more info if this helps:
============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================
=> Grub0.97 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
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows Vista
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /boot/bcd
sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr
sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.04
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab
sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sda7: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab
sda8: __________________________________________________ _______________________
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: 0x28e1ea63
Partition Boot Start End Size Id System
/dev/sda1 * 63 182,755,439 182,755,377 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 292,952,064 312,573,951 19,621,888 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 182,755,440 292,945,274 110,189,835 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 287,708,148 292,591,844 4,883,697 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 292,591,908 292,945,274 353,367 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 182,755,566 283,322,339 100,566,774 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 283,322,403 287,708,084 4,385,682 82 Linux swap / Solaris
blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________
/dev/sda1: UUID="DCD264E5D264C4FC" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda2: UUID="D048D24548D22A4C" LABEL="HP_RECOVERY" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda5: UUID="b49b2f21-2cc7-41de-9f67-57a570e4d87d" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda6: UUID="dcf436ef-c5e9-4297-af0c-e5a67898f905" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sda7: UUID="8f2501d2-5b15-487f-8e14-bafb4c4326a1" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda8: UUID="f7891051-6b14-45db-847a-85f92bd2c6d2" TYPE="swap"
=============================== "mount" output: ===============================
/dev/sda5 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/reece/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=reece)
/dev/sr0 on /media/cdrom0 type iso9660 (ro,nosuid,nodev,utf8,user=reece)
=========================== sda5/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================
# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.
## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0
## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10
## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu
# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue
## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret
#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#
#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST
### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below
## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs
## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=b49b2f21-2cc7-41de-9f67-57a570e4d87d ro
## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=b49b2f21-2cc7-41de-9f67-57a570e4d87d
## 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 b49b2f21-2cc7-41de-9f67-57a570e4d87d
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=b49b2f21-2cc7-41de-9f67-57a570e4d87d 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 b49b2f21-2cc7-41de-9f67-57a570e4d87d
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=b49b2f21-2cc7-41de-9f67-57a570e4d87d ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid b49b2f21-2cc7-41de-9f67-57a570e4d87d
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
makeactive
chainloader +1
# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda2
title Windows Vista (loader)
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1
=============================== sda5/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/sda5 during installation
UUID=b49b2f21-2cc7-41de-9f67-57a570e4d87d / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=dcf436ef-c5e9-4297-af0c-e5a67898f905 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
=================== sda5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================
149.0GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
149.0GB: boot/grub/stage2
149.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
148.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic
149.1GB: initrd.img
148.6GB: vmlinuz
=========================== 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=8f2501d2-5b15-487f-8e14-bafb4c4326a1 ro
## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=8f2501d2-5b15-487f-8e14-bafb4c4326a1
## 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 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic
uuid 8f2501d2-5b15-487f-8e14-bafb4c4326a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=8f2501d2-5b15-487f-8e14-bafb4c4326a1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
quiet
title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 8f2501d2-5b15-487f-8e14-bafb4c4326a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=8f2501d2-5b15-487f-8e14-bafb4c4326a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-16-generic
uuid 8f2501d2-5b15-487f-8e14-bafb4c4326a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-16-generic root=UUID=8f2501d2-5b15-487f-8e14-bafb4c4326a1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-16-generic
quiet
title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-16-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 8f2501d2-5b15-487f-8e14-bafb4c4326a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-16-generic root=UUID=8f2501d2-5b15-487f-8e14-bafb4c4326a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-16-generic
title Ubuntu 9.10, memtest86+
uuid 8f2501d2-5b15-487f-8e14-bafb4c4326a1
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
makeactive
chainloader +1
# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda2
title Windows Vista (loader)
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1
# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda5.
title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (on /dev/sda5)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=b49b2f21-2cc7-41de-9f67-57a570e4d87d ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
savedefault
boot
# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda5.
title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda5)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=b49b2f21-2cc7-41de-9f67-57a570e4d87d ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
savedefault
boot
# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda5.
title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+ (on /dev/sda5)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
savedefault
boot
=============================== 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/sda7 during installation
UUID=8f2501d2-5b15-487f-8e14-bafb4c4326a1 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda8 during installation
UUID=f7891051-6b14-45db-847a-85f92bd2c6d2 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
=================== sda7: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================
133.5GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
133.6GB: boot/grub/stage2
133.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-16-generic
133.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
133.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-16-generic
133.5GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
133.5GB: initrd.img
133.5GB: initrd.img.old
133.5GB: vmlinuz
133.6GB: vmlinuz.old
=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============
sdb
getting desperate
nush