Update caused boot fail -newbie question

[tozhan]

Hi, I recently upgraded to Kernel 2.6.27-11 but after a reboot ubuntu fails at the splash screen and falls back to busybox prompt. none of the options in grub load and im not sure how to fix the problem. I would reinstall ubuntu but i dont want to have to reconfigure the whole OS, can i reinstall but keep my /home folder (and hence all my settings)?
is there anyway to fix boot error, maybe install the kernal from busybox?

Ill try to copy down the error messages.

Thanks

T

[tuxxy]

You could try to restore GRUB (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351)or you could move your /home folder to a new seperate partition then reinstall Ubuntu to your / partition saving all your settings and files.

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/separatehome

[tozhan]

Thanks ill try fixing grub now.

For what its worth these are the messages i get:

Current working drive - /ubuntu/disks
Gave up waiting for root device.
ALERT! /dev/disk/by-uuid/CE200392200380A7 does not exist. Dropping to shell.
Busybox v1.10.2
(initramfs)

hope that helps a bit.

EDIT:

i was unable to edit grub from the live cd boot. also i couldnt access my home folder from the live cd boot so i cant back it up.

plz help :)

Thanks
T

[tuxxy]

Thanks ill try fixing grub now.

For what its worth these are the messages i get:

Current working drive - /ubuntu/disks
Gave up waiting for root device.
ALERT! /dev/disk/by-uuid/CE200392200380A7 does not exist. Dropping to shell.
Busybox v1.10.2
(initramfs)

hope that helps a bit.

EDIT:

i was unable to edit grub from the live cd boot. also i couldnt access my home folder from the live cd boot so i cant back it up.

plz help :)

Thanks
T

What was the issue restoring GRUB, it will work if you follow the guide through and copy/paste the commands into terminal so you don't mistype.

[avtolle]

It looks to me that the OP did a Wubi install. I want to suggest that the Wubi sub-forum be consulted for assistance.

[geekas]

I had exactly the same problem with the same error after updating to 8.10. I found if I chose the previous kernal in the GRUB list 2.6.24-23 the system booted ok. I am still comparing boot records to see if I can nut out where it is tripping over. Meanwhile I have edited /boot/grub/menu.lst to choose the second kernal (default 2) until an answer is found.

[Jeenyus]

I have a similar problem;

I updated to kernel 2.6.27-11 from 2.6.27-9 and luckily I'm dual booting so I am able to still boot into 2....-9 but whenever I try and boot into 2....-11 I get brought to a command line looking screen and it freezes at one step, I forget exactly which one.

I am wondering if there is a way to delete the updated kernel (2.....-11) and then just try and re-update and hope it works this time.

Thanks,
Jeenyus

[simple.0]

Well, I got the same problem. Was fishing around and by fluke happened to find out that if I switched to the /dev directory and exited initramfs the system would continue and boot up correctly. I.E.

initramfs> cd /dev
initramsfs> exit

Seems somethings wrong with a cd line somewhere. I looked in the grub menu.lst file and it specifies correctly /dev/disk/by_uuid/ and the correct uuid. really weird.

You may be able to get your machine up if you type the above two command lines every time you boot after you get to the initramfs prompt. In the meantime I'm still trying to get to the bottom of this.

(Might need some help from Ubuntu.org here.)