Dual Boot D'oh!

[jaamzg]

Got a new HP a couple of months ago with Windows 7 and installed ubuntu 9.10 with wubi. Dual boot worked well and I have been enjoying linux thoroughly. But, I apparently ran wubi incorrectly and though I had set up about 340 gigs for linux, the /home directory only got about 15 and I was soon getting low disk space messages.

So, I backed up the /home directory, booted into windows 7 and repartioned giving linux about 340 gigs of it's own partition with the intent of doing a true install.

Well, I did it and now get the error 21 screen. I went in with the Windows 7 recovery disk and got Windows 7 booting. Then, went in with supergrub and tried to get grub reinstalled. I then got grub set up, but Windows 7 wasn't showing up. So, I tried using supergrub to fix things and ended up with error 21.

So, how can I get this working again? I am using supergrub to boot up into linux from a pendrive, so it shows up as sdb1 in my list. I've tried some different things from around the site, but I'm not having any luck. Can someone help out a poor noob?


Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Grub 0.97-os.1 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on boot drive
#2 in partition #1 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.
=> Grub 0.97-os.1 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks at sector
532573 of the same hard drive for the stage2 file. A stage2 file is at
this location on /dev/sdb. Stage2 looks on partition #1 for
/boot/grub/menu.lst.

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: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /boot/grub/core.img

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files/dirs: /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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: /bootmgr /boot/BCD

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Unknown
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 750.2 GB, 750156374016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 91201 cylinders, total 1465149168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xccfbc4d0

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 202,751 200,704 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 208,845 751,472,504 751,263,660 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 751,472,505 1,439,263,349 687,790,845 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 751,472,568 1,411,326,314 659,853,747 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 1,411,326,378 1,439,263,349 27,936,972 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda4 1,439,264,768 1,465,145,343 25,880,576 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 506 MB, 506461696 bytes
129 heads, 8 sectors/track, 958 cylinders, total 989183 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xf5befc7a

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdb1 * 8 989,182 989,175 e W95 FAT16 (LBA)


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 1EB008A1B008820F ntfs SYSTEM
/dev/sda2 18966F98966F7562 ntfs HP
/dev/sda4 6E3087AD30877ABB ntfs FACTORY_IMAGE
/dev/sda5 014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37 ext4
/dev/sda6 444c4ae0-802e-4650-bd24-a1cb5a16b922 swap
/dev/sdb1 F23F-9FD3 vfat My 512MB

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda5 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sdb1 /media/My 512MB vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=devkit,uid=1000,gid=1000, shortname=mixed,dmask=0077,utf8=1,flush)
/dev/sr1 /media/Ativa U3 System iso9660 (ro,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=devkit,uid=1000,gid=1000, iocharset=utf8,mode=0400,dmode=0500)


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


??GB: boot/grub/core.img

=========================== 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 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=014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37

## 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 2.6.31-20-generic
uuid 014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic root=UUID=014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-20-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-20-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic root=UUID=014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-20-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic
uuid 014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic

title Chainload into GRUB 2
root 014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37
kernel /boot/grub/core.img

title Ubuntu 9.10, memtest86+
uuid 014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

=========================== sda5/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=(hd0,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37
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=(hd0,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37 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=(hd0,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37 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 "Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sda4)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd0,4)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 6e3087ad30877abb
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 ###

=============================== sda5/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/sda5 during installation
UUID=014cff23-0297-4968-afb2-7797f4930a37 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=444c4ae0-802e-4650-bd24-a1cb5a16b922 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sda5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


384.8GB: boot/grub/core.img
385.3GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
397.0GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
385.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
385.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-20-generic
385.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
385.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic
385.5GB: initrd.img
385.3GB: initrd.img.old
385.4GB: vmlinuz
385.3GB: vmlinuz.old

=========================== sdb1/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================

# You can edit this file to add your own distribution
# You can choose default to 0 to select first entry
# which it is usually the entry for the default distro
#
#
# You can also set timeout to something as 10
#
# This is the shortcut to call Super Grub Disk (commented)
#title Super Grub Disk
## The two commands: setgrubdevice and usbshift are needed
## so that SGD works well.
#usbshift
#configfile $(grub_device)/boot/sgd/menu.lst
#
# Just after default and timeout statements you have to put
# setgrubdevice so that grub device is correctly set.




default 0
timeout 2
setgrubdevice # This is compulsory
#sgdgfxmenu /boot/grub/message
foreground ffffff
background 0c00ff
color white/brown yellow/cyan


#title Inicio normal / Normal Boot
#kernel $(grub_device)/vmlinuz lang=es a11y=none root=/dev/ram0 ramdisk_size=100000 initrd=initramfs quiet BOOT=live splash
#initrd $(grub_device)/initramfs

#title Soporte de accesibilidad / Accesibility Support -->
#configfile $(grub_device)/boot/grub/menu2.lst

title Super Grub Disk
# The two commands: setgrubdevice and usbshift are needed
# so that SGD works well.
usbshift
configfile $(grub_device)/boot/sgd/sgd.lst

#title Normal boot. Kernel is aware of Boot device
#kernel $(grub_device)/vmlinuz lang=es a11y=none root=/dev/ram0 ramdisk_size=100000 initrd=initramfs quiet BOOT=live splash boot_device=$(grub_device)
#initrd $(grub_device)/initramfs

#title Normal boot. Selecting kernel and initrd files depending on grub_device
#kernel $(grub_device)/vmlinuz_$(grub_device_string) lang=es a11y=none root=/dev/ram0 ramdisk_size=100000 initrd=initramfs quiet BOOT=live splash
#initrd $(grub_device)/initramfs_$(grub_device_string)

#title Selecthd test
#configfile $(grub_device)/boot/grub/choose/selecthd.lst

#title findp test
#configfile $(grub_device)/boot/grub/choose/selectpart.lst
#title set SGD variables and boot SGD
#
#configfile $(grub_device)/boot/sgd/menu.lst

=================== sdb1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


??GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
??GB: boot/grub/stage2
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sdb1

00000000 eb 3c 90 44 4f 4b 30 31 2e 30 32 00 02 10 01 00 |.<.DOK01.02.....|
00000010 02 00 02 00 00 f8 f2 00 08 00 80 00 08 00 00 00 |................|
00000020 f7 17 0f 00 80 01 29 d3 9f 3f f2 4d 79 20 35 31 |......)..?.My 51|
00000030 32 4d 42 00 00 00 46 41 54 31 36 20 20 20 33 c9 |2MB...FAT16 3.|
00000040 8e d1 bc fc 7b 16 07 bd 78 00 c5 76 00 1e 56 16 |....{...x..v..V.|
00000050 55 bf 22 05 89 7e 00 89 4e 02 b1 0b fc f3 a4 06 |U."..~..N.......|
00000060 1f bd 00 7c c6 45 fe 0f 38 4e 24 7d 20 8b c1 99 |...|.E..8N$} ...|
00000070 e8 7e 01 83 eb 3a 66 a1 1c 7c 66 3b 07 8a 57 fc |.~...:f..|f;..W.|
00000080 75 06 80 ca 02 88 56 02 80 c3 10 73 ed 33 c9 fe |u.....V....s.3..|
00000090 06 d8 7d 8a 46 10 98 f7 66 16 03 46 1c 13 56 1e |..}.F...f..F..V.|
000000a0 03 46 0e 13 d1 8b 76 11 60 89 46 fc 89 56 fe b8 |.F....v.`.F..V..|
000000b0 20 00 f7 e6 8b 5e 0b 03 c3 48 f7 f3 01 46 fc 11 | ....^...H...F..|
000000c0 4e fe 61 bf 00 07 e8 28 01 72 3e 38 2d 74 17 60 |N.a....(.r>8-t.`|
000000d0 b1 0b be d8 7d f3 a6 61 74 3d 4e 74 09 83 c7 20 |....}..at=Nt... |
000000e0 3b fb 72 e7 eb dd fe 0e d8 7d 7b a7 be 7f 7d ac |;.r......}{...}.|
000000f0 98 03 f0 ac 98 40 74 0c 48 74 13 b4 0e bb 07 00 |.....@t.Ht......|
00000100 cd 10 eb ef be 82 7d eb e6 be 80 7d eb e1 cd 16 |......}....}....|
00000110 5e 1f 66 8f 04 cd 19 be 81 7d 8b 7d 1a 8d 45 fe |^.f......}.}..E.|
00000120 8a 4e 0d f7 e1 03 46 fc 13 56 fe b1 04 e8 c2 00 |.N....F..V......|
00000130 72 d7 ea 00 02 70 00 52 50 06 53 6a 01 6a 10 91 |r....p.RP.Sj.j..|
00000140 8b 46 18 a2 26 05 96 92 33 d2 f7 f6 91 f7 f6 42 |.F..&...3......B|
00000150 87 ca f7 76 1a 8a f2 8a e8 c0 cc 02 0a cc b8 01 |...v............|
00000160 02 80 7e 02 0e 75 04 b4 42 8b f4 8a 56 24 cd 13 |..~..u..B...V$..|
00000170 61 61 72 0a 40 75 01 42 03 5e 0b 49 75 77 c3 03 |aar.@u.B.^.Iuw..|
00000180 18 01 27 0d 0a 49 6e 76 61 6c 69 64 20 73 79 73 |..'..Invalid sys|
00000190 74 65 6d 20 64 69 73 6b ff 0d 0a 44 69 73 6b 20 |tem disk...Disk |
000001a0 49 2f 4f 20 65 72 72 6f 72 ff 0d 0a 52 65 70 6c |I/O error...Repl|
000001b0 61 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 6b 2c 20 61 6e |ace the disk, an|
000001c0 64 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 72 65 73 73 20 61 6e 79 |d then press any|
000001d0 20 6b 65 79 0d 0a 00 00 49 4f 20 20 20 20 20 20 | key....IO |
000001e0 53 59 53 4d 53 44 4f 53 20 20 20 53 59 53 7f 01 |SYSMSDOS SYS..|
000001f0 00 41 bb 00 07 60 66 6a 00 e9 3b ff 00 00 55 aa |.A...`fj..;...U.|
00000200


=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

sdc sdd sde sdf

[jaamzg]

Soooo...just to add a little info.

I ran grub then find /boot/grub/stage1 and it tells me its on (hd1,0) which I suspect is the pendrive. Taking the pendrive out, I rerun and get an error 15. I'm guessing I don't have stage1 loaded on my hard drive? I ran sudo apt-get install grub and then sudo update-grub then reran the find /boot/grub/stage1 and no dice.

Is my problem that I don't have stage1 on my hard drive or grub is not creating the file? When I run the update-grub, it finds the two linux kernels, the recovery kernels, some memtest something, and the vista loader, but not the Win 7. And when I boot from supergrub, it finds all that, but not the win 7. But I can't boot from the hard drive because I get the error 21.

It seems like it should be something simple...any suggestions?

[oldfred]

I see several problems that look like you have mixed up grub and grub2.

Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /boot/grub/core.img

You windows will not boot has you have /Boot/BCD (windows files) and /boot (grub files) directories and windows sees that as the same where as in linux capital and small are different. From a liveCd delete /boot/grub/core.img - all files and directories so you do not have two boot directories. Be sure to keep /Boot/BCD as that is essential to windows.

The grub in the MBR is looking to boot from sdb which is not a linux partition. Your install is in sda5 and is mostly grub2 but has menu.lst which is grub legacy. I have seen where just reinstalling grub2 to the MBR does not work as old grub somehow interfers but we will try that first.
Use a liveCD and reinstall grub2 to the MBR of sda.
How to restore the Ubuntu/XP/Vista/7 bootloader (Updated for Ubuntu 9.10)
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Reinstalling%20GRUB%202

From LiveCD
sudo mkdir /mnt/sda5
sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda
sudo grub-install --recheck --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda

After rebooting if it works
sudo update-grub

If you fixed the /boot /Boot problem in windows it will find the windows in sda and add it to you grub menu grub.cfg file.

[jaamzg]

Hi Oldfred!

Thanks so much for your help, it had been a couple of days since I posted and I thought I was going to be left floating in a see of noreplies!

I deleted the small b /boot as you instructed. I did not run the windows 7 install disk yet because I was assuming (incorrectly perhaps) that going through this first step would allow for a proper booting and the finding of the windows 7 boot info under big B /Boot/BCD

I did run the instructions from LiveCD as you printed and was able to reboot. It gave me a list of options to boot, including the older -14 linux kernel. I rebooted and ran the sudo update-grub command. This is what it gave me...


james@james-desktop:~$ sudo update-grub
Searching for GRUB installation directory ... found: /boot/grub
Searching for default file ... found: /boot/grub/default
Testing for an existing GRUB menu.lst file ... found: /boot/grub/menu.lst
Searching for splash image ... none found, skipping ...
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
Found GRUB 2: /boot/grub/core.img
Found kernel: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Updating /boot/grub/menu.lst ... done

After rebooting, I get the grub menu but it does not list the -20 kernel nor Windows 7. I also see that it updates the menu.lst file, but from your commentary I take that to be legacy grub and that it should not be there. I thought I could manually delete the grub folder and/or files and rerun your instructions, but I was not allowed access. I can now boot from the hard drive without the pendrive, but still can't get the other boot options going.

What should I try next?

thanks again

[oldfred]

I did not know that grub would update the menu.lst. Since they are in system directories you need to use sudo to delete.

This may be better as it will totally uninstall grub & grub2 then reinstall grub2 so it has a new clean install. Since you seem to be able to boot.

sudo apt-get purge grub grub-pc grub-common
sudo mv /boot/grub /boot/grub_backup
sudo mkdir /boot/grub
sudo apt-get install grub-pc grub-common

sudo grub-install --recheck /dev/sda
sudo update-grub

[jaamzg]

Oldfred,

I had tried using sudo rm instead of purge (i'm such a noob) to get rid of the old grub files. Anyway, the purge worked great and the reinstall went smoothly.

This is the new output after the update-grub:


james@james-desktop:~$ sudo update-grub
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-20-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
Found Windows Vista (loader) on /dev/sda4
done


It looks like it found everything. I'm going to reboot. I'll report back with the results.

[jaamzg]

oldfred,

Success!!

I was able to reboot into the -20 generic of linux and was also able to boot into windows 7!

I thought it was something simple, but had no idea how to figure it out. Just to review for my personal learning and for anyone else the might read this later, this is my understanding of what was wrong and how it got fixed.

Somehow, the grub boot got installed on sda1, which is the win 7 partition. So, there was confusion in the windows system. In addition, on the linux partition of sda5, grub2 was mixed with grub legacy and so neither was booting. The system was booting because I was using Supergrub on a pendrive, but the grub was pointing back at the pendrive sdb1, and not recognizing anything on the hard drive.

So, you had me manually remove the extra /boot file on the win7 sda1 partition which was grub and leave the /Boot files on there which was win7 startup. This cleared some confusion, but the grub on sda5 was still mixed with grub2 and legacy grub and not allowing a proper read of the different bootable files. Then the instructions were to purge the entire /grub from the /boot of sda5 and start with a fresh grub install.
Then, it was updated and able to read everything properly.

Was that about right?

Thanks so much for your help. I hereby christen thee Wisefred (sounds better than old).

[oldfred]

I think you have it down pat.

Thank you for the complement. I was not so wise starting out. I go back and look at some old attempts to help and sometimes they were not so good:(. Fortunately most here on the forum politely correct things, offer alternatives, and you also learn:). I have learned more in the last year trying to help than I did in my first few years just using & fixing my Ubuntu.

[jaamzg]

Well, I'm about 2 months into linux, so I've got a long way to go. It is a pretty steep learning curve, but I think I would rather learn this than win 7.

Thanks again for your help, and hopefully this helps others!