No grub after install

**david1982** · January 19th, 2012

Hi,

Here's my problem i installed Ubuntu 11.10, on my computer. Its a duel boot, I've already got win7 installed. The installation all appeared to go smoothly, at the end it restarted and booted straight to windows, no grub boot menu! I've looked around and saw a few other people with similar problems but I haven't been able to find a clear solution. I've ran duel boot win7/Ubuntu in the past and never experienced this issue.

I've ran a boot_info_script and the results.txt is below.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave.

Code:

  Boot Info Script 0.60    from 17 May 2011


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

 => Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector 1 of 
    the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks 
    in partition 5 for .
 => Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb.
 => Syslinux MBR (4.04 and higher) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc.

sda1: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7
    Boot sector info:   According to the info in the boot sector, sda1 starts 
                       at sector 2048. But according to the info from fdisk, 
                       sda1 starts at sector 63. According to the info in the 
                       boot sector, sda1 has 1953519615 sectors, but 
                       according to the info from fdisk, it has 1953523056 
                       sectors.
    Mounting failed:   
sdb1: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7
    Boot sector info:   No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Mounting failed:   
sdb2: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7
    Boot sector info:   No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Mounting failed:   
sdb3: __________________________________________________________________________

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

sdb5: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu 11.10
    Boot files:        /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sdb6: __________________________________________________________________________

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

sdc1: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       vfat
    Boot sector type:  SYSLINUX 4.05 2011-12-09
    Boot sector info:   Syslinux looks at sector 4202592 of /dev/sdc1 for its 
                       second stage. SYSLINUX is installed in the  directory. 
                       The integrity check of the ADV area failed. No errors 
                       found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files:        /boot/grub/grub.cfg /syslinux/syslinux.cfg /ldlinux.sys

============================ 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 Sector    End Sector  # of Sectors  Id System

/dev/sda1    *             63 1,953,523,119 1,953,523,057  42 SFS


Drive: sdb _____________________________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 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 Sector    End Sector  # of Sectors  Id System

/dev/sdb1    *          2,048       206,847       204,800   7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sdb2             206,848 1,757,083,488 1,756,876,641   7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sdb3       1,757,083,646 1,953,523,711   196,440,066   5 Extended
/dev/sdb5       1,757,083,648 1,940,961,279   183,877,632  83 Linux
/dev/sdb6       1,940,963,328 1,953,523,711    12,560,384  82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdc _____________________________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sdc: 7933 MB, 7933526016 bytes
68 heads, 4 sectors/track, 56967 cylinders, total 15495168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition  Boot  Start Sector    End Sector  # of Sectors  Id System

/dev/sdc1    *          8,064    15,495,167    15,487,104   c W95 FAT32 (LBA)


"blkid" output: ________________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL

/dev/loop0                                              squashfs   
/dev/loop1       f57759ce-69f3-e74e-bacc-3af4451b321e   ext2       casper-rw
/dev/sda1        68DC923BDC92038A                       ntfs       Storage
/dev/sdb1        2C86607186603D88                       ntfs       System Reserved
/dev/sdb2        847C61E27C61D00A                       ntfs       
/dev/sdb5        df93ce5a-76c3-41d6-b693-986a18b7bfa2   ext4       
/dev/sdb6        327b20a4-38e4-4afa-b337-050db115b3c5   swap       
/dev/sdc1        120C-66DD                              vfat       PENDRIVE

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device           Mount_Point              Type       Options

/dev/loop0       /rofs                    squashfs   (ro,noatime)
/dev/sdc1        /cdrom                   vfat       (rw,relatime,fmask=0022,dmask=0022,codepage=cp437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,errors=remount-ro)


=========================== sdb5/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

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

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

function load_video {
  insmod vbe
  insmod vga
  insmod video_bochs
  insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df93ce5a-76c3-41d6-b693-986a18b7bfa2
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod part_msdos
  insmod ext2
  set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df93ce5a-76c3-41d6-b693-986a18b7bfa2
  set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
  set lang=en_IE
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${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
if background_color 44,0,30; then
  clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
if [ ${recordfail} != 1 ]; then
  if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
    if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
      if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
        set linux_gfx_mode=keep
      else
        set linux_gfx_mode=text
      fi
    else
      set linux_gfx_mode=text
    fi
  else
    set linux_gfx_mode=keep
  fi
else
  set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "$linux_gfx_mode" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.0.0-12-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
    insmod gzio
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df93ce5a-76c3-41d6-b693-986a18b7bfa2
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-12-generic root=UUID=df93ce5a-76c3-41d6-b693-986a18b7bfa2 ro   quiet splash vt.handoff=7
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-12-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.0.0-12-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod gzio
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df93ce5a-76c3-41d6-b693-986a18b7bfa2
    echo    'Loading Linux 3.0.0-12-generic ...'
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-12-generic root=UUID=df93ce5a-76c3-41d6-b693-986a18b7bfa2 ro recovery nomodeset 
    echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-12-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df93ce5a-76c3-41d6-b693-986a18b7bfa2
    linux16    /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df93ce5a-76c3-41d6-b693-986a18b7bfa2
    linux16    /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sdb1)" --class windows --class os {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ntfs
    set root='(hd1,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2C86607186603D88
    chainloader +1
}
### 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 ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sdb5/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' 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/sdb5 during installation
UUID=df93ce5a-76c3-41d6-b693-986a18b7bfa2 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# swap was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=327b20a4-38e4-4afa-b337-050db115b3c5 none            swap    sw              0       0
/dev/fd0        /media/floppy0  auto    rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0       0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sdb5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

           GiB - GB             File                                 Fragment(s)

               =                boot/grub/core.img                             1
               =                boot/grub/grub.cfg                             1
               =                boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-12-generic               1
               =                boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-12-generic                  1
               =                initrd.img                                     1
               =                vmlinuz                                        1

=========================== sdc1/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

if loadfont /boot/grub/font.pf2 ; then
    set gfxmode=auto
    insmod efi_gop
    insmod efi_uga
    insmod gfxterm
    terminal_output gfxterm
fi

set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray

menuentry "Try Ubuntu without installing" {
    set gfxpayload=keep
    linux    /casper/vmlinuz  file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper quiet splash --
    initrd    /casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "Install Ubuntu" {
    set gfxpayload=keep
    linux    /casper/vmlinuz  file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper only-ubiquity quiet splash --
    initrd    /casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "Check disc for defects" {
    set gfxpayload=keep
    linux    /casper/vmlinuz  boot=casper integrity-check quiet splash --
    initrd    /casper/initrd.lz
}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

========================= sdc1/syslinux/syslinux.cfg: ==========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# D-I config version 2.0
include menu.cfg
default vesamenu.c32
prompt 0
timeout 50

# If you would like to use the new menu and be presented with the option to install or run from USB at startup, remove # from the following line. This line was commented out (by request of many) to allow the old menu to be presented and to enable booting straight into the Live Environment! 
# ui gfxboot bootlogo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sdc1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

           GiB - GB             File                                 Fragment(s)

            ?? = ??             boot/grub/grub.cfg                             1

================= sdc1: Location of files loaded by Syslinux: ==================

           GiB - GB             File                                 Fragment(s)

            ?? = ??             ldlinux.sys                                    1
            ?? = ??             syslinux/chain.c32                             1
            ?? = ??             syslinux/gfxboot.c32                           1
            ?? = ??             syslinux/syslinux.cfg                          1
            ?? = ??             syslinux/vesamenu.c32                          1

============== sdc1: Version of COM32(R) files used by Syslinux: ===============

 syslinux/chain.c32                 :  COM32R module (v4.xx)
 syslinux/gfxboot.c32               :  COM32R module (v4.xx)
 syslinux/vesamenu.c32              :  COM32R module (v4.xx)

=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

unlzma: Decoder error
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
/home/ubuntu/Desktop/boot_info_script.sh: line 1579: [: 2.73495e+09: integer expression expected

My computer has an Asus motherboard (not sure if it makes a difference), but sure the more info i provide the better.

**oldfred** · January 20th, 2012

If you are booting into Windows, you must be booting sdb, but grub is in sda. Have you tried booting the other drive in BIOS or one time boot key (f12 on my system).

You also have SFS or dynamic partitions on sda. But you only have one partition?? Normally Windows converts to dynamic when you try to create more than 4 primary partitions. Linux does not work with dynamic partitions as they are proprietary to Windows. Some have reported that not all Windows tools for repair work either.

Dynamic volume is a Microsoft proprietary format developed together with Veritas (now acquired by Symantec) for logical volumes.
You can use a third-party tool, such as Partition Wizard MiniTool to convert a convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk without having to delete or format them.
The Partition Wizard software for Windows is supposed to be able to convert dynamic disks to regular partitions without data loss, so it may be what you need to get around this problem; however, I've never used it and so I can't be sure it will work.

Several users have used this, it has a liveCD download to use:
MiniTool Partition Wizard Professional Edition 5.2 to convert without loss of data the disk from dynamic disk to a basic disk.
also used Partition Wizard to set an existing partition logical instead of primary
http://www.partitionwizard.com/conve...asic-disk.html
Converted from dynamic with MiniTool, & repaired windows
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1779529

**david1982** · January 21st, 2012

Oldfred thanks for the response. The dynamic disk is a second hard drive used only for storage. No OS or boot partitions on that that disk. I downloaded mini-tool and the main disk with Ubuntu and windows is set to basic. Still no sign of grub on start up. So unfortunately i'm no closer to a solution.

**dino99** · January 21st, 2012

boot on a livecd and open a terminal, then run:

sudo grub-install /dev/sdb
sudo update-grub

sudo reboot

**oldfred** · January 21st, 2012

From liveCD you cannot just install. That does work if booting from another install.

Yanni has created a easy way to download boot repair & run script:
HOWTO : easily create a Boot-Info summary
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=11164270
Boot Repair:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair
You can repair many boot issues with this or post the link to a run of boot info script so we can see your exact configuration. May be better to run the git/beta version of boot script as it has some fixes.

If you want to use liveCD to reinstall grub2's boot loader.

#Comments are anything after the #, enter commands in terminal session
#Install MBR from LiveCD/usb, Ubuntu install on sda5 and want grub2's bootloader in drive sda's MBR:
#Find linux partition, change sda5 if not correct:
sudo fdisk -l
#confirm that linux is sda5
sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/sda
#If grub 1.99 with Natty or later uses boot not root.
sudo grub-install --boot-directory=/mnt/boot /dev/sda

# If no errors on previous commands reboot into working system and run this:
sudo update-grub

**david1982** · January 21st, 2012

dino99,

i tried to run those commands and this was the output from the terminal after the first command: "/usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: cannot find a device for /boot/grub (is /dev mounted?)."

oldfred,

I tried Boot-repair but it just hangs during the system scan during the install the terminal says:
"W: Failed to fetch cdrom://Ubuntu 11.10 _Oneiric Ocelot_ - Release amd64 (20111012)/dists/oneiric/Release Unable to find expected entry 'restricted/binary-i386/Packages' in Release file (Wrong sources.list entry or malformed file)
E: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead."

Could this be why boot-repair doesn't work?

**oldfred** · January 21st, 2012

Did you try the mount of sda5 and then grub install? You have to mount it first for the grub install to work.

Did the install fully complete? I have not seen the sources list still looking for the CD unless you want that on a non-Internet capable install. Did you have a wired Ethernet connected when you installed?

**david1982** · January 21st, 2012

Fred i followed the commands on your previous post, on restart grub version 1.99 starts. but i don't have any options to boot an OS. just a black screen with "Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB lists possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists possible device or file completions.
grub>
"
So now i cant boot widows either.

**david1982** · January 21st, 2012

Guys thanks for all the help its finely working now,
So when i followed oldfred's instructions the first time round i also enterd: sudo grub-install --boot-directory=/mnt/boot /dev/sda. which caused the grub version 1.99 to be installed.

the situation was resolved when i entered just

sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/sda

Now on start up i get a grub menu to choose my OS. Thanks again for all the help.