HELP! - installing Ubuntu to USB stick "trashes" hard drive

[Richard Owlett]

Conny Enström wrote:
> 2011-10-14 17:59, Richard Owlett skrev:
>> That's a lot milder subject line than I was considering yesterday.
>>
>> I downloaded the Ubuntu 10.10 iso {back when it was latest} and burned a
>> CD.
>> I had been referred to Ubuntu as it was reportedly "new user friendly"
>> and that the applications I wished to use were available in its or
>> Debian's repositories.
>>
>> Although it would run on both my machines (a desktop and a laptop), the
>> initial experience was anything but pleasant. It was bloated with
>> applications I would not use and lacked those I would use routinely. The
>> *critical* deficiencies were ability (as delivered) to connect to the
>> internet via dial-up (USROBOTIC USB modem) and apparently no simple way
>> have on a USB stick. The laptop, though lacking a working CD, can be
>> taken to local library and connect to internet via WiFi hotspot. *BUT* I
>> would need to be able to boot from a USB stick.
>>
>> Many here "just go for it the repositories will take care of every
>> thing" [LOL]
>>
>> So with Live CD and 8GB USB stick in hand, I sat down at my desktop.
>> Brought up Ubuntu and with trepidation clicked Install.
>> Trepidation, my credo being *ABSOLUTELY NO UNTRIED OS ON HARD-DRIVE* as
>> I've
>> have had past bad experiences ;/
>> With further fear and trembling, I chose use whole disk.
>> I breathed a PREMATURE sigh of relief when it asked "Which drive?".
>> Chose the USB stick and it chugged along copying files.
>> When complete, quit the Live session and rebooted.
>>
>> When my BIOS gave me the option to boot from an alternate device, I
>> chose the USB stick. All _appeared_ well.
>>
>> I found I'd been sucker punched on the next reboot :<
>> The BIOS driven screen comes up.
>> I let it time out, vainly innocently expecting Windows to come up.
>> I get a simple menu the first several items are Ubuntu specific.
>> The last option is Windows which I had explicitly "chosen" by *NOT*
>> choosing an alternate boot device.
>> *EVEN WORSE* if the USB stick is not there, I get an error message
>> and a "grub rescue" CLI prompt.
>>
>>
>> How do I rescue my system from Ubuntu which seems to be as monomaniacal
>> as Microsoft ever thought of being?
>> [There's a reason I was trying to escape M$ ;]
>>
>
> If I got it right, you installed Ubuntu from the CD to a 8 GB USB stick
> on a system with a harddrive with Windows on it?
>
> Use 'Unetbotin' to create a bootable USB stick......
>

I had tried 'Unetbotin' some time in the dim past. It didn't 
seem to work. I don't recall the symptoms. As other indicate 
my situation is repairable, I'll go that route for now.
Thanks