7.10 upgrade and grub

[SyCo123]

I currently have 7.10 (upgraded from 7.04 install) running fine for a long time now. It's never run quite as nicely as the previous version with a few niggles but is OK.

I had to install windows to watch netflix so moved the linux partition back 8gb and now have to manually edit grub every time there is an update to the kernel headers. Not a massive pain but still a pain.

I'm thinking to upgrade to 8.10 just to see if my niggles disappear but wonder will the grub problem persist so should I just fresh install? I've installed a ton of stuff and had the HP laptop wireless nightmare and would prefer not to have to fix it again. Is broadcom wireless still the pain it was?

Is there a good how to for a fresh install upgrade and transfer of current packages and data? I have a seperate /home so I'm thinking it should be possible to do something like add a partition, install 8.10 to that transfer the data and delete to old partition. I'd like a guide to follow though, I'm a pretty basic user.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Just in case you're wondering, the niggles are minor stuff like x taking about 5 seconds longer to start and not being able to mute the start up music like I could on the previous version. Just little stuff but it adds up.

[caljohnsmith]

If you want to upgrade to 8.10, I would recommend trying a fresh install rather than upgrading your 7.10 through two different upgrades (8.04, 8.10). But as you've all ready alluded to, there will probably be issues you will have to sort out in 8.10 before you can get things working as you would like. Do you have maybe 4 GB of free drive space you could install 8.10 alongside your 7.10 install? That way you could give it a good try first and see if you really want to stick with it. But regardless of what you decide to do about that, you shouldn't have to manually update your menu.lst when you get a new kernel upgrade; probably the Debian "automagic" kernel options in your menu.lst need tweaking. If you want some help with that, how about downloading the Boot Info Script (https://sourceforge.net/projects/bootinfoscript/) to your Ubuntu desktop, open a terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and do:

sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh
That will create a "RESULTS.txt" file in the same directory from where the script is run, namely your desktop; please copy/paste the contents of the RESULTS.txt file to your next post, highlight the copied text, and click the pound/hash sign # graphic in the Ubuntu forum message box so that the text will get "code" tags put around it. The results of that script will greatly help clarify your setup.

[SyCo123]

Yes fixing he grub thing would be great. Thanks for the offer of help.

Here's the results.txt file


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

=> Grub0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/hda and looks on the same drive
in partition #2 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.
=> No boot loader is installed in the MBR of /dev/hdc

hda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

hda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 7.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

hda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

hda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

hda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

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

Drive hda: __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/hda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders, total 156301488 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x16351635

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/hda1 * 63 17,028,899 17,028,837 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda2 17,028,900 48,821,534 31,792,635 83 Linux
/dev/hda3 48,821,535 156,296,384 107,474,850 5 Extended
/dev/hda5 48,821,598 51,745,364 2,923,767 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/hda6 51,745,428 156,296,384 104,550,957 83 Linux


Drive hdc: __________________________________________________ ___________________
Note: sector size is 2048 (not 512)

Disk /dev/hdc: 3568 MB, 3568959488 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 108 cylinders, total 1742656 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 2048 = 2048 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

Invalid MBR Signature found


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

/dev/hda1: UUID="564C7EE24C7EBBF5" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/hda2: UUID="a22f597f-adf9-4dc7-8d71-7e882bc1a081" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/hda5: TYPE="swap" UUID="3609a2bb-8206-4e3f-a88a-9f812e9970cf"
/dev/hda6: UUID="58334ca1-26e3-4760-b59f-31162490c560" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"

=============================== "mount" output: ===============================

/dev/hda2 on / type ext3 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
/sys on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
varrun on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=0755)
varlock on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=1777)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
devshm on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,gid=5,mode=620)
lrm on /lib/modules/2.6.22-15-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw)
/dev/hda6 on /home type ext3 (rw)
securityfs on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
nfsd on /proc/fs/nfsd type nfsd (rw)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
/dev/hdc on /media/cdrom0 type udf (ro,nosuid,nodev,user=simon)

================================ hda1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S

[operating systems]

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

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


=========================== hda2/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 2

## 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=a22f597f-adf9-4dc7-8d71-7e882bc1a081 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 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-15-generic
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-15-generic root=UUID=a22f597f-adf9-4dc7-8d71-7e882bc1a081 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-15-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-15-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-15-generic root=UUID=a22f597f-adf9-4dc7-8d71-7e882bc1a081 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-15-generic

title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=a22f597f-adf9-4dc7-8d71-7e882bc1a081 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=a22f597f-adf9-4dc7-8d71-7e882bc1a081 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic

title Ubuntu 7.10, memtest86+
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
title *******
root (hd0,0)
makeactive
chainloader +1


=============================== hda2/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/hda1
UUID=a22f597f-adf9-4dc7-8d71-7e882bc1a081 / ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/hda6
UUID=58334ca1-26e3-4760-b59f-31162490c560 /home ext3 defaults 0 2
# /dev/hda5
UUID=3609a2bb-8206-4e3f-a88a-9f812e9970cf none swap sw 0 0
/dev/hdc /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec 0 0

=================== hda2: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


20.8GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
20.8GB: boot/grub/stage2
20.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
20.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic.bak
20.9GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-15-generic
20.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-15-generic.bak
20.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic
20.8GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-15-generic
20.9GB: initrd.img
20.8GB: initrd.img.old
20.8GB: vmlinuz
20.9GB: vmlinuz.old

[caljohnsmith]

It looks like the only thing wrong with your menu.lst is the "# groot..." line. How about opening it up:

gksudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
And then change the groot line to use (hd0,1) rather than (hd0,0):

# groot=(hd0,1)

Then the next time you get a kernel upgrade, I don't think your menu.lst will break again. If you have any problems though in the future with your menu.lst, feel free to bump this thread, and I'll do my best to help. :)

[SyCo123]

I had an update waiting so tried your suggestion and it worked like a charm! One less niggle.

I'll free up a partition and do the upgrade that way I think.

Thank you for your time and attention to this.