GRUB RESCUE prompt

[YesWeCan]

Got Grub Rescue error after trying to Dual Boot 10.04 and Windows 7. I'm completely new to Ubuntu so I'm lost at this point.

So you have Ubuntu and Windows on separate disks, which is the BEST way to dual boot.
However, you have the Grub boot code in the Ubuntu disks MBR and its 10.04 OS partition. So something may be a little messed up.
And your Windows disk sdc also has Grub boot code in its MBR which is wrong - it should keep its original Windows MBR code.

1) The problem might be simply that your bios is set to boot the Windows disk first. Try it booting the Ubuntu disk first.
2) Otherwise, you need to resintall Grub to the MBR of your Ubuntu disk using your 10.04 live CD.
3) You should restore your Windows MBR to sdc by booting your Windows installation CD and using the repair options.

In general, for other reading this, it is a good precaution to disconnect your Windows disk when installing Ubuntu to another disk. It is not necessary, but it just avoids accidentally destroying your Windows MBR code; so why take the risk.

[YesWeCan]

Please help! I'm stuck at Grub Rescue prompt after attempting install of Ubuntu 10.04 on my brother's 7 yr-old Compaq SR1040 desktop which has XP. Wanted both OS's.

Attached is Boot Info Script results text file. I can't boot windows at all. I'm concerned that SDA2 not mounting. I can boot Ubuntu from CD.

When I boot from hard drive, I'm stuck with grub rescue prompt. Doesn't seem like any commands I enter, other than "ls" works.

I'm in remote area in NH with limited Internet access. I was hoping Ubuntu could be used to speed up dial-up use. I will have to drive to a library in town to get to working computer to receive or post any further messages.

Thanks for help!

Hi. This is a little tricky because your laptop is so old and so some repair options may not work. It is also tricky because you have limited access to this forum.

Fall back fix (in case the Grub reinstall fix fails to work):
This should get Windows booting again. It installs a standard MBR.
Boot the Ubuntu live CD. Then run
sudo apt-get install lilo (just ignore warnings)
sudo lilo -M /dev/sda mbr

Grub reinstall fix:
Boot Ubuntu live CD. Then run
sudo mount /dev/sdf5 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda

If neither work you'll have to find a Windows install CD and run the repair options.

[YesWeCan]

my Acer netbook with 10.4 installed will now only book from USB distro stick otherwise Grub rescue pops up. Despite my bet efforts all my data is still in place. When it first happened I installed 9.10 followed by 10.4 netbook version I confuse myself and the install by having a SD disk which confused the installation.
As you can see it is a fine old mess.
Simple suggestions for a confused old soul please

The bootinfoscript output doesn't look too messy. You seem to have lilo in the MBR of sda rather than Grub? Is this deliberate? So it is not clear to me how you are booting the Grub boot code at all.

If you want Grub in the MBR (which is normal) do this:
Boot from live 10.04 CD/USB
sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda

[YesWeCan]

OK, that's 6 responded to. I'll take a break and wait for results . Hopefully at least one will work!

[edit] Ha ha. I just noticed how old these posts are! Note to self: open your eyes.

[progone]

I only got this far.

To run a command as administrator (user "root"), use "sudo <command>".
See "man sudo_root" for details.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount /dev/sda5/ /mnt && sudo mount -bind /dev /mnt/dev && sudo mount -bind /proc /mnt/proc && sudo chroot /mnt
mount: invalid option -- 'b'
Usage: mount -V                 : print version
       mount -h                 : print this help
       mount                    : list mounted filesystems
       mount -l                 : idem, including volume labels
So far the informational part. Next the mounting.
The command is `mount [-t fstype] something somewhere'.
Details found in /etc/fstab may be omitted.
       mount -a [-t|-O] ...     : mount all stuff from /etc/fstab
       mount device             : mount device at the known place
       mount directory          : mount known device here
       mount -t type dev dir    : ordinary mount command
Note that one does not really mount a device, one mounts
a filesystem (of the given type) found on the device.
One can also mount an already visible directory tree elsewhere:
       mount --bind olddir newdir
or move a subtree:
       mount --move olddir newdir
One can change the type of mount containing the directory dir:
       mount --make-shared dir
       mount --make-slave dir
       mount --make-private dir
       mount --make-unbindable dir
One can change the type of all the mounts in a mount subtree
containing the directory dir:
       mount --make-rshared dir
       mount --make-rslave dir
       mount --make-rprivate dir
       mount --make-runbindable dir
A device can be given by name, say /dev/hda1 or /dev/cdrom,
or by label, using  -L label  or by uuid, using  -U uuid .
Other options: [-nfFrsvw] [-o options] [-p passwdfd].
For many more details, say  man 8 mount .
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt && sudo mount –bind /dev /mnt/dev && sudo mount –bind /proc /mnt/proc && sudo chroot /mnt
mount: /dev/sda5 already mounted or /mnt busy
mount: according to mtab, /dev/sda5 is already mounted on /mnt
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ grub-install /dev/sda
grub-mkdevicemap: error: cannot open /boot/grub/device.map
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo grub-install /dev/sda
grub-probe: error: cannot find a device for /boot/grub.

No path or device is specified.
Try ``grub-probe --help'' for more information.
Auto-detection of a filesystem module failed.
Please specify the module with the option `--modules' explicitly.
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ grub-install /dev/sda5
rm: cannot remove `/boot/grub/915resolution.mod': Permission denied
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

I'm afraid to go any further and type

sudo grub-install /dev/sda5

and cause permanent damage.

I wish I could boot from any liveCD or USB. My system is crashing right after I pick "Try Ubuntu" and selecting from any of my linux distros. I can load up Vista fine thou.

Any suggestions from grub rescue>

[whiskers751]

Try this guide:

http://karuppuswamy.com/wordpress/20...-cd-for-grub2/

Or just reinstall GRUB:

http://karuppuswamy.com/wordpress/20...rescue-prompt/

[haha8808]

there is no need to do all that stuff, all you need to do if you are new to linux and dual-booting to windows is to put the burned linux CD in the tray and install it to another partition and THEN you can acces windows from that point.

[crazysoo]

check out this very good tutorial that shows how to come out from
Grub Rescue prompt and recover your ubuntu instalation with live cd
http://youtu.be/ZcbTgMKpVHQ