Manually adding extra Ubuntu installation to grub.

[Marc55]

Hi there,
I decided to try out a Lucid development release, and figured I'd install it to an extra partition (sda4) on my system, which currently Runs Kubuntu Karmic on sda1. The installation went well, but ended up installing its boot manager into the system. This worked, but I'd prefer to have the 'old' boot menu belonging to the primary install. I got the old boot menu back, but now I'm at loss trying to add the other installation to grub's menu.

I copied and edited one of the auto-generated items in grub's menu.lst, and made this:



title KUbuntu 10.04 beta 1
uuid 7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e
kernel (hd0,3)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-16-generic root=UUID=7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e ro quiet nosplash
initrd (hd0,3)/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-16-generic


The id in the uuid and kernel lines is that of sda4 (as reported by blkid) and the paths in the kernel and initrd lines are also adjusted, i.e. the vmlinuz and initrd files exist on sda4. hd0,3 is what grub calls sda4.

The uuid command works, I've tried this manually on the grub command line. I also know that it uses the correct partition, because sda4 is the only ext4 partition on my system, and the file system type is mentioned in the output of uuid.

After that, the kernel command fails with "Error 15: File not found".
I have no idea why it fails or what else to try...

Can anybody help me out?

[tommcd]

I got the old boot menu back, but now I'm at loss trying to add the other installation to grub's menu.

How did you "[get] the old boot menu back"? If the Lucid install on /dev/sda4 took over the MBR, and you wish to have the Karmic install on /dev/sda1 regain control of the MBR to boot your system, all you have to do is boot Karmic on /dev/sda1 and run:

sudo grub-install /dev/sda
Then run:

sudo update-grub
This will restore Karmic's on /dev/sda1 control of the MBR to boot your system, and update the grub.cfg file to include the Lucid install on /dev/sda4.
If you have already managed to reinstall Karmic's grub to the MBR and wish to update it to include the Lucid install on /dev/sda4, then just boot up Karmic and run:

sudo update-grub
and you should be good.

[Marc55]

Thanks for the reply!


How did you "[get] the old boot menu back"? If the Lucid install on /dev/sda4 took over the MBR, and you wish to have the Karmic install on /dev/sda1 regain control of the MBR to boot your system, all you have to do is boot Karmic on /dev/sda1 and run:

sudo grub-install /dev/sda

I did it through the grub console, but yes.



Then run:

sudo update-grub

update-grub does not seem to find the kernel on sda4. I've added an entry for sda4 to fstab so it is mounted to /mnt/sda4, but that doesn't seem to help.
I've looked at the source of update-grub, but couldn't figure out where it looks for kernels apart from /boot. Is there a fixed place the other partition has to be mounted to?

[oldfred]

Is your Karmic an upgrade as the entry you are showing is for grub legacy?

To see where everything is at:
Boot Info Script courtesy of forum member meierfra
Page with instructions and download:
http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/
Be sure to highlight and use code tags (# in edit panel) to make it easier to read when you post the results.txt.

I recommend the script for anyone with multiple installs so they can know where everything is at for booting. I run it before and after any changes so I can be sure where my boot loaders are and to document my system's boot.

[Marc55]

Is your Karmic an upgrade as the entry you are showing is for grub legacy?

Yes, it's grub legacy on karmic.

Thanks for the link. Here's the output from the boot info script:


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 #1 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu lucid (development
branch)
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x77777777

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 63 83,891,429 83,891,367 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 470,174,417 488,392,064 18,217,648 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 470,174,418 488,392,064 18,217,647 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 83,891,430 465,981,389 382,089,960 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 * 465,981,390 470,174,354 4,192,965 83 Linux


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ext3 sys
/dev/sda3 db72eb64-c24c-4eda-8a38-b381c00c1b0d ext3 data
/dev/sda4 7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e ext4
/dev/sda5 79a83231-1718-4040-a4aa-0060c32fe112 swap

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda1 / ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sda3 /home ext3 (rw)
/dev/sda4 /mnt/sda4 ext4 (rw)


=========================== sda1/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================

hiddenmenu
default 0
timeout 3

title KUbuntu 10.04, kernel 2.6.32-16-generic
uuid 7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e
kernel (hd0,3)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-16-generic root=UUID=7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e ro quiet nosplash
initrd (hd0,3)/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-16-generic

### 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=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1

## 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 nosplash

## 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 2.6.31-20-generic
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro quiet nosplash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-20-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-20-generic (recovery mode)
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-20-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-19-generic
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro quiet nosplash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-19-generic (recovery mode)
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-17-generic
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro quiet nosplash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-17-generic (recovery mode)
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-16-generic
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro quiet nosplash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-16-generic (recovery mode)
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-15-generic
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-15-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro quiet nosplash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-15-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-15-generic (recovery mode)
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-15-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-15-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro quiet nosplash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, memtest86+
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST


=============================== sda1/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sda1
UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/sda5
UUID=79a83231-1718-4040-a4aa-0060c32fe112 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
# data
/dev/sda3 /home auto auto,rw
# alternative linux install
UUID=7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e /mnt/sda4 ext4 auto,rw

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


30.0GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
28.7GB: boot/grub/stage2
30.0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
30.0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-15-generic
30.0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic
30.0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
30.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic
30.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-20-generic
28.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
30.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-15-generic
30.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic
30.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic
28.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic
30.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic
30.2GB: initrd.img
30.1GB: initrd.img.old
30.1GB: vmlinuz
28.6GB: vmlinuz.old

=========================== sda4/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 $prefix/grubenv ]; then
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
set saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z ${boot_once} ]; then
saved_entry=${chosen}
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then if [ -z ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
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/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-16-generic" --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-16-generic root=UUID=7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-16-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-16-generic (recovery mode)" --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e
echo Loading Linux 2.6.32-16-generic ...
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-16-generic root=UUID=7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e ro single
echo Loading initial ramdisk ...
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-16-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-20-generic (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro quiet nosplash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-20-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-20-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-20-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-19-generic (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro quiet nosplash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-19-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-17-generic (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro quiet nosplash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-17-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-16-generic (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro quiet nosplash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-16-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-15-generic (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-15-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro quiet nosplash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-15-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-15-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-15-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-15-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro quiet nosplash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10, memtest86+ (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
linux /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
### 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 ###

=============================== sda4/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 nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
/dev/sda4 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=79a83231-1718-4040-a4aa-0060c32fe112 none swap sw 0 0

=================== sda4: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


240.6GB: boot/grub/core.img
240.6GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
240.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-16-generic
240.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-16-generic
240.6GB: initrd.img
240.6GB: vmlinuz

[oldfred]

I have not tried using menu.lst to boot lucid.

I would make it exactly like you current entries with updated UUIDs.
You have the extra (hd0,3) at the beginning of your lines.

title KUbuntu 10.04, kernel 2.6.32-16-generic
uuid 7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e
kernel (hd0,3)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-16-generic root=UUID=7e87b610-8d50-44a7-9b7c-da80e4db380e ro quiet nosplash
initrd (hd0,3)/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-16-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-20-generic
uuid d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic root=UUID=d5677094-c049-4df2-bbae-a8fac07758a1 ro quiet nosplash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-20-generic
quiet

[Marc55]

I have not tried using menu.lst to boot lucid.
Hmm, Lucid does not force an upgrade to Grub2, does it? So it should work in theory.

EDIT: Either way, the error seems a little more fundamental, since grub does not even find the kernel. Grub 0.97 does support ext4, right?


You have the extra (hd0,3) at the beginning of your lines.
I tried with and without them, doesn't make a difference.

[oldfred]

Ubuntu updated old grub with 9.04 to recognize ext4 partitions. That was when they first started supporting ext4.

Other distributions may not support 0.97. Grub legacy has not be maintained for years and each distribution made tweaks that may or may not have been incorporated by others.

[Marc55]

Ok, so if nobody else has an idea of what could be the problem here, I can either reinstall the Lucid beta using ext3, or update to grub2.
I'm not that hot about messing (even more) with the bootloader, but sticking to ext3 isn't exactly a solution either. Mmh.. :-k

[tommcd]

... I can either reinstall the Lucid beta using ext3, or update to grub2.
I'm not that hot about messing (even more) with the bootloader, but sticking to ext3 isn't exactly a solution either. ...
I think that your best bet (short of a reinstall of Lucid) would be a full upgrade to grub2 for your Karmic install. The fact that you are still dealing with grub-legacy is clearly the problem here (thanks to Old Fred for spotting this!!!).
To do a full upgrade to grub2 for your Karmic install, follow this section of the grub2 tutorial from the Ubuntu wiki:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Grub2#Installing%20%28Ubuntu%209.10%20and%20newer% 29
I have no direct experience with upgrading from grub-legacy to grub2 since I always do clean installs when upgrading Ubuntu. (Clean installs avoid problems like this, among many others).
Once you are fully converted to grub2, then the sudo update-grub command should be all that is needed to add your Lucid install to Karmic's grub2 /boot/grub/grub.cfg file.
I recently installed Lucid Lubuntu beta1 (Ubuntu with the LXDE desktop) to my laptop. Running sudo update-grub was all that was needed to add Lubuntu Lucid beta to my Ubuntu Karmic's grub2 boot menu.
As always though, I had done a clean install of Karmic, so I had no remnants of grub-legacy on my system.

[Marc55]

So, I just upgraded to Grub2, and everything worked flawlessly.

Thanks a lot to everybody who helped!