No GRUB menu after 9.10 installation

[Beanmonster]

Hello everybody, its been a while since I worked with linux but after playing around a friend's Karmic I thought I'd switch back.

Problem though...

I've reinstalled Ubuntu 9.10 three times today, everytime deleting the previous partition and everytime installing on a different hard drive. I've googled the problem and searched these forums but to no viable solution. I really hope somebody can assist me.

My desktop boots directly into Windows, no grub.

I've tried:

sudo grub-setup -d /media/KARMIC/boot/grub -m /media/KARMIC/boot/grub/device.map /dev/sdeHere's my $ fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 82.3 GB, 82348277760 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 10011 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x253b0c5c

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 10011 80413326 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x25c15fd0

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 60801 488384001 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdd: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xf2a0d59f

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdd1 1 30401 244196001 42 SFS

Disk /dev/sde: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x7eb691a4

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sde1 * 1 7238 58139203+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sde2 7239 14593 59079037+ 5 Extended
/dev/sde5 7239 14287 56621061 83 Linux
/dev/sde6 14288 14593 2457913+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdc: 164.7 GB, 164696555520 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 20023 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xfd5cfd5c

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 * 1 20023 160834716 7 HPFS/NTFS
My grub.cfg

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s /boot/grub/grubenv ]; then
have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
save_env saved_entry
prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd4,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
if [ ${recordfail} = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/white
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd4,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd4,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sdc1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd2,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 0b5f27c965e13bae
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###And results from bootinfoscript

Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks for
(UUID=b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955)/boot/grub.
=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks on the same drive in
partition #5 for /boot/grub.
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdd
=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sde and looks for
(UUID=b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955)/boot/grub.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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:

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.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

sdd1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sde1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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:

sde2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sde5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sde6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 82.3 GB, 82348277760 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 10011 cylinders, total 160836480 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x253b0c5c

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 160,826,714 160,826,652 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: 0x25c15fd0

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdb1 63 976,768,064 976,768,002 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdc ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdc: 164.7 GB, 164696555520 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 20023 cylinders, total 321672960 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xfd5cfd5c

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdc1 * 63 321,669,494 321,669,432 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdd ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdd: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xf2a0d59f

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdd1 63 488,392,064 488,392,002 42 SFS


Drive: sde ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sde: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders, total 234441648 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x7eb691a4

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sde1 * 63 116,278,469 116,278,407 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sde2 116,278,470 234,436,544 118,158,075 5 Extended
/dev/sde5 116,278,533 229,520,654 113,242,122 83 Linux
/dev/sde6 229,520,718 234,436,544 4,915,827 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 47FC798130955B47 ntfs Active
/dev/sdb1 2C047CBA047C889A ntfs Stuff
/dev/sdc1 0B5F27C965E13BAE ntfs Main
/dev/sdd1 0084D7E484D7D9EC ntfs Archives
/dev/sde1 5E006BE7006BC49D ntfs
/dev/sde5 b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955 ext4
/dev/sde6 f88fff6c-b005-47cc-a259-f14cc171e1c0 swap

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

aufs / aufs (rw)
/dev/sr0 /cdrom iso9660 (rw)
/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (rw)
/dev/sde1 /media/5E006BE7006BC49D fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,default_permissions,b lksize=4096)
/dev/sde5 /media/b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955 ext4 (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=devkit)


================================ sdc1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(4)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(4)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

=========================== sde5/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s /boot/grub/grubenv ]; then
have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
save_env saved_entry
prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd4,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
if [ ${recordfail} = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/white
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd4,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd4,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sdc1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd2,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 0b5f27c965e13bae
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

=============================== sde5/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s 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/sde5 during installation
UUID=b9721c23-1cc0-4b63-8104-a580acfde955 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sde6 during installation
UUID=f88fff6c-b005-47cc-a259-f14cc171e1c0 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

=================== sde5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


60.0GB: boot/grub/core.img
63.0GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
60.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
60.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
60.1GB: initrd.img
60.0GB: vmlinuz

I will gladly highfive anybody who can help me.

[drs305]

Have you tried changing the BIOS boot order to boot your Ubuntu device (sde) first? It's possible your system is booting directly to the Windows MBR and thus bypassing GRUB 2 entirely. Note the * boot device designation isn't used by Ubuntu.

The good news is that your Grub 2 menu looks good and has already picked up your Windows install, so once you get your system to find the proper device you shouldn't have any more problems.

[Beanmonster]

Firstly, thank you for your fast response.

Ubuntu and WinXP are installed side-by-side on the same drive, which is already my primary boot drive in my BIOS, changing this didn't help :(

The ubuntu installation never detected any other OS's, if thats useful.

Looking at my bootinfoscript results above, i see that Grub 2 is installed on /sda, /sdb, and /sde. Is that normal?

[badaveil]

Beanmonster

I agree with drs305. If that is the case:

1. Place the installation cd in the cd drive;
2. Reboot pc and immediate when the black screen appears,note which F key is the boot menu, it could be F2, F10, F12, different make different F key;
3. Quickly press that recommended F key for many 1-2 secs and the boot menu option appears. If BIOS menu appears, select the tittle which mentions about boot order;
4.Select CD drive and if in BIOS menu, make that selection go ahead of the hard disk usually "HD0", you may need to use F5 and F6 or the arrow buttons. Save and exit;
5. If you still get Windows on reboot, the boot menu order is still not what you want, check the order, CD drive on top, hard disk next.

[badaveil]

Ubuntu and WinXP are installed side-by-side on the same drive, which is already my primary boot drive in my BIOS, changing this didn't help :(


If dual-booting is what you want, may I recommend:

1. Go to Windows Control Panel and select Administrative tools
2. Select Computer something and it brings you to computer management.
3. You can see at least the two main partitions one for windows and on the right a second partition probably NTFS.
4. Right click that partition and delete that logical drive until you get free space. You can even delete that until you get unallocated space. Be it free or unallocated that will be the space Ubuntu will use because you limit yourself hard disk space when you use NTFS.
5. Reboot pc, ensure boot via installation cd, thing should be OK then

[Beanmonster]

drs305, this is for you: http://tinyurl.com/y9xq98x

badaveil, this is for you: http://tinyurl.com/badaveil (http://tinyurl.com/badaveil)


I managed to replace my windows MBR with GRUB 2 after much struggle.

Thank you guys for your support, people like you make this community worth being part of.:)

[drs305]

Edit Added: I posted this before seeing your response. Glad it's booting now.

***

I am no longer well versed in Windows - but once again I've allowed myself to be drawn into it's web. ;-)

I can make a few observations and ask some questions.


Ubuntu and WinXP are installed side-by-side on the same drive, which is already my primary boot drive in my BIOS, changing this didn't help :(


They are indeed both installed on sde, but in the boot info script it is not showing Windows boot files on that partition. It is showing Windows boot files on sdc. Your sdc drive (Main) - what do you have on that drive, since it appears that is where the only boot files are located according to the boot info script?



The ubuntu installation never detected any other OS's, if thats useful.

You must be referring to the initial install, as the grub.cfg file has found Windows boot files on sdc1 and included it in your Grub 2 menu. But again that begs the question about sdc.



Looking at my bootinfoscript results above, i see that Grub 2 is installed on /sda, /sdb, and /sde. Is that normal?
It is probably the remants of your multiple installs. It is not a problem for sda and sde, since they both point to sde5 for the Grub files (which is where they are). The current Grub install on sdb is a bit problematic since it points to sdb5 for the Grub files, which are not there. As long as you aren't booting sdb first, it isn't an immediate problem. Once you can get into Ubuntu, you can run "sudo dpkg-reconfigure grub-pc" to remove Grub 2 from sdb if you wish.