Cannot Access and/or Restore GRUB

[Tindytim]

I semi-recently installed Windows 7 along side my Ubuntu Studio 9.04 x64 boot, having left the first partition open for it. After the initial install GRUB was, as I expected, unaccessable. I attempted to restore it using the LiveCD, and ran into some issues (If I remember correctly, it didn't work at all). I blew it off, figuring I'd deal with it when I was ready to go back to Ubunutu, after fleshing out my experience with 7. Well, that time is now.

I booted up the LiveCD (9.04 x64), attempted to restore GRUB (as detailed in this thread (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351)), booted up, and I get Windows 7. I attempted this multiple times before using EasyBCD to remove the Windows 7 bootloader. I boot up again, and I get an "NTLDR is missing" error. So I attempt to restore GRUB again, I boot up, and I get the exact same error. After a few more attempts, I try installing Ubuntu 9.04 on another partition on the first hard drive (where all my OSes are installed), and it installs without a hitch. I boot up, "NTLDR is missing".

I currently have only 3 partitions on my first hard drive with no unallocated space (Windows 7, swap, Ubuntu 9.04). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[presence1960]

Let's get a better look at your setup & boot process. Boot the Ubuntu Live CD. Choose "try ubuntu without any changes", when the desktop loads come back here and use the link in my signature to download the Boot Info Script 0.32 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 highlight all text and click the # sign on the toolbar to place code tags around the text.

[stlsaint]

considering ntldr is a windows issue i think that you have your bios set to boot your windows hdd and it prolly got messed up when you tried removing bootloader with easybcd ...can you check this please.

[Tindytim]

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

=> Grub0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive
in partition #5 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 #2 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: Grub
Boot sector info: Grub0.97 is installed in the boot sector of sda3 and
looks at sector 180202038 of the same hard drive for
the stage2 file. A stage2 file is at this location on
/dev/sda. Stage2 looks on partition #3 for
/boot/grub/menu.lst.
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.04
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sdc1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Boot file info: BootPart in the file /NST/nst_grub.mbr is trying to
chain load sector #175654710 on boot drive #1
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 251.0 GB, 251000193024 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30515 cylinders, total 490234752 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000e5d0f

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 63 169,357,229 169,357,167 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 169,357,230 175,654,709 6,297,480 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 * 175,654,710 490,223,474 314,568,765 83 Linux


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 251.0 GB, 251000193024 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30515 cylinders, total 490234752 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x6e1605ad

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdb1 63 490,223,474 490,223,412 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdc ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdc: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x57435743

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdc1 63 976,768,064 976,768,002 7 HPFS/NTFS


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"
/dev/sda1: UUID="121C66061C65E4E7" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda2: UUID="d1cd8cc9-a299-48b3-9622-9294eac37faa" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sda3: UUID="6b425586-8f00-4eaf-9a3e-2fd9dc0e6003" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="665044ED5044C591" LABEL="CRAP" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdc1: UUID="FC586AE4586A9CE0" LABEL="Media" TYPE="ntfs"

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

proc on /proc type proc (rw)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw)
tmpfs on /lib/modules/2.6.28-11-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /lib/modules/2.6.28-11-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)
/dev/sr0 on /cdrom type iso9660 (ro,noatime)
/dev/loop0 on /rofs type squashfs (ro,noatime)
fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
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)


=========================== sda3/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 3

## 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=6b425586-8f00-4eaf-9a3e-2fd9dc0e6003 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=6b425586-8f00-4eaf-9a3e-2fd9dc0e6003

## 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 vga=795

## 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

## 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 2.6.28-15-generic
uuid 6b425586-8f00-4eaf-9a3e-2fd9dc0e6003
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-15-generic root=UUID=6b425586-8f00-4eaf-9a3e-2fd9dc0e6003 ro quiet splash vga=795
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-15-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-15-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 6b425586-8f00-4eaf-9a3e-2fd9dc0e6003
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-15-generic root=UUID=6b425586-8f00-4eaf-9a3e-2fd9dc0e6003 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-15-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid 6b425586-8f00-4eaf-9a3e-2fd9dc0e6003
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
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


=============================== sda3/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/sda3 during installation
UUID=6b425586-8f00-4eaf-9a3e-2fd9dc0e6003 / ext4 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda2 during installation
UUID=d1cd8cc9-a299-48b3-9622-9294eac37faa none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/sdb1 /media/sdb1 ntfs defaults 0 0
/dev/sdc1 /media/Media ntfs nls=iso8859-1,umask=000 0 0

=================== sda3: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


109.1GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
92.2GB: boot/grub/stage2
110.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
107.0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-13-generic
106.9GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-14-generic
100.7GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-15-generic
110.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-3-rt
92.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic
90.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-13-generic
90.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-14-generic
107.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-15-generic
107.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-3-rt
100.7GB: initrd.img
106.9GB: initrd.img.old
107.0GB: vmlinuz
90.2GB: vmlinuz.old


considering ntldr is a windows issue i think that you have your bios set to boot your windows hdd and it prolly got messed up when you tried removing bootloader with easybcd ...can you check this please.

I try installing Ubuntu 9.04 on another partition on the first hard drive (where all my OSes are installed)

I currently have only 3 partitions on my first hard drive with no unallocated space (Windows 7, swap, Ubuntu 9.04). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[presence1960]

This is going to be a two part fix. First you need to restore windows 7 bootloader. Then you will restore GRUB.

You will need your Windows 7 install DVD. Reboot with the DVD in the drive. Go into BIOS and ensure that your disk with Ubuntu & Windows 7 is set to boot first in the hard disk boot order. This is critical! Then go here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708) and follow the instructions for Vista. When complete reboot without the Windows DVD and you should boot right into Windows 7. if successful move on.

Next you will boot off the Ubuntu Live CD. Do this:


1. Boot your computer up with Ubuntu CD
2. Open a terminal window or switch to a tty.
3. Type sudo grub. Should get text of which last line is grub>
4. Type "find /boot/grub/stage1". You'll get a response like "(hd0,2)".
Use whatever your computer spits out for the following lines.
5. Type "root (hd0,2)", or whatever your hard disk + boot partition
numbers are for Ubuntu.
6. Type "setup (hd0)", to install GRUB to MBR, or "setup (hd0,1)" or
whatever your hard disk + partition # is, to install GRUB to a
partition.
7. Quit grub by typing "quit".
8. Reboot and remove the bootable CD.

In #6 use setup (hd0)

You should be good to go!

P.S. Stay away from neosmart Easy BCD. Use GRUB it is way more configurable and can do way more than Easy BCD.

[sahabcse]

follow below url for fixing the grub issue

http://ubuntulinux.co.in/fixing-grub.php

[Tindytim]

This is going to be a two part fix. First you need to restore windows 7 bootloader. Then you will restore GRUB.
Didn't help, it restored the Windows 7 bootloader, but I still cannot restore GRUB. It's no different then when I had Windows 7 working anyway.


P.S. Stay away from neosmart Easy BCD. Use GRUB it is way more configurable and can do way more than Easy BCD.
EasyBCD isn't a bootloader, it's a utility to configure the default Vista/7 bootloader, and I wasn't using it to change any settings, just uninstall the bootloader.


follow below url for fixing the grub issue

http://ubuntulinux.co.in/fixing-grub.php
If you'll note what I said in my post

I booted up the LiveCD (9.04 x64), attempted to restore GRUB (as detailed in this thread (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351)), booted up, and I get Windows 7.
I've done exactly that multiple times. I've memorized the process since I often like to try various different OSes, on multiple systems.

I've run out of ideas, My only options appears to be moving all my data to an external and reformatting.

[Tindytim]

I haven't found any solutions, but is there a way to get a fresh install of GRUB?

[presence1960]

I am looking over the output from your boot info script again.


I currently have only 3 partitions on my first hard drive with no unallocated space (Windows 7, swap, Ubuntu 9.04). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Something is messed up with your installations because the boot info output reports that you have Windows Vista with XP boot sector, swap and ubuntu on that partition.

It also reports that GRUB is installed in the MBR of sda, but looks to partition #5, which does not exist. If you are booting from sda (which I doubt) you would receive a GRUB error.

here is why I doubt you are booting from sda. When you boot you get the windows bootloader. According to the output from the script windows is installed on MBR of sdc. if you look further ar the sdc1 partition the windows files needed to boot from that partition are incomplete. This leads me to believe you have the sdc disk first in the boot order in BIOS. it has windows on MBR and the boot files required to boot Windows are incomplete on partition sdc1. As a matter of fact ntldr is not listed on sdc1 which is why you are getting that error.

Go in BIOS and check that the sda disk is set to boot first in the hard disk boot order.

P.S. I know windows 7 is listed as Vista. I tried windows 7 for a while.

[Tindytim]

Thanks!

I was unaware that an OS could change my boot priority, I learned something new today. Thanks everyone!

[presence1960]

Thanks!

I was unaware that an OS could change my boot priority, I learned something new today. Thanks everyone!

Glad you got it working! Enjoy Ubuntu.