Error 13: Invalid or Unsupported Executable Format

[Flux45]

I have a fresh Ubuntu 9.04 install booting from an external hard drive. When I get to the boot menu i get Error 13: Invalid or Unsupported Executable Format message when I select windows vista.

my fdisk -lu is as follows:

the /dev/sda is where my vista install is located
/dev/sdb5 is where linux is

Disk /dev/sda: 150.0 GB, 150039945216 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 18241 cylinders, total 293046768 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x63c35e74

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2048 293044223 146521088 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000a6bb1

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 63 315209862 157604900 af Unknown
/dev/sdb2 315209916 944756537 314773311 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb3 944766585 976768064 16000740 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 944766648 975338279 15285816 83 Linux
/dev/sdb6 975338343 976768064 714861 82 Linux swap / Solaris


my /boot/grub/menu/lst windows entry is as follows:

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Windows Vista (loader)
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
savedefault
chainloader +1

what do i need to change my windows entry values to?
thank you

[Flux45]

*bump*

please help

[presence1960]

Let's get a better look at your setup & boot process. Boot into Ubuntu. 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.

[rreese6]

sdb1 is the boot flagged partition and the file type is unknown.
as long as sb1 is that way it will not boot.
I also see you have an NFTS partition on the drive.

[Flux45]

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

=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda
=> Grub0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks on the same drive
in partition #5 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.
=> No boot loader is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdc1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 150.0 GB, 150039945216 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 18241 cylinders, total 293046768 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x63c35e74

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 293,044,223 293,042,176 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000a6bb1

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdb1 * 63 315,209,862 315,209,800 af HFS
/dev/sdb2 315,209,916 944,756,537 629,546,622 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb3 944,766,585 976,768,064 32,001,480 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 944,766,648 975,338,279 30,571,632 83 Linux
/dev/sdb6 975,338,343 976,768,064 1,429,722 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdc ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdc: 132 MB, 132251136 bytes
8 heads, 32 sectors/track, 1008 cylinders, total 258303 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xdb3cb800

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdc1 * 32 258,302 258,271 6 FAT16


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

/dev/sda1: UUID="60CCF922CCF8F360" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="B6CB101C522E1375" LABEL="Mac" TYPE="hfsplus"
/dev/sdb2: UUID="3034238C3423545E" LABEL="WINDOWS" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdb5: UUID="1c0a48d2-cd1e-4c60-97a1-5e06b7711d0e" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sdb6: UUID="bb3ccbc2-226c-4146-bf88-d7b4a9e2a4ee" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sdc1: SEC_TYPE="msdos" UUID="001B-9622" TYPE="vfat"

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

/dev/sdb5 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/2.6.28-11-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=755)
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/matt/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=matt)
/dev/sdb2 on /media/WINDOWS type fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096)
/dev/sdb1 on /media/Mac type hfsplus (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=hal)
/dev/sdc1 on /media/disk type vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=hal,shortname=mixed,uid=1 000,utf8,umask=077,flush)


=========================== sdb5/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=1c0a48d2-cd1e-4c60-97a1-5e06b7711d0e ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=1c0a48d2-cd1e-4c60-97a1-5e06b7711d0e

## 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 1c0a48d2-cd1e-4c60-97a1-5e06b7711d0e
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=1c0a48d2-cd1e-4c60-97a1-5e06b7711d0e 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 1c0a48d2-cd1e-4c60-97a1-5e06b7711d0e
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=1c0a48d2-cd1e-4c60-97a1-5e06b7711d0e ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid 1c0a48d2-cd1e-4c60-97a1-5e06b7711d0e
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 Vista (loader)
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
savedefault
chainloader +1


=============================== sdb5/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/sdb5 during installation
UUID=1c0a48d2-cd1e-4c60-97a1-5e06b7711d0e / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=bb3ccbc2-226c-4146-bf88-d7b4a9e2a4ee none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd1 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sdb5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


486.1GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
486.2GB: boot/grub/stage2
486.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
486.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic
486.2GB: initrd.img
486.1GB: vmlinuz
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sdc1

00000000 eb 3c 90 4d 53 57 49 4e 34 2e 31 00 02 04 01 00 |.<.MSWIN4.1.....|
00000010 02 00 04 00 00 f8 fc 00 20 00 3f 00 20 00 00 00 |........ .?. ...|
00000020 df f0 03 00 80 00 29 22 96 1b 00 4e 4f 20 4e 41 |......)"...NO NA|
00000030 4d 45 20 20 20 20 46 41 54 31 36 20 20 20 33 c9 |ME FAT16 3.|
00000040 8e d1 bc fc 7b 16 07 bd 78 00 c5 76 00 1e 56 16 |....{...x..v..V.|
00000050 55 bf 22 05 89 7e 00 89 4e 02 b1 0b fc f3 a4 06 |U."..~..N.......|
00000060 1f bd 00 7c c6 45 fe 0f 38 4e 24 7d 20 8b c1 99 |...|.E..8N$} ...|
00000070 e8 7e 01 83 eb 3a 66 a1 1c 7c 66 3b 07 8a 57 fc |.~...:f..|f;..W.|
00000080 75 06 80 ca 02 88 56 02 80 c3 10 73 ed 33 c9 fe |u.....V....s.3..|
00000090 06 d8 7d 8a 46 10 98 f7 66 16 03 46 1c 13 56 1e |..}.F...f..F..V.|
000000a0 03 46 0e 13 d1 8b 76 11 60 89 46 fc 89 56 fe b8 |.F....v.`.F..V..|
000000b0 20 00 f7 e6 8b 5e 0b 03 c3 48 f7 f3 01 46 fc 11 | ....^...H...F..|
000000c0 4e fe 61 bf 00 07 e8 28 01 72 3e 38 2d 74 17 60 |N.a....(.r>8-t.`|
000000d0 b1 0b be d8 7d f3 a6 61 74 3d 4e 74 09 83 c7 20 |....}..at=Nt... |
000000e0 3b fb 72 e7 eb dd fe 0e d8 7d 7b a7 be 7f 7d ac |;.r......}{...}.|
000000f0 98 03 f0 ac 98 40 74 0c 48 74 13 b4 0e bb 07 00 |.....@t.Ht......|
00000100 cd 10 eb ef be 82 7d eb e6 be 80 7d eb e1 cd 16 |......}....}....|
00000110 5e 1f 66 8f 04 cd 19 be 81 7d 8b 7d 1a 8d 45 fe |^.f......}.}..E.|
00000120 8a 4e 0d f7 e1 03 46 fc 13 56 fe b1 04 e8 c2 00 |.N....F..V......|
00000130 72 d7 ea 00 02 70 00 52 50 06 53 6a 01 6a 10 91 |r....p.RP.Sj.j..|
00000140 8b 46 18 a2 26 05 96 92 33 d2 f7 f6 91 f7 f6 42 |.F..&...3......B|
00000150 87 ca f7 76 1a 8a f2 8a e8 c0 cc 02 0a cc b8 01 |...v............|
00000160 02 80 7e 02 0e 75 04 b4 42 8b f4 8a 56 24 cd 13 |..~..u..B...V$..|
00000170 61 61 72 0a 40 75 01 42 03 5e 0b 49 75 77 c3 03 |aar.@u.B.^.Iuw..|
00000180 18 01 27 0d 0a 49 6e 76 61 6c 69 64 20 73 79 73 |..'..Invalid sys|
00000190 74 65 6d 20 64 69 73 6b ff 0d 0a 44 69 73 6b 20 |tem disk...Disk |
000001a0 49 2f 4f 20 65 72 72 6f 72 ff 0d 0a 52 65 70 6c |I/O error...Repl|
000001b0 61 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 6b 2c 20 61 6e |ace the disk, an|
000001c0 64 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 72 65 73 73 20 61 6e 79 |d then press any|
000001d0 20 6b 65 79 0d 0a 00 00 49 4f 20 20 20 20 20 20 | key....IO |
000001e0 53 59 53 4d 53 44 4f 53 20 20 20 53 59 53 7f 01 |SYSMSDOS SYS..|
000001f0 00 41 bb 00 07 60 66 6a 00 e9 3b ff 00 00 55 aa |.A...`fj..;...U.|
00000200

[Flux45]

sdb1 is the boot flagged partition and the file type is unknown.
as long as sb1 is that way it will not boot.
I also see you have an NFTS partition on the drive.

im trying to boot windows from sda1, not sdb1

[presence1960]

open a terminal and run this command:
gksu gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
That is a lowecase L in .lst

Scroll down to your windows entry and change it to this:


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


Click Save on the toolbar, Close the file & reboot. Try booting into Vista.

[presence1960]

For future reference. When using (hdx,y) in GRUB, x = device & y = partition. Numbering for both starts at 0.

It is the boot order of your disks in BIOS that determines the x designation. Your sdb disk boots first so it is (hd0). sda boots second so it is (hd1). Vista is the first partition on sda (sda1) so it is (hd1,0).

When windows is not on the disk that boots first you need the map lines.

[Flux45]

it worked!!
thank you so very much!

if there is anyway you (or anyone) could help me with my other issue it would really make my day

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1276211

[rreese6]

Presence that was my thinking also. and since Grub Error 13 is related to the issue I saw on sdb1....ok I will stand by and watch your magic.

[regirock]

I've got the same problem as Flux45 had.. Here's my RESULTS.txt:


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

=> Grub0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive
in partition #1 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Windows XP: Fat32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /boot.ini /BOOT.INI /ntldr /NTLDR /NTDETECT.COM
/ntdetect.com

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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:

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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: 0xd8000000

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 81,144,314 81,144,252 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 81,144,315 257,072,129 175,927,815 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda3 257,072,130 300,511,889 43,439,760 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4 300,511,890 312,576,704 12,064,815 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 300,511,953 312,576,704 12,064,752 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

/dev/sda1: UUID="9287d01a-7513-4d32-b6d7-fdfc5f25c4d8" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda2: UUID="A571-4D36" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sda3: UUID="9CD85F36D85F0DC0" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda5: UUID="9e2c95d2-84b8-48d1-b0bf-0ee720551fe7" TYPE="swap"

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

/dev/sda1 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/2.6.28-15-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=755)
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/austin/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=austin)


=========================== sda1/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 XP
# 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=9287d01a-7513-4d32-b6d7-fdfc5f25c4d8 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=9287d01a-7513-4d32-b6d7-fdfc5f25c4d8

## 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 2.6.28-15-generic
uuid 9287d01a-7513-4d32-b6d7-fdfc5f25c4d8
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-15-generic root=UUID=9287d01a-7513-4d32-b6d7-fdfc5f25c4d8 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-15-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-15-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 9287d01a-7513-4d32-b6d7-fdfc5f25c4d8
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-15-generic root=UUID=9287d01a-7513-4d32-b6d7-fdfc5f25c4d8 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-15-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid 9287d01a-7513-4d32-b6d7-fdfc5f25c4d8
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=9287d01a-7513-4d32-b6d7-fdfc5f25c4d8 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 9287d01a-7513-4d32-b6d7-fdfc5f25c4d8
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=9287d01a-7513-4d32-b6d7-fdfc5f25c4d8 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid 9287d01a-7513-4d32-b6d7-fdfc5f25c4d8
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

=============================== sda1/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/sda1 during installation
UUID=9287d01a-7513-4d32-b6d7-fdfc5f25c4d8 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=9e2c95d2-84b8-48d1-b0bf-0ee720551fe7 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


16.6GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
16.5GB: boot/grub/stage2
16.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
16.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-15-generic
16.5GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic
16.5GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-15-generic
16.5GB: initrd.img
16.5GB: initrd.img.old
16.5GB: vmlinuz
16.5GB: vmlinuz.old

================================ sda2/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /noexecute=alwaysoff
C:\ = "Unidentified operating system on drive C."

================================ sda2/BOOT.INI: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /noexecute=alwaysoff
C:\ = "Unidentified operating system on drive C."

[presence1960]

Where is windows installed sda2 or sda3? I need to know so I can tell you how to proceed.

But please confirm for me.

[regirock]

sda3 on a 20gb partition

[presence1960]

sda3 on a 20gb partition

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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:

as you can see from the output you have no boot files/dir.

That means you need to fix Windows first. You will need to boot your XP install disk. if you don't have one hopefully you have a recovery console disk for XP. I know my old HP has a recovery partition, but i was given the option of burning an HP Tools CD which has a partitioner & XP recovery console on it. Follow the instructions here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708) for XP.

When complete reboot and make sure you boot directly into windows. If you do then boot off the Ubuntu Live CD to restore GRUB to MBR like 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 "(hd0,0)".
Use whatever your computer spits out for the following lines.
5. Type "root (hd0,0)", or whatever your hard disk + boot partition
numbers are for Ubuntu.
6. Type "setup (hd0)", to install GRUB to MBR
7. Quit grub by typing "quit".
8. Reboot and remove the bootable CD.


Boot into Ubuntu, when the desktop loads open a terminal and run this command
gksu gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst That is a lowercase L in .lst

scroll down to this line:
### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

skip 1 line and add this entry for windows


title Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd0,2)
chainloader +1

Click Save on toolbar, close file & reboot. Try the windows entry when the GRUB menu comes up.

[regirock]

Well, I tried to boot into XP after going through the recovery console like twenty times to fix stuff like NTLDR/bootcfg/hal.dll errors and now my computer just hangs at the XP boot screen..

[presence1960]

Well, I tried to boot into XP after going through the recovery console like twenty times to fix stuff like NTLDR/bootcfg/hal.dll errors and now my computer just hangs at the XP boot screen..

that will not fix hal.dll errors. You made no mention of that previously. You can try copying hal.dll from the installation disk to the proper directory in the windows folder.

[regirock]

Oh, the Hal.dll errors only started happening as soon as I tried repairing with the XP guide you linked. But yeah, I copied over the hal.dll error from the CD to fix it. Now I just need to somehow get XP to actually boot. :(

[presence1960]

Oh, the Hal.dll errors only started happening as soon as I tried repairing with the XP guide you linked. But yeah, I copied over the hal.dll error from the CD to fix it. Now I just need to somehow get XP to actually boot. :(

Remember that your windows install was messed up from jump street, see this from your output:

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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:

Unfortunately you had no directories or files needed to boot XP. If you can't get XP running you may have to reinstall XP...sorry but there may be no other alternative.

Here is my XP from my boot info script output just for your own reference:

sdc1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

[regirock]

Well, I just finished reinstalling XP... Which set of commands should I use when I load back up into Ubuntu?

[presence1960]

Well, I just finished reinstalling XP... Which set of commands should I use when I load back up into Ubuntu?

You need to restore GRUB to MBR now so you can boot Ubuntu & Windows from GRUB menu at boot. Go back to post #13 and follow the instructions where you are asked to boot the Ubuntu CD. This will restore GRUB to MBR.

Then when you boot continue to follow the instructions by booting into Ubuntu and edit the windows entry in menu.lst.