windows from Linux

[AS]

@ as
Texstar's contribution should not be dismissed. Warm or cold boot of windows via grub could be affected by trash from a windows update. Running redo-mbr would clean that up.

The boot process flow from MBR -> grub -> grub Windows entry in menu.lst -> Windows boot loader.
As I understand, grub is loaded correctly in both cases, warm or cold reboot, therefore I think MBR is correct and doesn't affect ms_meme issue. What am I missing here ?

[Old-Polack]

@ as
Texstar's contribution should not be dismissed. Warm or cold boot of windows via grub could be affected by trash from a windows update. Running redo-mbr would clean that up.

The boot process flow from MBR -> grub -> grub Windows entry in menu.lst -> Windows boot loader.
As I understand, grub is loaded correctly in both cases, warm or cold reboot, therefore I think MBR is correct and doesn't affect ms_meme issue. What am I missing here ?

I doubt you are missing anything. On a Windows boot, grub simply hands off the boot process to the Windows loader. It is already doing that. Once the Windows code takes over, grub is out of the loop. The problem is totally within the Windows boot process.

[ms_meme]

I never ONCE thought this problem would not be solved. (maybe a dozen times.....but never ONCE     )

Then please, check and apply for newly available update, may be the problem solve immediately (may be not).
Once your system is fully updated reboot PCLinuxOS, then retry a warm reboot into Windows.

AS

I did the latest update, rebooted, then warm reboot into Windows.      Did it twice to make sure. 
I was ever so glad to see Windows!  (ignore that last statement)

Here is the History for your evaluation.  Maybe something is there that solved the problem.  (My untrained eye sees something.  Not telling what it is as I am probably wrong.    )  I will mark SOLVED after I do 1 more boot.  Three is a charm. 

Removed the following packages:
kdebluetooth4
libxulrunner1.9.2.14

Upgraded the following packages:
addlocale (3.7-11pclos2011) to 3.8-2pclos2011
akonadi (1.5.0-1pclos2011) to 1.5.1-1pclos2011
chromium-browser (9.0.597.107-1pclos2011) to 10.0.648.133-1pclos2011
dbus (1.4.1-1pclos2010) to 1.4.4-1pclos2011
dbus-x11 (1.4.1-1pclos2010) to 1.4.4-1pclos2011
dkms-nvidia-current (260.19.36-2pclos2011) to 260.19.44-1pclos2011
dosfstools (3.0.9-1pclos2010) to 3.0.11-1pclos2011
firefox (3.6.14-1pclos2011) to 3.6.15-2pclos2011
flash-player-plugin (10.2.152.27-1pclos2011) to 10.2.152.27-2pclos2011
gstreamer0.10-flac (0.10.27-1pclos2011) to 0.10.28-1pclos2011
gstreamer0.10-plugins-good (0.10.27-1pclos2011) to 0.10.28-1pclos2011
gstreamer0.10-soup (0.10.27-1pclos2011) to 0.10.28-1pclos2011
gstreamer0.10-speex (0.10.27-1pclos2011) to 0.10.28-1pclos2011
iso-codes (3.24-1pclos2011) to 3.24.2-1pclos2011
libcairo2 (1.10.0-2pclos2010) to 1.10.2-1pclos2011
libdbus-1_3 (1.4.1-1pclos2010) to 1.4.4-1pclos2011
liblibcap-ng0 (0.6.2-2pclos2010) to 0.6.5-1pclos2011
libmysql16 (5.1.42-4pclos2010) to 5.1.55-2pclos2011
libnspr4 (4.8.6-1pclos2010) to 4.8.7-1pclos2011
libnss3 (3.12.8-1pclos2010) to 3.12.9-1pclos2011
libpurple0 (2.7.10-1pclos2011) to 2.7.11-1pclos2011
libsigc++2.0_0 (2.2.5-1pclos2010) to 2.2.9-1pclos2011
libsqlite3_0 (3.7.3-1pclos2010) to 3.7.5-1pclos2011
libtiff3 (3.9.4-5pclos2010) to 3.9.4-6pclos2011
libvpx0 (0.9.1-1pclos2010) to 0.9.6-1pclos2011
lomanager (3.3.1-3pclos2011) to 3.3.1-5pclos2011
mozilla-thunderbird (3.1.8-1pclos2011) to 3.1.9-1pclos2011
mysql (5.1.42-4pclos2010) to 5.1.55-2pclos2011
mysql-client (5.1.42-4pclos2010) to 5.1.55-2pclos2011
mysql-common (5.1.42-4pclos2010) to 5.1.55-2pclos2011
mysql-common-core (5.1.42-4pclos2010) to 5.1.55-2pclos2011
mysql-core (5.1.42-4pclos2010) to 5.1.55-2pclos2011
nss (3.12.8-1pclos2010) to 3.12.9-1pclos2011
ntfs-3g (2010.1.16-1pclos2010) to 2011.1.15-1pclos2011
pidgin (2.7.10-1pclos2011) to 2.7.11-1pclos2011
rt2870-firmware (8-2pclos2010) to 22-1pclos2011
smb4k (0.10.9-2pclos2011) to 0.10.10-1pclos2011
tar (1.25-1pclos2010) to 1.26-1pclos2011
x11-driver-video-nvidia-current (260.19.36-2pclos2011) to 260.19.44-1pclos2011
xulrunner (1.9.2.14-1pclos2011) to 1.9.2.15-2pclos2011

Installed the following packages:
bluedevil (1.0.2-2pclos2011)
libbluedevil1 (1.8.1-2pclos2011)
libxulrunner1.9.2.15 (1.9.2.15-2pclos2011)

[AS]

I did the latest update, rebooted, then warm reboot into Windows.   Smiley Smiley Smiley Smiley Smiley  Did it twice to make sure.  Grin
I was ever so glad to see Windows!  (ignore that last statement)

Too early to be sure at this time on this type of issue...

Looking at latest history log there is:

flash-player-plugin (10.2.152.27-1pclos2011) to 10.2.152.27-2pclos2011

I was searching for flash-player-plugin in your previous log, but didn't found it. flash-player-plugin-10.2.152.27-1pclos2011 was released around 03 March,
probably you have installed this plugin between 3 March and 7 March, it's a good candidate for your issue.

Anyway, things are working now. If the issue will arise again in the near future, flash-player-plugin should be taken under special observation.

AS

[ms_meme]

I am again experiencing the same problem of not being able to boot into Windows from Linux.
I noticed this last week and didn't feel up to reporting it (or facing the problem.)    I hoped it would go away.

I did an Update yesterday.  I did notice that more were available this morning, but I did not do them.

[AS]

I am again experiencing the same problem of not being able to boot into Windows from Linux.
I noticed this last week and didn't feel up to reporting it (or facing the problem.)    I hoped it would go away.

I did an Update yesterday.  I did notice that more were available this morning, but I did not do them.

Hi ms_meme,

just to be sure that the problem is still the same:
you can't reboot to windows, but if you shutdown linux, turn off the computer and then restart in windows it work. Right ?

AS

[ms_meme]

Sorry taking so long to respond.  I wanted to reread this entire thread and then do some rebooting.

This is what I have to report.

I cannot boot from Linux to Windows as was  the case when I first started.

I thought I would try to boot from another install of Linux on a different partition.  It would not boot to Windows there either. (I thought I had tried this several weeks ago....and thought it worked....but I could find no evidence for this when I reread).

Here begins the difference........I have been able to boot to Windows without going to Linux first.  But I just now tried it and could not get to Windows!

I checked when I was last in Windows (by looking at something I had saved and copied over to Linux).  It was on 4/2/11   11:07 AM

I then checked in synaptic to see when I did the latest Update.  It said 4/2/11   06:59

I thought I did the update after I did anything in Windows.  I try to do the synaptic in the morning as at night I seem to have slow speed.  So it seems I could boot to Windows (cold boot) after the latest Update.  But today I could not get to Windows (cold boot).

I know you can only assess on the info I provide, so am trying to make it clear.

[AS]

But I just now tried it and could not get to Windows!

and what you get ? gray screen ?

if a gray screen is what appear out right now, you should try a cold reboot, and immediately after choosing "windows" on grub screen, press F8,
then try to enter Windows safe mode, if boot succeed then shutdown and let us know about.

AS

[AS]

ms_meme,

if you have any usb disk, usb flash stick or any other usb storage device, please remove them before to boot/reboot to windows,
I have seen several time windows behave incorrectly because of additional USB storage units.

AS

[ms_meme]

But I just now tried it and could not get to Windows!

and what you get ? gray screen ?

if a gray screen is what appear out right now, you should try a cold reboot, and immediately after choosing "windows" on grub screen, press F8,
then try to enter Windows safe mode, if boot succeed then shutdown and let us know about.

AS

Yes, I got the gray screen.
I am not clear what I am to do.....so best to clear it up before I try anything.  Saves time.

1. I will turn off computer.
2. Restart
3. I will see grub screen and arrow down to choose Windows.

Here is where I am fuzzy.  What I see is the Windows logo and then the gray screen.
4. Press F8 immediatly after choosing windows (before I see this logo?  OR press F8 when I see this logo?

5. I am not sure what I am to see ....Windows safe mode or how I am to get there.??   Or if I get there what I am to do there?

No, I don't have my storage attached.

[menotu]

Hi ms_meme

This has been a long 'un, so forgive me if you've already tried it.

I can recall when I had Windows on this system I used to be able to "choose" to boot to Windows from PCLinuxOS - can't test as I don't have it installed anymore.

You need to logout first to try this:

Selecting the bottom Menu icon you can choose to Shutdown (or close?) - this should then present a couple more icons - one to Turn Computer Off and the other is Restart  

Pressing the Restart icon - keep pressing it for some seconds - and it should present any other OS's you have, including Windows - choose Windows and it should then reboot directly into it.

I think this may also work directly from the desktop Shutdown options (might be dependent on which Desktop and/or Shutdown widgets you may be using)

Edit - here is a screenshot of the Shutdown screen (that's from a Virtulbox install with only one OS so can't show any "other" OS's "under"  the Restart icon)

[AS]

But I just now tried it and could not get to Windows!

and what you get ? gray screen ?

if a gray screen is what appear out right now, you should try a cold reboot, and immediately after choosing "windows" on grub screen, press F8,
then try to enter Windows safe mode, if boot succeed then shutdown and let us know about.

AS

Yes, I got the gray screen.
I am not clear what I am to do.....so best to clear it up before I try anything.  Saves time.

1. I will turn off computer.
2. Restart
3. I will see grub screen and arrow down to choose Windows.

Here is where I am fuzzy.  What I see is the Windows logo and then the gray screen.
4. Press F8 immediatly after choosing windows (before I see this logo?  OR press F8 when I see this logo?

5. I am not sure what I am to see ....Windows safe mode or how I am to get there.??   Or if I get there what I am to do there?

No, I don't have my storage attached.

Well, with this answer yow have already provided a few additional info:

Windows is actually booting, otherwise you should not see the windows logo, this is important to know, because that exclude all possible grub related problems.
the consequence is that the problem is all in Windows. Then join the M$ forum and ask for help 

Windows safe mode is something similar to PCLinuxOS failsafe, a different system setup will be used for boot the OS,
specifically it will load only M$ provided drivers. If this "safe mode" OS will work for you, it means that your windows system has
some problem with at least one "driver" (which is module that drive some specific piece of hardware).

To boot in safe mode, yes, you need to press F8 immediately after the "Windows" grub choice, and a new menu will appear out, some example here:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm
then you need to choose "Safe mode" or "Safe mode with Networking".

AS

[ms_meme]

New Information

I reported that this had happened twice.  The 1st time I didn't see it happen...just saw the gray screen after returning to the room.
The 2nd time I had forgotten that anything was amiss and booted to Windows but really wasn't watching what was happening......the gray screen just appeared.

So I decided to try again (thinking something magical might have happened) and this time I watched.
I rebooted from Linux, chose Windows from the menu.  It does its little thing AND the Windows logo appears but then the gray screen appears.  END!  Never gets past that opening page.
(Yes, I could turn off computer by holding On/Off button for a longer time)

Now you are probably going to say......it's a Windows problem and wash your hands.    but it still only happens when switching from Linux! 

I did report that the Windows logo screen appears first and then goes to the gray screen.

OK, I will start over and turn off and see if I can get to that Safe Mode.

[ms_meme]

OK, I will start over and turn off and see if I can get to that Safe Mode.

Yes, I immediately pressed F8 and got to the SafeMode screen.  Pressed Enter and eventually brought up the desktop. Then rebooted to Linux.

[Was_Just19]

Remember a   cold boot   means booting after power has been withdrawn from the PC completely ......  unplug the power cord and wait about 30 secs .....  even press the On/Off switch while power is withdrawn to ensure all power is dissipated.