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Question

Ubuntu

Jan 22, 2015 12:53AM PST

I was making a ubuntu flash drive so I could run ubuntu and just try it out. Well, when I took the flash drive out ubuntu was still on the computer! I need to get back to windows, not just reloading windows, but MY windows desktop! How??
I do not have a windows boot CD. Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Did you happen to run a Ubuntu install?
Jan 22, 2015 1:03AM PST

Tell more about what you've done. If you had booted off the USB drive you must shut down, pull the USB drive out and reboot.

As to the windows boot CD, Windows 7 doesn't fit on CD, it's a DVD. Also, we always backup our PCs because, well, almost everyone knows today. Tell about your backup plans.
Bob

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Clarification Request
It's not clear what you're describing
Jan 22, 2015 1:05AM PST

Do you mean that somehow Ubuntu REPLACED Windows on your desktop? That's what it sounds like you're saying. If you have no way to get Windows running, you'll need to either restore from a backup (if you have one) or possibly save your data and restore to factory settings.
On the other hand if you mean the .ISO file for Ubuntu is still on your computer, that's no problem. It's what should've happened. The normal process is to download the Ubuntu ISO file, then run a utility to put it on the flash drive. Again, it's not clear from your post whether that's what you did or not.

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ubuntu
Jan 22, 2015 1:12AM PST

i downloaded ubuntu onto a flash drive then put it into my computer. i hit F12 on startup and selected start from usb device it started ubuntu and asked if i wanted to delete windows fromm my computer i said no

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(NT) So if you remove the flash drive and reboot what happens?
Jan 22, 2015 1:16AM PST
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Sounds like you hit some install routine.
Jan 22, 2015 1:17AM PST

Share a lot more detail. Which Ubuntu, where did you download it and more.

And where are your backups?
Bob

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ubuntu
Jan 22, 2015 1:24AM PST

if i remove the flash drive nothing happens if i put the flash drive in i can select try without installing which is what i am doing now i dont have backup i downloaded it from pendrivelinux.com and followed these instructions http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows, but they dont tell you what to do after you boot it up i just followed the instructions it gave me

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files
Jan 22, 2015 1:26AM PST

i very much need my files from my windows

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Just removing it will do nothing.
Jan 22, 2015 1:26AM PST

We must shutdown, reboot and maybe set the BIOS up proper if that was changed.

I'll review that link and be back later after I try it.

Please, don't leave out steps such as rebooting.
Bob

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what next
Jan 22, 2015 1:30AM PST

ok thank you so much is there a different thing i should boot from now i can 'try ubuntu without installing'
if i select start from usb drive in the boot menu or i can just start up normally and it goes strait to ubuntu i am in the try ubuntu one which one should i be in and should i keep the flash drive in?

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try booting without the flash drive
Jan 22, 2015 3:27AM PST

see if windows returns.

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That link is broke.
Jan 22, 2015 1:28AM PST
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backup
Jan 22, 2015 1:32AM PST

i dont have any backup

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Then you want to clone that drive next.
Jan 22, 2015 1:34AM PST
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I've used that and other methods.
Jan 22, 2015 2:46AM PST

But there's something missing from the OP's posts. I've done this some thousand (and more) times over the years and not once wiped out. I've been careful so I can't guess what happened to cause the wipe out. Now we're into the very old discussion about data recovery.

I can't guess why folk don't backup their smart phones either.
Bob

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(NT) OK, the instructions are fine but which Ubuntu?
Jan 22, 2015 1:31AM PST
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which system
Jan 22, 2015 1:37AM PST

when i downloaded you could pick which one i just selected "ubuntu"

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Then I can't replicate it.
Jan 22, 2015 1:42AM PST

Looks like it's time to clone that drive and try recovery on the clones. If nothing works you move to Drivesavers.com recovery.

Since backup is pretty cheap, and we can save gigabytes for free on dropbox and others, why was there no backups?
Bob

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backup
Jan 22, 2015 1:44AM PST

i just didnt think to do it i wasnt planning on having ubuntu on anything other than a flash drive i have no backups

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Here's why backup is so important.
Jan 22, 2015 1:47AM PST
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files?
Jan 22, 2015 1:50AM PST

so is there anyway i can get my files back?
where i got my computer i can and go trade back this one back in for a new one, but i only want to do that if there is no possible way to get my files. because i didnt chose the box that said to delete all the windows files
Thanks

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I answered that above.
Jan 22, 2015 1:56AM PST

If it can be done DIY, you clone the drive and try the titles in the link given on the clone copy. Only those new to recovery operate on the original.

If you can't do this, we have drivesavers.com.
Bob

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driversavers
Jan 22, 2015 1:59AM PST

does that require a hardrive (driversavers or the clone copy)?

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Top post your question.
Jan 22, 2015 2:11AM PST

Your last reply needs more detail.

Cloning your current HDD would indeed need another HDD. (sorry but I can't tell how new you are to PCs.)

As to drivesavers, they've been great at answering their support questions. Call them.
Bob

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Hmm
Jan 22, 2015 3:04AM PST

considering all the above, would you risk him trying to do a clone job now? What he says he did doesn't equate to the situation he claims now exist. First, I'd like to confirm his analysis of the situation by some data, from commands given above. As the saying goes, "something here isn't kosher" or "does not equate".

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you must have done more
Jan 22, 2015 3:00AM PST

that what you admit here. Pendrivelinux.com is a great site. They wouldn't have infected installation files. There's also "integrity check" on each DVD or flashdrive created which can be run to insure the md5sum for each main folder on the system matches what the original issue ISO has. The way that site works is this;

You install the Universal USB Installation program from there.
You then run the program and you have a choice of Linux systems.
You choose one.
You OK for it to install the particular distro onto the flashdrive

At this point is it possible you chose the hard drive instead of the flashdrive? I don't even know if it would then install the program to the hard drive since that's SATA or PATA system and it's supposed to be for use on USB.

At what point in this episode did you feel or determine you only had Ubuntu available to run on the computer. Can you boot fully into Ubuntu now? If so, then open the Konsole or Terminal or XTerminal program and copy the following commands and post results. The "l" is small L, not numeral one in below commands. Linux is case sensitive on commands.

inxi -v5

sudo blkid

df

sudo parted -l

Linux Mint is my main operating system and I'm quite familiar with the Universal USB Installer program from that site. The above commands will let us determine the system, and the drive setup, the partitions and sizes.

Nothing you've said above could have caused what you seem to describe unless you'd chosen "Install" instead of "Try" on a choice screen, and even then you'd have had a second screen to choose the method of installation, tipping you off a need to clk on the "Back" button (or maybe it's Cancel button).

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this part is good
Jan 22, 2015 3:25AM PST

It means you had a successful installation of the Ubuntu LIVE to USB flashdrive.

Is this on a windows 8 computer?

Is this Ubuntun, version 14 and is it 32 or 64 bit?

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Clarification Request
Maybe I missed it, but what happens in Ubuntu when...
Jan 22, 2015 6:47AM PST

...you click on the file manager? You should see your C: drive down the left side of the resulting window. If so, you can click on it and see what's on that drive. Your Documents file would be under C:\Users\yourid\Documents. Unless something has gone wrong with your hard drive, you should be able to see that. If not, please let us know exactly what happens and at what point. Remember details are very important if we're going to help you.
`
When you've gotten your system back like you want it, I urge you to get yourself an external hard drive and a good 3rd party backup program. You can set it up to do everything automagically at the time and frequency of your choice. 1TB external hard drives are about $55 these days and a really good FREE backup program is the Easeus todo backup free. That can save you a lot of time and frustration the next time something like this happens. Sooner or later it happens to all computers for one reason or another.

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Answer
Yes, I would clone job this now.
Jan 22, 2015 3:21AM PST

Since we have only what remains on the current HDD, we know that we don't dare run recovery apps on the last copy. So clone the HDD and operate on the clone so we don't lose it all or corrupt our last copy further to the point that drivesavers has nothing to recover.
Bob