GRUB Help

[KarmicSquirrel]

I'm having some issue with the GRUB loader.

System Info:
Dual boot WinXP and Ubuntu 9.10
Several Partitions

The WinXP partition was running out of memory so another partition (not ubuntu) was shrunk then the WinXP partition was expanded. After that was done, when the computer is started up the GRUB loader says ERROR 17

I when I run grub-install /dev/sda - it came back with the message "The File /boot/grub/stage1 not read correctly"

And I can not find any reason why...

I have searched the Forum, spoke to people in IRC and still can not recover from the Error...

My only other thought on what to do is to completely uninstall GRUB and then reinstall it.

I've tried the following:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351
http://imsky.org/t/105823474818.html
(and a few other - those were just the ones I still had open)

Anyways, My Question is How do I COMPLETELY remove GRUB and then reinstall it.
(again the computer is duel boot XP and Ubuntu)

[presence1960]

Let's get a better look at your setup & boot process. Boot the Ubuntu Live CD/USB. Choose "try ubuntu without any changes", when the desktop loads come back here and do the following:

1. Download the boot info script. There is a link in my signature.
2. Once downloaded move the boot info script to the desktop.
3. Open a terminal and run the 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.

See here (http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/) for more info on the boot info script.

Above link is to meierfra's Sourceforge web page.

[kansasnoob]

We really need to see the output of the Boot Info Script as described here:

http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/

[kansasnoob]

Let's get a better look at your setup & boot process. Boot the Ubuntu Live CD/USB. Choose "try ubuntu without any changes", when the desktop loads come back here and do the following:

1. Download the boot info script. There is a link in my signature.
2. Once downloaded move the boot info script to the desktop.
3. Open a terminal and run the 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.

See here (http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/) for more info on the boot info script.

Above link is to meierfra's Sourceforge web page.

You beat me again :D

[presence1960]

You beat me again :D

Two sets of eyes are better than one set!

[KarmicSquirrel]

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 #256 for /boot/grub/stage2.
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb

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: 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: vfat
Boot sector type: MSWIN4.1: Fat 32
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sda6 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda7: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda8: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Fat32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 60.0 GB, 60011642880 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7296 cylinders, total 117210240 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x94e494e4

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 40,933,619 40,933,557 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 40,933,620 117,210,239 76,276,620 f W95 Ext d (LBA)
Empty Partition
/dev/sda5 61,416,558 81,899,369 20,482,812 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda6 81,899,433 82,525,904 626,472 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda7 82,525,968 86,622,479 4,096,512 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda8 86,622,543 117,210,239 30,587,697 83 Linux


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 1019 MB, 1019215872 bytes
16 heads, 63 sectors/track, 1974 cylinders, total 1990656 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xd15bdec0

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdb1 * 63 1,990,655 1,990,593 6 FAT16


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 FE9C44139C43C53D ntfs
/dev/sda5 15E9E7A99FE4C021 ntfs Util~Apps
/dev/sda6 4AB0-BC41 vfat BOOT
/dev/sda7 swap
/dev/sda8 34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74 ext3
/dev/sdb1 3CB4-9E61 vfat

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

aufs / aufs (rw)
/dev/sr0 /cdrom iso9660 (rw)
/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (rw)
/dev/sda6 /media/BOOT vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=devkit,uid=999,gid=999,sh ortname=mixed,dmask=0077,utf8=1,flush)
/dev/sda1 /media/FE9C44139C43C53D fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,default_permissions,b lksize=4096)
/dev/sda8 /media/34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74 ext3 (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=devkit)
/dev/sr1 /media/U3 System iso9660 (ro,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=devkit,uid=999,gid=999,io charset=utf8,mode=0400,dmode=0500)
/dev/sdb1 /media/3CB4-9E61 vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=devkit,uid=999,gid=999,sh ortname=mixed,dmask=0077,utf8=1,flush)


================================ 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 Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

=========================== sda8/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=34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74

## 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 2.6.31-19-generic
uuid 34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic root=UUID=34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-19-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic root=UUID=34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-17-generic
uuid 34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic root=UUID=34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-17-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic root=UUID=34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, memtest86+
uuid 34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

=============================== sda8/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=34974bab-d95f-4105-9367-ca0864c60c74 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
/dev/sda6 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sda8: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


48.9GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
48.9GB: boot/grub/stage2
48.9GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic
48.9GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic
48.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic
49.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic
48.9GB: initrd.img
48.9GB: initrd.img.old
49.0GB: vmlinuz
48.9GB: vmlinuz.old

[KarmicSquirrel]

I added the info requested above.
Thank you for helping

[kansasnoob]

Hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm looking right now!

Sending a new PM every 5 or 10 minutes only slows me down because every time I refresh the page I get distracted. If you want help be patient!

Edit: Sorry for the "shout-down", it wasn't you that was messaging me so frequently. I was wrong :^(

[kansasnoob]

Well this is clearly wrong:


=> Grub 0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive
in partition #256 for /boot/grub/stage2.

Windows is on sda1 and Ubuntu is on sda8 and you have legacy grub so I'd start by booting an Ubuntu Live CD (anything earlier than Karmic) and running:


sudo grub

You should see the prompt change then run:


find /boot/grub/stage1

I think that should show:


(hd0,7)

If so then run:


root (hd0,7)


setup (hd0)


quit

Hopefully that will get you booting Ubuntu again, then we'll have to add Windows to the menu.lst because it's NOT there.

[KarmicSquirrel]

Well this is clearly wrong:



Windows is on sda1 and Ubuntu is on sda8 and you have legacy grub so I'd start by booting an Ubuntu Live CD (anything earlier than Karmic) and running:


sudo grubYou should see the prompt change then run:


find /boot/grub/stage1I think that should show:
....

That doesn't work ... I tried it earlier .. found it on this forum post http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351

I have to mnt the harddisk before the Live CD will even allow me to get into GRUB
and When I run
find /boot/grub/stage1

It says "File Not Found"

[meierfra.]

/dev/sda1 * 63 40,933,619 40,933,557 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 40,933,620 117,210,239 76,276,620 f W95 Ext d (LBA)
Empty Partition
/dev/sda5 61,416,558 81,899,369 20,482,812 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda6 81,899,433 82,525,904 626,472 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda7 82,525,968 86,622,479 4,096,512 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda8 86,622,543 117,210,239 30,587,697 83 Linux


You partition table is messed up.

Boot from the LiveCD. Open a terminal. Type


sudo fdisk /dev/sda

Press "w".
This will fix the partition table. But you also have to reinstall Grub. Reboot from the LiveCD (so that the changes in the partition table become effective) Then


sudo grub

and at the grub prompt:


root (hd0,7)
setup (hd0)
quit


Reboot and you should be able to boot into Ubuntu.

[KarmicSquirrel]

root (hd0,7)
setup (hd0)
quit
Reboot and you should be able to boot into Ubuntu.

Should that be

root (hd0,8)
??

[oldfred]

Grub legacy (0.97) counts from 0 so sda1 is (hd0,0). So if it is partition sda8 you need (hd0,7)

Grub2 changes the partitions to be the same numbers or starts at one.
sda1 is (hd0,1).

I have to think twice on whether it is grub or grub2.;)