Urgent! Booting problem after resizing partitions

[Tryfon]

Hello,

I decided to shrink my windows ntfs partition to give some more air to my linux one, and used Partition Magic from within windows to do so. After the operation was done I got an Error 17 from Grub. I tried to reinstall using the instructions here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351) but on the "setup (hd0)" step I got the following message:

Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5" exists... yes
Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0)"... 17 sectors are embedded.
succeeded
Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+17 p (hd0,5)/boot/grub/stage2
/boot/grub/menu.lst"... failed

Error 12: Invalid device requested

I run a boot info script (http://sourceforge.net/projects/bootinfoscript/) for diagnostic purposes, below is the output of that script:


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

=> Grub0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive
in partition #256 for /boot/grub/stage2.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Mounting failed:
$LogFile indicates unclean shutdown (0, 0)
Failed to mount '/dev/sda1': Operation not supported
Mount is denied because NTFS is marked to be in use. Choose one action:

Choice 1: If you have Windows then disconnect the external devices by
clicking on the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon in the Windows
taskbar then shutdown Windows cleanly.

Choice 2: If you don't have Windows then you can use the 'force' option for
your own responsibility. For example type on the command line:

mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sda1 sda1 -o force

Or add the option to the relevant row in the /etc/fstab file:

/dev/sda1 sda1 ntfs-3g force 0 0
$LogFile indicates unclean shutdown (0, 0)
Failed to mount '/dev/sda1': Operation not supported
Mount is denied because NTFS is marked to be in use. Choose one action:

Choice 1: If you have Windows then disconnect the external devices by
clicking on the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon in the Windows
taskbar then shutdown Windows cleanly.

Choice 2: If you don't have Windows then you can use the 'force' option for
your own responsibility. For example type on the command line:

mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sda1 sda1 -o force

Or add the option to the relevant row in the /etc/fstab file:

/dev/sda1 sda1 ntfs-3g force 0 0

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: Grub
Boot sector info: Grub is installed in the boot sector of sda5 and looks
at sector 295318119 of the same hard drive for the
stage2 file, but no stage2 files can be found at this
location.
Operating System: Ubuntu 8.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders, total 312581808 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x58152c43

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 122,881,184 122,881,122 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 158,722,200 312,576,704 153,854,505 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 158,722,263 308,672,909 149,950,647 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 308,672,973 312,576,704 3,903,732 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

/dev/sda1: UUID="38F486D8F48697B0" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda5: LABEL="Linux" UUID="de3847b1-42ee-40b9-bd72-ca587127f199" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda6: TYPE="swap" UUID="8c34d899-3109-4dcc-8525-d4daeccfd139"
/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"

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

/proc on /proc type proc (rw)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw)
tmpfs on /lib/modules/2.6.27-7-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /lib/modules/2.6.27-7-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /lib/init/rw type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
varrun on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
varlock on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=1777)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=620)
rootfs on / type rootfs (rw)
fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
/dev/scd0 on /cdrom type iso9660 (ro,noatime)
/dev/loop0 on /rofs type squashfs (ro,noatime)
tmpfs on /tmp type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/ubuntu/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=ubuntu)


=========================== sda5/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=de3847b1-42ee-40b9-bd72-ca587127f199 ro

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

## 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=1

## 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 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=de3847b1-42ee-40b9-bd72-ca587127f199 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=de3847b1-42ee-40b9-bd72-ca587127f199 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
root (hd0,4)
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/sda2
title Windows XP (loader)
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


=============================== sda5/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# -- This file has been automaticly generated by ntfs-config --
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>

proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# Entry for /dev/sda5 :
UUID=de3847b1-42ee-40b9-bd72-ca587127f199 / ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro,relatime 0 1
# Entry for /dev/sda1 :
UUID=6ED29A68D29A33F5 /media/sda1 ntfs-3g defaults,locale=en_US.UTF-8 0 1
# Entry for /dev/sda2 :
UUID=3E7C9CAF7C9C6385 /media/sda2 ntfs-3g defaults,locale=en_US.UTF-8 0 1
# Entry for /dev/ !! UNKNOW DEVICE !! :
UUID=6AACBAD9ACBA9ECF /media/sda3 ntfs-3g defaults,locale=en_US.UTF-8 0 1
# Entry for /dev/sda6 :
UUID=8c34d899-3109-4dcc-8525-d4daeccfd139 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec 0 0

#ISU Masters 09
//172.16.101.10/Masters09/ /mnt/ISU smbfs username=tryfon.farmakakis,password=yarisaur,noaut o,rw,users,exec,uid=1000,gid=1000 0 0

=================== sda5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


97.8GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
97.5GB: boot/grub/stage2
98.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
98.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic.bak
87.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
92.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
108.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic
98.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic
87.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic
86.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic
147.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic
87.6GB: initrd.img
108.5GB: initrd.img.old
87.6GB: vmlinuz
147.1GB: vmlinuz.old

Help please!

[ronparent]

From your boot info script above:

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: Grub
Boot sector info: Grub is installed in the boot sector of sda5 and looks
at sector 295318119 of the same hard drive for the
stage2 file, but no stage2 files can be found at this
location.
Operating System: Ubuntu 8.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

It look like you may need a filesystem per following site : http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/p10.htm# - filesystem_check_on_an_ext3_filesystem

You need to find or restore your /boot/grub/stage2 to proceed.

[Tryfon]

Thanks for the reply but it didnt help much. I could use some more specific instructions or links. What do you mean restore my /boot/grub/stage2? How do I do that?

[meierfra.]

It sounds like your partition table is slightly corrupt.
Please post the output of


sudo fdisk -lu
sudo sfdisk -d

[Tryfon]

sudo fdisk -lu :

omitting empty partition (5)

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders, total 312581808 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x58152c43

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 63 122881184 61440561 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 158722200 312576704 76927252+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 158722263 308672909 74975323+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 308672973 312576704 1951866 82 Linux swap / Solaris

sudo sfdisk -d :

# partition table of /dev/sda
unit: sectors

/dev/sda1 : start= 63, size=122881122, Id= 7, bootable
/dev/sda2 : start=158722200, size=153854505, Id= 5
/dev/sda3 : start= 0, size= 0, Id= 0
/dev/sda4 : start= 0, size= 0, Id= 0
/dev/sda5 : start=158722263, size=149950647, Id=83
/dev/sda6 : start=308672973, size= 3903732, Id=82
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo sfdisk -d
# partition table of /dev/sda
unit: sectors

/dev/sda1 : start= 63, size=122881122, Id= 7, bootable
/dev/sda2 : start=158722200, size=153854505, Id= 5
/dev/sda3 : start= 0, size= 0, Id= 0
/dev/sda4 : start= 0, size= 0, Id= 0
/dev/sda5 : start=158722263, size=149950647, Id=83
/dev/sda6 : start=308672973, size= 3903732, Id=82

[Tryfon]

Bumb!

[slick1a]

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fsck /dev/sda1
fsck 1.40.2 (12-Jul-2007)
e2fsck 1.40.2 (12-Jul-2007)
/dev/sda1 contains a file system with errors, check forced.
Pass 1: Checking inodes, blocks, and sizes
Inodes that were part of a corrupted orphan linked list found. Fix<y>? yes

Inode 1819011 was part of the orphaned inode list. FIXED.
Inode 1819021 was part of the orphaned inode list. FIXED.
Inode 1819044 was part of the orphaned inode list. FIXED.
Inode 1819061 was part of the orphaned inode list. FIXED.
Inode 1819067 was part of the orphaned inode list. FIXED.
Inode 1819090 was part of the orphaned inode list. FIXED.
Deleted inode 1819169 has zero dtime. Fix<y>? yes

Inode 1819178 was part of the orphaned inode list. FIXED.
sudo fix
exit
Inode 8471892 has illegal block(s). Clear<y>? yes

Illegal block #0 (3087370993) in inode 8471892. CLEARED.
Inode 8471892, i_blocks is 56, should be 48. Fix<y>? yes

Inode 8475761 has illegal block(s). Clear<y>? yes

Illegal block #0 (4261766383) in inode 8475761. CLEARED.
Inode 8475761, i_blocks is 16, should be 8. Fix<y>? yes

Inode 8475771 has illegal block(s). Clear<y>? yes

Illegal block #0 (3137692930) in inode 8475771. CLEARED.
Inode 8475771, i_blocks is 16, should be 8. Fix<y>? yes

Inode 8475821 has illegal block(s). Clear<y>? yes

Illegal block #0 (4261766510) in inode 8475821. CLEARED.
Inode 8475821, i_blocks is 8, should be 0. Fix<y>? yes

Inode 8475840 has illegal block(s). Clear<y>? yes

Illegal block #0 (3087361425) in inode 8475840. CLEARED.
Inode 8475840, i_blocks is 8, should be 0. Fix<y>? yes

Inode 8476087 has illegal block(s). Clear<y>? yes

Illegal block #0 (4261769272) in inode 8476087. CLEARED.
Inode 8476087, i_blocks is 8, should be 0. Fix<y>? yes

yyInode 8476080 has illegal block(s). Clear<y>? yes

Illegal block #0 (4261769193) in inode 8476080. CLEARED.
Inode 8476080, i_blocks is 120, should be 112. Fix<y>? yes

Inode 8594830 has illegal block(s). Clear<y>? yes

Illegal block #2 (3992977408) in inode 8594830. CLEARED.
Inode 8635078 has illegal block(s). Clear<y>? yes

Illegal block #0 (3138335485) in inode 8635078. CLEARED.
Inode 8635078 is a zero-length directory. Clear<y>? yes

Inode 8635223 has illegal block(s). Clear<y>?


what the heck is this ?

[slick1a]

Dont know what the above did , but when complete , resolved my missing Appl, places , system..stopped the machine (when booting) from doing routine disk check...etc ..but still have a box /window appearing saying i do not have permissions over 600 needed..

need further info let me know.

[ronparent]

Tryfon: to my eyes your partition table seems intact. If that the case, error 17 says: "Cannot mount selected partition
This error is returned if the partition requested exists, but the filesystem type cannot be recognized by GRUB."

You have probably gone back to basics, but induldge me. Have you tried the following sequence of commands in a live cd terminal?

sudo grub
grub> find /boot/gtub/stage2

If there is output from this command we know that an intact file structure exist and it's grubroot; enter that root in

grub> root (hd?,?)
setup (hd0)

If Stage2 is not found then we will have to find out if the file structure is intact and if grub is installed?

[meierfra.]

omitting empty partition (5)

This is one of your problems. It means that there is a bogus entry in your partition table. Ubuntu ignores it, but Grub doesn't. Luckily it can be fixed very easily:


Boot from the LiveCD and open a terminal.


sudo fdisk /dev/sda
w

Now you should be able to reinstall grub:


sudo grub
root (hd0,4)
setup (hd0)
quit

Reboot and you should get the grub menu.

[Tryfon]

Thanks a lot for the help everyone, but after all I decided to format everything, remake the partitions and reinstall my Ubuntu system. It was something that had to be done anyway for various reasons. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to try the last solution, but thanks anyway!