I'm using an older machine running Windows 7 32-bit with an Intel i5 processor. I tried booting Linux Mint from a small 5 GB FAT32 partition using GRUB2Win, but during the installation, I selected 'Erase disk and install Linux Mint'. That's when I hit a snag. I received a message saying, 'Partition(s) have been written, but we have been unable to inform the kernel of the change. You should reboot now.' After rebooting, I got an 'invalid partition table' error and now I'm facing a PXE Media test failure because I had no rescue USB at that time, making things worse.
Here's what's happened:
- I saw the message about partitions being written but not recognized by the kernel, leading to the invalid partition table error.
- My BIOS was set to Legacy, and I had already disabled PXE, but the problem didn't go away.
- Right before this error, my hard drive had a C: drive for Windows 7, a D: drive for ISOs with GRUB2Win, and I had recently created a 5 GB FAT32 partition for testing.
I haven't written any more data to the disk since the error occurred, and I'm wondering how likely it is that TestDisk can repair the MBR or partition table without causing major data loss. I realize now that trying to erase the disk without having a backup or a rescue USB was risky, as I was more focused on testing ISOs.
3 Answers
The 'invalid partition table' error you're facing could definitely stem from trying to use an old 32-bit setup alongside Windows MBR issues. If you can find a way to get a USB drive, that would simplify fixing this significantly. Unfortunately, fixing MBR issues without a USB is tough, so I recommend borrowing one or finding a temporary USB drive to make your recovery process easier.
It sounds like you've run into a classic case of partition table issues. Just to clarify, the only version of Linux Mint that still supports 32-bit is LMDE, and unfortunately, erasing the disk likely wiped your Windows data too. If the partition table was just erased but the data's still there, TestDisk should help recover it. Just remember, while TestDisk can restore partitions, it won't fix the Windows MBR, so you'd need a Windows 7 ISO if you want to get that booting again.
Yeah, using a 32-bit system can be challenging, especially when it comes to support. If TestDisk only sees the partition table issues, there's a good chance it can recreate it. But as you noted, you might want a USB for a Linux distro, like Mint or Fedora, to fully switch away from Windows. Without a USB, options are limited, but if you can find a way to get a bootable USB, it'll help you get off to a better start with Linux.
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