Ubuntu/Windows bootup problem

[jerry950]

I just installed ubuntu on WD passport. It boots up okay with ubuntu. But when I
disconnect the Passport. The Windows Xp laptop will not boot up with windows. I do not
get the bootup menu choices either unless the passport is connected, I just get a
GRUB error message. How can I setup booting with windows as the default?

[earthpigg]

0. in the future: at the end of the partitioning phase of the ubuntu install process, there is an 'advanced' button. hit it, and specify where to install grub (ie: on the passport). none of the below will be necessary in the future if you do this.

1. now: priority is making your system not depend on the passport, right? you will need a windows system recovery cd for your version of windows.

ive never used it, so i can't give specific instructions... google for terms like 'windows xp recovery cd' and 'windows xp bootloader restore'. you want to replace grub on your "C Drive" with the windows bootloader.

edit: this looks like the solution
http://www.ehow.com/how_4891476_reinstall-xp-bootloader.html

2. (one solution) next, you will want to install grub onto the passport.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RecoveringUbuntuAfterInstallingWindows

you will want to "Overwrite the Master Boot Record" on the passport, not on the hard drive in your computer.

2. (alternative solution) reinstall ubuntu from scratch onto the passport, but keep step 0 in mind above.

3. then you will want to set your computer's bios to give USB a higher boot priority than the internal hard drive. thats the 'press [whatever] to enter setup' thing you see when you first turn the computer on. same process you probably used to tell the computer to boot from the Ubuntu LiveCD, except now we are going to tell it to boot from USB (if present and bootable). need help with that, or can you manage?

end result of all this:
-no boot menu when you turn the computer on.
-if the passport is plugged in, ubuntu will start.
-if the passport is not plugged in, windows will start.

[oldfred]

fixboot repairs the partition boot files (PBR) that windows has, but you also need to run the fixmbr to reinstall the windows boot loader to the MBR of sda.

From linux or a liveCD (with universe turn turned on):
Restore basic windows boot loader (does not install lilo, just uses it)
sudo apt-get install lilo
sudo lilo -M /dev/sda mbr

edit:
How to restore the Ubuntu/XP/Vista/7 bootloader (Updated for Ubuntu 9.10)
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708

[jerry950]

Thank you for the info. But I do not have a floppy drive nor do I have a bootable
XP cd. I am looking now for something I can make that will boot from CD.
I am downloading CDBurnerXP to make a bootable XP CD.

I hope someone fixes the default behavior of UBuntu to not modify the bios on the
PC unless it is where Ubuntu is going to be installed. My friend got nailed by the
same problem when installing on external drive. He could not boot his pc either.
He fixed his pc and went with Redhat.

And, as I understand from other posts. I am to run:

fdisk /mbr

[presence1960]

Thank you for the info. But I do not have a floppy drive nor do I have a bootable
XP cd. I am looking now for something I can make that will boot from CD.
I am downloading CDBurnerXP to make a bootable XP CD.

I hope someone fixes the default behavior of UBuntu to not modify the bios on the
PC unless it is where Ubuntu is going to be installed. My friend got nailed by the
same problem when installing on external drive. He could not boot his pc either.
He fixed his pc and went with Redhat.

And, as I understand from other posts. I am to run:

fdisk /mbr

Boot into Ubuntu and do this:

Open a terminal and run
sudo apt-get install liloIgnore the warning.

Next in terminal run
sudo lilo -M /dev/sda mbrYour lappie will now boot to windows when you start it.

next you need to install GRUB to MBR of the external disk. Then go into BIOS and set the external to boot before the internal disk. Then once that is done when you boot without the external connected windows will boot. When you boot with the external connected you will get GRUB and boot to Ubuntu.

If you don't know how to reinstall GRUB post back

[jerry950]

I ran your commands and that fixed auto booting into windows. Now I booted with the
9.10 CD and tried running this from an artical I found about re-installing GRUB. It did
not work, so yes, I need help. This is my first time doing anything like this. :


mount | tail -1

/dev/sdb5 on /media/d39fe376-85e3-4b72-a12c-022e00d8acbc type ext4 (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=devkit)

-----------------------------

ls /media/d39fe376-85e3-4b72-a12c-022e00d8acbc/boot

abi-2.6.31-14-generic initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
boot.0800 memtest86+.bin
coffee.bmp sarge.bmp
config-2.6.31-14-generic sid.bmp
debian.bmp System.map-2.6.31-14-generic
debianlilo.bmp vmcoreinfo-2.6.31-14-generic
grub vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic


--------------------------------

sudo grub-install --root-directory=/media/d39fe376-85e3-4b72-a12c-022e00d8acbc /dev/sdb5

grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partition instead of the MBR. This is a BAD idea.
grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible. GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists. However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and its use is discouraged.
grub-setup: error: Cannot read `/grub/core.img' correctly

[presence1960]

I need more info about your setup so I can give you the exact commands to run to put GRUB on MBR of the external. Do this:

Let's get a better look at your setup & boot process. Boot the Ubuntu Live CD/USB with the external plugged in. 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.

[jerry950]

Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010
============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================
=> Lilo is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda
=> 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:
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:
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:
sdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sdb5: __________________________________________________ _______________________
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
sdb6: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================
Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___
Disk /dev/sda: 60.0 GB, 60011642880 bytes
240 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7752 cylinders, total 117210240 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xa786d6ae
Partition Boot Start End Size Id System
/dev/sda1 * 63 40,960,079 40,960,017 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 40,960,080 117,195,119 76,235,040 f W95 Ext d (LBA)
/dev/sda5 40,960,143 117,195,119 76,234,977 7 HPFS/NTFS

Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___
Disk /dev/sdb: 319.4 GB, 319370035200 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38827 cylinders, total 623769600 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00035f28
Partition Boot Start End Size Id System
/dev/sdb1 2,048 312,416,054 312,414,007 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2 312,416,055 623,755,754 311,339,700 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 312,416,118 617,795,639 305,379,522 83 Linux
/dev/sdb6 617,795,703 623,755,754 5,960,052 82 Linux swap / Solaris

blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________
Device UUID TYPE LABEL
/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 0AF8984FF8983AC1 ntfs System
/dev/sda5 62489A124899E557 ntfs DATA
/dev/sdb1 5EF6D5D1F6D5A993 ntfs My Passport
/dev/sdb5 d39fe376-85e3-4b72-a12c-022e00d8acbc ext4
/dev/sdb6 9a5d6195-7302-4499-a5bb-d79943b039f0 swap
============================ "mount | grep ^/dev output: ===========================
Device Mount_Point Type Options
aufs / aufs (rw)
/dev/sr0 /cdrom iso9660 (rw)
/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (rw)
/dev/sdb1 /media/My Passport fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,default_permissions,b lksize=4096)

================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
=========================== sdb5/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=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d39fe376-85e3-4b72-a12c-022e00d8acbc
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=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d39fe376-85e3-4b72-a12c-022e00d8acbc
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=d39fe376-85e3-4b72-a12c-022e00d8acbc 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=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d39fe376-85e3-4b72-a12c-022e00d8acbc
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=d39fe376-85e3-4b72-a12c-022e00d8acbc 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/sda1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd0,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 0af8984ff8983ac1
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 ###
=============================== sdb5/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/sdb5 during installation
UUID=d39fe376-85e3-4b72-a12c-022e00d8acbc / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=9a5d6195-7302-4499-a5bb-d79943b039f0 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/scd1 /media/cdrom1 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
=================== sdb5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================

160.1GB: boot/grub/core.img
167.2GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
160.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
160.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
160.1GB: initrd.img
160.1GB: vmlinuz

[oldfred]

Your install is on sdb5:

If partition known
reinstall from live cd

sudo mount /dev/sdb5 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/sdb

Some BIOS want a boot flag on a primary partition even though Ubuntu does not need it. You can use the liveCD, gparted, right click on sdb1 and manage flags to add a boot flag.

more info:
Short version
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Reinstalling%20GRUB%202
full chroot version:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Grub2#Recover%20Grub%202%20via%20LiveCD

[presence1960]

your install is on sdb5:

If partition known
reinstall from live cd

sudo mount /dev/sdb5 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/sdb

some bios want a boot flag on a primary partition even though ubuntu does not need it. You can use the livecd, gparted, right click on sdb1 and manage flags to add a boot flag.

More info:
Short version
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/grub2#reinstalling%20grub%202
full chroot version:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/grub2#recover%20grub%202%20via%20livecd

+1

[jerry950]

All is well. I can now hit F12 on bootup and select Ubuntu boot or just let it boot with
Windows which is the default. I can also disconnect the Passport without the PC
crashing on bootup.

I would like to thank all of you for your input in helping me fix this problem.
I was a little scared there for a moment that I was going to lose my Windows drive.

Thanks again,

Jerry

[presence1960]

All is well. I can now hit F12 on bootup and select Ubuntu boot or just let it boot with
Windows which is the default. I can also disconnect the Passport without the PC
crashing on bootup.

I would like to thank all of you for your input in helping me fix this problem.
I was a little scared there for a moment that I was going to lose my Windows drive.

Thanks again,

Jerry

Glad you got it working, enjoy your dual boot with Ubuntu!

[zengzhangsong]

Maybe you should do this,"sudo gedit /boot/grub/man.lst"

[oldfred]

zengzhangsong

Since 9.10, instructions on repairing grub have to be reviewed to see if the OP has grub legacy (0.97) or grub2 (1.97 beta4 in 9.10) as the way to fix thing is totally different.

And if you are using graphical tools you should use gksudo and use sudo for command line tools. Your command if for grub legacy editing of menu.lst is:
gksudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

and because I make a lot of typos I like to test my commands before posting where possible to make sure they are correct.