[SOLVED] GRUB error

[abuakel]

It would appear the partition you want to mount to retrieve the /boot/grub/menu.lst resides on "sdb5" so that is the one you want to mount.

For learning purposes.. how do you know?

Edit: I rand the commands you gave me and received this:

$ sudo mkdir temp
$ sudo mount /dev/sda5 /temp
fuse: failed to access mountpoint /temp: No such file or directory

Edit 2: sorry, I typed in the wrong command. please disregard.

[drs305]

In this case, it is fairly easy because you only have two linux partitions. I am making the assumption that grub was installed in the linux partition (we'll see). So it should be on the main linux partition. It wouldn't be in the swap partition. If you had mulitple linux partitions it would not be as easy.

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1               1       23391   187882496    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2           23392       24792    11253532+   5  Extended
/dev/sdb5           23392       24727    10731388+  83  Linux
/dev/sdb6           24728       24792      522081   82  Linux swap / Solaris

[abuakel]

If you have booted from the live cd, you are going to have to mount the partition with your linux OS.

Open a terminal and run these commands. Replace "sdaX" with the partition with you linux OS on it. If you don't know, post the results of "sudo fdisk -l" and someone can help you:

sudo mkdir temp
mount /dev/sdaX /temp
cat /temp/boot/grub/menu.lst

I ran the correct commands, unlike last time.. and got this result:

$ sudo mkdir temp
$ sudo mount /dev/sdb5 /temp
mount: mount point /temp does not exist

Edit: thanks for the explanation.

[drs305]

I ran the correct commands, unlike last time.. and got this result:

$ sudo mkdir temp
$ sudo mount /dev/sdb5 /temp
mount: mount point /temp does not exist

Edit: thanks for the explanation.

Try making the directory again. I missed the "/"
sudo mkdir /temp

If it doesn't work this time, run "ls / and see if the directory "temp" is listed.

[abuakel]

After typing these commands:

sudo mkdir /temp
sudo mount /dev/sdb5 /temp
sudo cat /temp/boot/grub/menu.lst

I got these results:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo cat /temp/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		10

## 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=ecafd647-4905-4716-ab3b-b392f969ec93 ro

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

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd1,4)

## 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, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic
root		(hd1,4)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=ecafd647-4905-4716-ab3b-b392f969ec93 ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd1,4)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=ecafd647-4905-4716-ab3b-b392f969ec93 ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.04, memtest86+
root		(hd1,4)
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title		Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title		Dell Utility Partition
root		(hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader	+1


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda3
title		Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)
root		(hd0,2)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader	+1

[soccerboy]

I don't know the exact solution but I remember reading somewhere that for vista, grub has to be chainloaded from vista bootloader to allow access to both os. Just thought it might help

[abuakel]

I don't know the exact solution but I remember reading somewhere that for vista, grub has to be chainloaded from vista bootloader to allow access to both os. Just thought it might help

That'll be added to the numerous reasons why I greatly abhor Vista lol

[soccerboy]

i hear you. I have stayed with windows XP for my occasional windows needs (I do development for windows). Can't get businesses to switch as fast as my household.

[abuakel]

Try making the directory again. I missed the "/"
sudo mkdir /temp

If it doesn't work this time, run "ls / and see if the directory "temp" is listed.

by the way.. it worked perfectly..
THANKS a lot.. lol, you saved my a$$

[drs305]

You marked this thread solved but if you are still having problems, read on ...

Grub thinks that windows is on the third partition of the first drive and linux is on the 5th partition of the second drive. Due to grub's methodology, these two are designated (hd0,2) and (hd1,4), which is what grub shows.

Grub Error 22 means grub is having problems locating partitions. At this point, I'll refer you to another post rather than recopy the commands. It will run the "sudo grub" command and take you through a restoration. Try it and then come back here. I'll edit this post to put down the commands but without the explanation.

So now please refer to this link unless someone has already responded in this post:
How to restore Grub from a live Ubuntu cd.

That post, in short:
sudo grub
At grub prompt:
find /boot/grub/stage1
Input result in:
root (hd?,?)
setup (hd0)
quit