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View Full Version : [ubuntu] Error 12: Invalid device request, can't boot into XP


Support the 2nd
August 16th, 2009, 03:43 AM
I can see and access my XP drive in my media folder.

So what happens when I try booting into into XP from the Grub or from the mobos boot selector, is Error 12: Invalid device request.

I just installed Ubuntu 9.04 on a drive with Ext3, and a FAT32 partion for my music. XP was on a separate drive, ntfs.

IMPORTANT INFO
About 2 years ago I was having problems getting both to work together, so I installed XP without my other drive, so the MBR would be there. Then I unhooked it and had my kubuntu installed with grub. I used my mobos boot option to have linux as the default boot and just used F11 if I needed to get into XP. That was my work around.


During this go round, I left the XP drive hooked up during the install.

So does XP still has the original MBR. Is that affecting this? What gives?
presence1960
August 16th, 2009, 03:59 AM
boot into Ubuntu and download the boot Info Script 0.32 from my signature line to the desktop. Once on desktop open a terminal and run this command

sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh
This will create a RESULTS.txt file on the desktop. paste the entire contents of that file back here. Once pasted here highlight all text and click # on the toolbar to place code tags around the text. This info will show us your setup & boot process. We can go from there.
Support the 2nd
August 16th, 2009, 04:19 AM
============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

=> Grub0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on boot drive #2 in
partition #6 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.
=> Grub0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks on the same drive
in partition #6 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system:
Boot sector type: Unknown
Boot sector info:
Mounting failed:
mount: unknown filesystem type ''

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.04
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sdb3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Fat32
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sdb3 starts
at sector 0. But according to the info from fdisk,
sdb3 starts at sector 104004810.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders, total 156301488 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0edf0ede

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 156,280,319 156,280,257 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 156,280,320 156,296,384 16,065 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 156,280,383 156,296,384 16,002 83 Linux


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 203.9 GB, 203928109056 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24792 cylinders, total 398297088 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x051e9de8

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdb1 * 63 104,004,809 104,004,747 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 126 1,992,059 1,991,934 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb6 1,992,123 104,004,809 102,012,687 83 Linux
/dev/sdb3 104,004,810 398,283,479 294,278,670 b W95 FAT32


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

/dev/sda1: UUID="0A9435B094359F5F" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdb3: LABEL="^?M-^\M-F>oM-,[M-_rM-^MM-<" UUID="47B1-1574" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sdb5: UUID="c03b433d-0fe8-4a98-87af-c999099bf053" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sdb6: UUID="fd820df4-d03d-446e-8e0e-9f82105582b1" TYPE="ext3"

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

/dev/sdb6 on / type ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)
tmpfs on /lib/init/rw type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
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)
fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
lrm on /lib/modules/2.6.28-14-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=755)
/dev/sda1 on /media/sda1 type fuseblk (ro,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096)
/dev/sdb3 on /media/subway type vfat (rw)
securityfs on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/eric/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=eric)


================================ sda1/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 Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn


=========================== sdb6/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=fd820df4-d03d-446e-8e0e-9f82105582b1 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=fd820df4-d03d-446e-8e0e-9f82105582b1

## 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

## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
## indomU=true
## indomU=false
# indomU=detect

## 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 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-14-generic
uuid fd820df4-d03d-446e-8e0e-9f82105582b1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-14-generic root=UUID=fd820df4-d03d-446e-8e0e-9f82105582b1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-14-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-14-generic (recovery mode)
uuid fd820df4-d03d-446e-8e0e-9f82105582b1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-14-generic root=UUID=fd820df4-d03d-446e-8e0e-9f82105582b1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-14-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid fd820df4-d03d-446e-8e0e-9f82105582b1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=fd820df4-d03d-446e-8e0e-9f82105582b1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid fd820df4-d03d-446e-8e0e-9f82105582b1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=fd820df4-d03d-446e-8e0e-9f82105582b1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid fd820df4-d03d-446e-8e0e-9f82105582b1
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 Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


=============================== sdb6/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'vol_id --uuid' 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 defaults 0 0
# / was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=fd820df4-d03d-446e-8e0e-9f82105582b1 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdb5 during installation
UUID=c03b433d-0fe8-4a98-87af-c999099bf053 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd1 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/sda1 /media/sda1 ntfs nls=iso8859-1,ro,umask=000 0 0
/dev/sdb3 /media/subway vfat defaults 0 0

=================== sdb6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


50.1GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
50.2GB: boot/grub/stage2
50.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
50.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-14-generic
50.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic
50.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-14-generic
50.1GB: initrd.img
50.1GB: initrd.img.old
50.2GB: vmlinuz
50.1GB: vmlinuz.old
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sda5

00000000 aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa |................|
*
00000200


=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

sdc sdd sde sdf
presence1960
August 16th, 2009, 04:36 AM
You no longer have the windows bootloader on sda (80 GB) as somehow you installed GRUB on MBR of both sda & sdb. This is what i would do. Boot your machine and go into BIOS. I would set sdb as first hard disk in boot order. Then continue booting and choose Ubuntu. Open a terminal and run
gksu gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst At the bottom of menu.lst change the windows entry to:


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1


That should do it , reboot and try booting windows.

If that does not work keep the menu.lst as it is. Boot again and switch the hard disk boot order back to sda as first boot. Then boot the windows XP install disk and do this (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708) to restore the windows bootloader to MBR of sda. Reboot and you should boot right into windows. Then reboot one more time and switch the boot order back to sdb as first hard disk. You will be good to go now.
Support the 2nd
August 16th, 2009, 05:29 AM
Thanks, that worked.

Can I still do that with the MBR just as a backup incase my other drive takes a dump [its getting years old] and I am left with just the XP drive?

But on a side note, that was my reason last time was because Grub got installed on both drives and ruined my XP MBR. Don't know what I did wrong during install this time. :(


One more thing, I have two kernals on my GRUB menu..... 2.6.28-14 and -11.

I can remove the -11 correct? Any reason to leave it?
raymondh
August 16th, 2009, 05:42 AM
One more thing, I have two kernals on my GRUB menu..... 2.6.28-14 and -11.

I can remove the -11 correct? Any reason to leave it?

I keep at least 2 working kernels just in case one misfires.

If you prefer to just see one kernel in your boot up menu, you can install startupmanager and set parameters, defaults, etc there. See attachments.

If you prefer to just have 1 kernel (at all), you can edit your menu.lst and either remove or comment the unwanted kernel.
presence1960
August 16th, 2009, 05:55 AM
Thanks, that worked.

Can I still do that with the MBR just as a backup incase my other drive takes a dump [its getting years old] and I am left with just the XP drive?

But on a side note, that was my reason last time was because Grub got installed on both drives and ruined my XP MBR. Don't know what I did wrong during install this time. :(


One more thing, I have two kernals on my GRUB menu..... 2.6.28-14 and -11.

I can remove the -11 correct? Any reason to leave it?

You can restore windows bootloader to MBR of sda. just make sure you switch sda to first hard disk boot in BIOS, repair the MBR. reboot and make sure windows boots . if successful reboot again and switch sdb to first hard disk boot in BIOS. You will be good to go. or you can just wait until your other drive goes. Disconnect the bad drive, make sure the XP drive is set to first in BIOS( it should after removing other drive but check anyway) then use the windows CD to repair the MBR.

I agree with raymond- I would leave the two newest kernels in case one doesn't boot and you can't fix it. You can comment out in menu.lst the ones you don't want to show on your GRUB menu like this:


## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-14-generic
uuid 4056b016-d185-439d-b630-29449b4f5912
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-14-generic root=UUID=4056b016-d185-439d-b630-29449b4f5912 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-14-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-14-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 4056b016-d185-439d-b630-29449b4f5912
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-14-generic root=UUID=4056b016-d185-439d-b630-29449b4f5912 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-14-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-13-generic
uuid 4056b016-d185-439d-b630-29449b4f5912
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-13-generic root=UUID=4056b016-d185-439d-b630-29449b4f5912 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-13-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-13-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 4056b016-d185-439d-b630-29449b4f5912
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-13-generic root=UUID=4056b016-d185-439d-b630-29449b4f5912 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-13-generic

#title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
#uuid 4056b016-d185-439d-b630-29449b4f5912
#kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=4056b016-d185-439d-b630-29449b4f5912 ro quiet splash
#initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
#quiet

#title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
#uuid 4056b016-d185-439d-b630-29449b4f5912
#kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=4056b016-d185-439d-b630-29449b4f5912 ro single
#initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid 4056b016-d185-439d-b630-29449b4f5912
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
presence1960
August 16th, 2009, 06:04 AM
But on a side note, that was my reason last time was because Grub got installed on both drives and ruined my XP MBR. Don't know what I did wrong during install this time.

When you get to the ready to install window of the installer click the advanced tab and choose where you want GRUB installed, Examples:
sda = MBR of sda
sda1 = first sector of partition sda1 (useful for chainloading other distros from GRUB on MBR)

sdb = MBR of sdb
sdb1 = first sector of sdb1 (useful for chainloading other distros)

here is a screenshot of the ready to install window
petmoreno
February 24th, 2010, 02:30 PM
Hello everybody,

I've a problem related to this issue. I have three S.O. (windows7, windowsXP and ubuntu 8.10). I'd like to access any of these from GRUB but I can't access to windowsXP getting the famous error12.

I leave the result.txt from boot info script. Can anybody help me?

Thanks in advance

Regards

************************************************** ************************



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 #7 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files/dirs: /boot.ini /bootmgr /boot/bcd
/Windows/System32/winload.exe /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sda5 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sda6 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System: Windows XP
Boot files/dirs:

sda7: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.04
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda8: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /boot/BCD

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disco /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 cabezas, 63 sectores/pista, 30401 cilindros, 488397168 sectores en total
Unidades = sectores de 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Identificador de disco: 0x80d2f3ee

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 246,886,919 246,886,857 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 246,886,920 467,411,174 220,524,255 f W95 Ext d (LBA)
/dev/sda5 246,886,983 359,550,764 112,663,782 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda6 359,550,828 423,023,579 63,472,752 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda7 423,023,643 466,640,054 43,616,412 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 466,640,118 467,411,174 771,057 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 467,419,136 469,518,335 2,099,200 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda4 469,518,704 488,397,167 18,878,464 7 HPFS/NTFS


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 3A7AACD27AAC8C67 ntfs
/dev/sda3 3E21-FA72 vfat HP_TOOLS
/dev/sda4 3CD45BFDD45BB83A ntfs HP_RECOVERY
/dev/sda5 01CA85B643171A10 ntfs DATA
/dev/sda6 C204FE4C04FE4349 ntfs
/dev/sda7 d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140 ext3
/dev/sda8 fe04cd8e-8d26-4ae2-a49f-987db0dbea5a swap

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda7 / ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)


================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(5)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(5)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(7)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

=========================== sda7/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=d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140

## 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

## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
## indomU=true
## indomU=false
# indomU=detect

## 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 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140
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 Windows 7 (loader)
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda6
title Windows XP (loader)
rootnoverify (hd0,5)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


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


=============================== sda7/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'vol_id --uuid' 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 defaults 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=fe04cd8e-8d26-4ae2-a49f-987db0dbea5a none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sda7: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


235.3GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
235.4GB: boot/grub/stage2
235.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
235.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-18-generic
235.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic
235.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-18-generic
235.4GB: initrd.img
235.4GB: initrd.img.old
235.4GB: vmlinuz
235.4GB: vmlinuz.old
meierfra.
February 25th, 2010, 02:29 AM
I'd like to access any of these from GRUB
I'm assuming that are you currently able boot Windows XP via Window 7 Boot menu. If this is not correct, let me know.

If you want to be able to boot XP directly from the Grub menu you need to:


Move the XP boot files from the Win 7 partition to the XP partition
Remove "makeactive" from the XP item in the Grub menu.
Fix the boot sector of the XP partition.
Clean up the XP boot menu.
Set the timeout on the Windows 7 boot menu to 0.


Here are the details:

Step 1 Move the XP boot files from the Win 7 partition to the XP partition



cd /mnt
sudo mkdir 1 6
sudo mount /dev/sda1 1
sudo mount /dev/sda6 6
cd 1
sudo mv ntldr NTDETECT.COM boot.ini /mnt/6



Step 2 Remove "makeactive" from the XP item in the Grub menu.


gksudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Change

title Windows XP (loader)
rootnoverify (hd0,5)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


to

title Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd0,5)
chainloader +1

Save the file.

Step 3 Fix the boot sector of the XP partition.


sudo apt-get install testdisk

(if apt-get cannot find "testdisk" you have to enable the universe repository via "System->Administration->Software Sources)


sudo testdisk /dev/sda


Choose "proceed" on the first screen, then
"intel"
"advanced",
Select the XP partition and choose
"boot"
"RebuildBS"
"Write"

then press "q" a few times to quit testdisk.

Step 4 Clean up the XP boot menu.



sudo nano /mnt/6/boot.ini
(don't use gedit for "boot.ini", it doesn't handle dos line-breaks as well as nano)

Remove the line

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(7)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Follow the instruction on the bottom of the screen to save the file.( "^" means "Ctrl")


Before proceeding to step 5, reboot and see whether you can boot into XP using the "Window XP" entry on the Grub menu.

If this worked:

Step 5 Set the timeout on the Windows 7 boot menu to 0.

Boot into Window 7. Go to "Start". Type "cmd" and press "Ctrl+Shift+Enter". This will open a command line as an administrator. (If this did not open the command line: Go to Start->Program Files->Accessories, Right Click "Command Prompt", Choose "Run as administrator")


bcdedit /set {bootmgr} timeout 0

Reboot and choose "Window 7" at the Grub menu. You should boot directly into Window 7 (without the Win 7 boot menu showing up)
petmoreno
February 25th, 2010, 11:54 AM
Hi,
I'm sorry to tell you that I can access directly to my Windows7, but anyway I can access to my Windows XP.
Does this changes all steps I should follow? If not, I'll try to take all steps you mention and I'll give you a feedback
meierfra.
February 25th, 2010, 02:33 PM
Does this changes all steps I should follow?
Carry out Step1 to Step 4, but you don't have to do step 5.
petmoreno
February 26th, 2010, 11:05 AM
Hello,

I try to carry out the step 1, but when I can't set the following instruction ""sudo mv ntdlr NTDETEC.Com boot. ini /mnt/6"". I get the following error (It's something like that because I have the spanish version):

mv:can't make `stat' over <<ntldr>>:Doesn't exist file or directory
mv:can't make `stat' over <<NTDETECT.COM>>:Doesn't exist file or directory
mv:can't make `stat' over <<boot.>>:Doesn't exist file or directory
mv:can't make `stat' over <<ini.>>:Doesn't exist file or directory

Any suggestion??

Thanks in advance and Regards
meierfra.
February 26th, 2010, 01:54 PM
There was a typo in my instruction: it is supposed to be "boot.ini" (not " boot .ini". But that does not explain the missing "ntldr" and "NTDETECT.COM")

I think that some of the earlier commands have gone wrong. Please try Step 1 again and post the whole content of the terminal (use copy and paste)
petmoreno
February 26th, 2010, 04:34 PM
I still have the same problem, that is:
mv:can't make `stat' over <<ntldr>> doesn't exist file or directory
mv:can't make `stat' over <<NTDETECT.COM>> doesn't exist file or directory
mv:can't make `stat' over <<boot.ini>> doesn't exist file or directory
What is happening??
meierfra.
February 26th, 2010, 05:02 PM
What is happening??
I don't know. Please post the content of the whole terminal, as I already asked you to do in my last post.
petmoreno
February 26th, 2010, 05:40 PM
Hi,
I've got to take all steps, but when I choose Windows XP in the grub it appears a black screen. It seems to be hung.
What should I do??
meierfra.
February 26th, 2010, 11:24 PM
Could you run the boot info script again and post the new RESULTS.txt (it might be called RESULTS1.txt)?

When was last time your were able to boot XP?
In which order did you install your operating systems?
petmoreno
February 27th, 2010, 12:16 PM
Hi,

The last time I was able to boot XP was after reinstalling in my XP partition one more time. The order I installed my operating system was: 1st: Windows7, 2nd:Ubuntu, 3rd: WindowsXP

After that, I take all steps you post, I've to say that in step 4 I've found this line:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(7)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Instead of : multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(5)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

It was the only line there was in the archive, so I delete them.

I've run the boot scrip, and my results1.txt says that:

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 #7 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /boot/bcd /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sda5 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda7: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.04
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda8: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /boot/BCD

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disco /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 cabezas, 63 sectores/pista, 30401 cilindros, 488397168 sectores en total
Unidades = sectores de 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Identificador de disco: 0x80d2f3ee

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 246,886,919 246,886,857 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 246,886,920 467,411,174 220,524,255 f W95 Ext d (LBA)
/dev/sda5 246,886,983 359,550,764 112,663,782 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda6 359,550,828 423,023,579 63,472,752 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda7 423,023,643 466,640,054 43,616,412 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 466,640,118 467,411,174 771,057 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 467,419,136 469,518,335 2,099,200 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda4 469,518,704 488,397,167 18,878,464 7 HPFS/NTFS


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 3A7AACD27AAC8C67 ntfs
/dev/sda3 3E21-FA72 vfat HP_TOOLS
/dev/sda4 3CD45BFDD45BB83A ntfs HP_RECOVERY
/dev/sda5 01CA85B643171A10 ntfs DATA
/dev/sda6 B0746E37746E0108 ntfs
/dev/sda7 d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140 ext3
/dev/sda8 fe04cd8e-8d26-4ae2-a49f-987db0dbea5a swap

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda7 / ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)


================================ sda6/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(5)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]


=========================== sda7/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=d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140

## 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

## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
## indomU=true
## indomU=false
# indomU=detect

## 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 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140
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 Windows 7
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda6
title Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd0,5)
chainloader +1


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


=============================== sda7/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'vol_id --uuid' 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 defaults 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=d4ca313a-5206-4eb9-b2ba-c566eb9d8140 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=fe04cd8e-8d26-4ae2-a49f-987db0dbea5a none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sda7: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


235.4GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
235.4GB: boot/grub/stage2
235.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
235.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-18-generic
235.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic
235.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-18-generic
235.4GB: initrd.img
235.4GB: initrd.img.old
235.4GB: vmlinuz
235.4GB: vmlinuz.old
meierfra.
February 27th, 2010, 03:58 PM
After that, I take all steps you post, I've to say that in step 4 I've found this line:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(7)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Instead of : multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(5)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

It was the only line there was in the archive, so I delete them.


I'm not exactly sure what happened, but you are now missing a line in boot.ini. Edit boot.ini again:



sudo mount /dev/sda6 /mnt/6
sudo nano /mnt/6/boot.ini
and add one line to boot.ini so that the whole file looks like


[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(5)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(5)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


Everything else looks good.
petmoreno
February 27th, 2010, 07:42 PM
Ey!
I've changed the boot.ini and I've fixed it!!!
Thanks a lot and regards
meierfra.
February 27th, 2010, 07:58 PM
I've fixed it!!!
Great. Have fun with XP, Win 7 and Ubuntu.