11.04: SATA HDD not detected

**Iceman71** · May 15th, 2011

Hi,

I tried to install 11.04, but the partition tool shows no HDD. If I try to run Ubuntu from the CD, I can explore the HDD but the partition tool in the installation program won't find it. What can be wrong with my Promise SATA controller?

Regards
Iceman71

**frakker84** · May 15th, 2011

Hello,

I have the same problem, I tryed different motherboard and hdd, but the installer do not discover the HDD. In a Virtual Machine, the installer works correctly... Are there any known issues?

**Iceman71** · May 15th, 2011

My current installation is Ubuntu 8.04, but I have seen this problem in later releases of Ubuntu. Why has this behaviour changed?
Unfortunately there are no SATA settings to be altered in BIOS, so I can't try that.

Regards
Iceman71

**Quackers** · May 15th, 2011

Are you using SATA3 ports? Are you using raid? How many primary partitions are on your HDD? Is your partition table correct?

**Iceman71** · May 16th, 2011

It's an old Promise PD20579 controller, so no SATA3.
No raid.
I've got a working 8.04 installation, so I guess there are about 3 primary partitions (isn't that default). I guess the partition table is OK as I don't experience any problems booting from it.

**Quackers** · May 16th, 2011

Ok thanks, Please go to the site below and download the boot script to your DESKTOP and then open up a terminal (Applications > Accessories > terminal) and run

Code:

sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh

This will produce a results.txt file on your desktop. Please copy the contents of that file and paste them in your next post between CODE tags. For CODE tags click on New Reply (not quick reply)and then click on the # symbol in the toolbar.
This will give a full overview of your current system.
Thanks.

http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/

**Iceman71** · May 16th, 2011

I really don't understand how my current partition table could cause any problems for installing a new system, but here you go:

Code:

                Boot Info Script 0.55    dated February 15th, 2010                    

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

 => Grub 0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive 
    in partition #1 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.
 => Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb

sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext3
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda2: _________________________________________________________________________

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

sda5: _________________________________________________________________________

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

sdb1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows XP
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  Windows XP
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

sdb2: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows XP
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

sdb3: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       vfat
    Boot sector type:  MSWIN4.1: Fat 32
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

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

Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 200.0 GB, 200049647616 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24321 cylinders, total 390721968 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xe5d9e5d9

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sda1    *             63   387,712,709   387,712,647  83 Linux
/dev/sda2         387,712,710   390,716,864     3,004,155   5 Extended
/dev/sda5         387,712,773   390,716,864     3,004,092  82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdb ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders, total 312581808 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xe9024b19

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sdb1    *             63    40,965,749    40,965,687   7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2          40,965,750   122,897,249    81,931,500   7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb3         122,897,250   312,576,704   189,679,455   c W95 FAT32 (LBA)


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL                         

/dev/sda1        715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b   ext3                                     
/dev/sda5        df423b93-b7db-4415-8be8-45ce08dd6164   swap                                     
/dev/sdb1        081840481840374A                       ntfs       XPBOOT                        
/dev/sdb2        A3176A035BB125E1                       ntfs       APPLICATIONS                  
/dev/sdb3        1071-322C                              vfat       MEDIA                         

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

Device           Mount_Point              Type       Options

/dev/sda1        /                        ext3       (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)


=========================== sda1/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
#            grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
#            grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
#            and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default		0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout		3

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line)  and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
#      password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title		Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root		(hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader	+1
#
# title		Linux
# root		(hd0,1)
# kernel	/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,0)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
##      alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
##      lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
##      lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
##      altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
##      howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
##      memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-29-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-29-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-29-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-29-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-29-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-29-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-28-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-28-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-28-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-28-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-28-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-28-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-27-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-27-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-27-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-27-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-27-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-27-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-26-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-26-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-26-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-26-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-26-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-26-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-25-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-25-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-25-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-25-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-25-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-25-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-24-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-24-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-24-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-24-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-24-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-24-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-22-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-22-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-22-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-22-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-21-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-21-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-21-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-21-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-21-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-21-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, memtest86+
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

=============================== sda1/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
proc            /proc           proc    defaults        0       0
# /dev/sda1
UUID=715b64f1-5f07-43e2-ac12-07468b8fd71b /               ext3    relatime,errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /dev/sda5
UUID=df423b93-b7db-4415-8be8-45ce08dd6164 none            swap    sw              0       0
/dev/scd0          /media/cdrom0   udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8    0 0
/dev/fd0           /media/floppy0  auto        rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
saturn:/media/hdd  /media/saturn   nfs         _netdev,auto             0 0
neptune:/media/hdd /media/neptune  nfs         _netdev,auto             0 0

=================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


 135.1GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
 131.6GB: boot/grub/stage2
 131.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic
 131.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic.bak
 131.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-21-generic
 131.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-21-generic.bak
 131.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic
 131.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic.bak
 131.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
 131.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic.bak
 135.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-24-generic
 135.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-24-generic.bak
 135.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-25-generic
 135.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-25-generic.bak
 135.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-26-generic
 135.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-26-generic.bak
 135.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-27-generic
 135.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-27-generic.bak
 135.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-28-generic
 135.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-28-generic.bak
 138.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-29-generic
 192.0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-29-generic.bak
 131.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic
 131.5GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-21-generic
 131.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-22-generic
 131.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic
 135.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-24-generic
 131.5GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-25-generic
 135.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-26-generic
 135.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-27-generic
 135.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-28-generic
 192.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-29-generic
 138.6GB: initrd.img
 135.2GB: initrd.img.old
 192.1GB: vmlinuz
 135.1GB: vmlinuz.old

================================ sdb1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect