Recovery mode won't even boot. Help appreciated

[Kir_B]

Hey all.

I'm having a huge problem right now and I could use some help deciphering what's wrong.

I can't get my system to boot (see signature) and even the recovery mode is buggered. Whenever I try to boot, all I get is a flashing underscore. This is the same for both the normal and recovery modes Kernels.

I've run the boot info script from a live cd and I've attached it to this post.

If someone could take a peek and maybe give me a quick hand, I'd be hugely appreciative.

Thanks all.

Kirby

P.S. I'm running lucid and any other needed details will provided upon request.

[wilee-nilee]

Here is the whole script.

                Boot Info Script 0.55    dated February 15th, 2010                    

============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

 => Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive in 
    partition #6 for /boot/grub.

sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       Extended Partition
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  

sda5: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       swap
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  

sda6: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu 10.04.2 LTS
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda7: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sda1    *            124   707,181,299   707,181,176   5 Extended
/dev/sda5                 126     9,896,039     9,895,914  82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6           9,896,103    51,729,299    41,833,197  83 Linux
/dev/sda7          51,729,363   707,181,299   655,451,937  83 Linux


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL                         

/dev/loop0                                              squashfs                                 
/dev/sda1: PTTYPE="dos" 
/dev/sda5        8c458156-2995-4e35-9c93-612a8f418728   swap                                     
/dev/sda6        32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516   ext4                                     
/dev/sda7        b741282d-a7cd-423a-89ec-83a13a0cec44   ext4                                     
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos" 

============================ "mount | grep ^/dev  output: ===========================

Device           Mount_Point              Type       Options

aufs             /                        aufs       (rw)
/dev/sr0         /cdrom                   iso9660    (ro,noatime)
/dev/loop0       /rofs                    squashfs   (ro,noatime)


=========================== sda6/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
  set saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z ${boot_once} ]; then
    saved_entry=${chosen}
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function recordfail {
  set recordfail=1
  if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then if [ -z ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
  if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
    # For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
    # understand terminal_output
    terminal gfxterm
  fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ ${recordfail} = 1 ]; then
  set timeout=-1
else
  set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-30-generic-pae' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-30-generic-pae root=UUID=32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516 ro splash quiet  quiet splash
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-30-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-30-generic-pae (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
	echo	'Loading Linux 2.6.32-30-generic-pae ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-30-generic-pae root=UUID=32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516 ro single splash quiet
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-30-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-29-generic-pae' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-29-generic-pae root=UUID=32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516 ro splash quiet  quiet splash
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-29-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-29-generic-pae (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
	echo	'Loading Linux 2.6.32-29-generic-pae ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-29-generic-pae root=UUID=32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516 ro single splash quiet
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-29-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-28-generic-pae' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-28-generic-pae root=UUID=32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516 ro splash quiet  quiet splash
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-28-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-28-generic-pae (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
	echo	'Loading Linux 2.6.32-28-generic-pae ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-28-generic-pae root=UUID=32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516 ro single splash quiet
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-28-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-27-generic-pae' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-27-generic-pae root=UUID=32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516 ro splash quiet  quiet splash
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-27-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-27-generic-pae (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
	echo	'Loading Linux 2.6.32-27-generic-pae ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-27-generic-pae root=UUID=32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516 ro single splash quiet
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-27-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-26-generic-pae' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-26-generic-pae root=UUID=32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516 ro splash quiet  quiet splash
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-26-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-26-generic-pae (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
	echo	'Loading Linux 2.6.32-26-generic-pae ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-26-generic-pae root=UUID=32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516 ro single splash quiet
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-26-generic-pae
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
	linux16	/boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516
	linux16	/boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
if [ ${timeout} != -1 ]; then
  if keystatus; then
    if keystatus --shift; then
      set timeout=-1
    else
      set timeout=0
    fi
  else
    if sleep --interruptible 3 ; then
      set timeout=0
    fi
  fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

=============================== sda6/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s UUID' to print the universally unique identifier
# for a device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name
# devices that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
proc            /proc           proc    nodev,noexec,nosuid 0       0
# / was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=32a48f5a-210d-4b14-9228-237d8c3c4516 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=8c458156-2995-4e35-9c93-612a8f418728 none            swap    sw              0       0

=================== sda6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


  16.1GB: boot/grub/core.img
  25.6GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
  16.0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-26-generic-pae
  16.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-27-generic-pae
  16.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-28-generic-pae
  18.0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-29-generic-pae
  18.0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-30-generic-pae
  15.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-26-generic-pae
  16.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-27-generic-pae
  16.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-28-generic-pae
  16.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-29-generic-pae
  18.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-30-generic-pae
  18.0GB: initrd.img
  18.0GB: initrd.img.old
  18.0GB: vmlinuz
  16.6GB: vmlinuz.old

[Kir_B]

Thanks wilee-nilee.

I wasn't sure how you folks would prefer it posted.

Kirby

[wilee-nilee]

The script looks as though it should boot, you have 5 sets of kernels, have you tried all of them and their complementary recoveries or tried to remove them, more information in this if you can would be helpful. I think you state you tried these, but it is important to be exact here if we can.

Did you get any updates right before this that might have been graphic driver related?

You might just try reloading grub2.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr...ing%20GRUB%202

[Kir_B]

The script looks as though it should boot, you have 5 sets of kernels, have you tried all of them and their complementary recoveries or tried to remove them, more information in this if you can would be helpful. I think you state you tried these, but it is important to be exact here if we can.

Did you get any updates right before this that might have been graphic driver related?

You might just try reloading grub2.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr...ing%20GRUB%202

I had installed the ATI drivers for the onboard graphics, just to see if they were ready for my boards graphics yet (still has the watermark).

Once I found out that they were still outdated, I removed them to go back to the open source driver. upon reboot, all I get is the flashing underscore, no matter which kernel entry I tried.

Then I decided to select one of the older kernel's recovery mode and just let it sit while I'm researching this. Next thing I know, after about a half an hour (while I'm typing this), I see the recovery mode show up on the screen. Go figure, but I did the fix broken packages option (dpkg), then update grub and then run ubuntu in failsafe graphics mode, and it's sitting at the login screen now.

It may just have fixed itself. I'm going to go check things out now, and I'll post back with what happens.

Thanks so much for the help.

Kirby

[Kir_B]

Well, I took a look around and everything looked fine. No drivers installed, at least that I could see, so I rebooted into a normal Kernel and I'm right back to the same spot. A blinking underscore.

It's still stuck there as I type this, so I'm not sure what the problem is.

Thanks again.

Kirby

[wilee-nilee]

You can run a safe graphics from the grub menu, hold down the shift at powering on if you don't see the grub menu now. Hit e use the arrow keys to get to the end of the first kernel replace the no splash with nomodeset, and I think it is crtl-x to boot from there. Get in a run a update/upgrade and see if it gets it set back in shape, I have never had to load or remove a graphic driver so hopefully others may though.

[Kir_B]

You can run a safe graphics from the grub menu, hold down the shift at powering on if you don't see the grub menu now. Hit e use the arrow keys to get to the end of the first kernel replace the no splash with nomodeset, and I think it is crtl-x to boot from there. Get in a run a update/upgrade and see if it gets it set back in shape, I have never had to load or remove a graphic driver so hopefully others may though.

Thanks again wilee-nilee.

When you say; replace the no splash with nomodeset, do you mean the "ro splash", or the "splash" that's located right after "quiet"?

Just thought it might be wise to ask.

Thanks. Kirby

[wilee-nilee]

Thanks again wilee-nilee.

When you say; replace the no splash with nomodeset, do you mean the "ro splash", or the "splash" that's located right after "quiet"?

Just thought it might be wise to ask.

Thanks. Kirby

You can actually leave the splash in there if you remove it you will see the text that is shown at boot you may see errors there as it goes by. The ro is not a worry.

Mainly just getting the nomodeset in that line at that place (at the end) produces the low graphics mode.

This is also a per-session modification it goes away after booting, you would have to use it every time until you fix this.

[Kir_B]

You can actually leave the splash in there if you remove it you will see the text that is shown at boot you may see errors there as it goes by. The ro is not a worry.

Mainly just getting the nomodeset in that line at that place (at the end) produces the low graphics mode.

This is also a per-session modification it goes away after booting, you would have to use it every time until you fix this.

The reason I ask, is that my boot command ends with "ro splash quiet quiet splash". So, if I'm hearing you right, I just need to remove the final "splash" and replace it with nomodeset?

If that's right, I'm good to go.

Thanks again.

Kirby