error: no such disk

[herve3d]

Hello, I want my parents discover the wonderful world of Ubuntu but it starts bad ...

On the same hard disk I just install Windows XP
Then I install Ubuntu with my official CD : UBUNTU 9.10 DESKTOP EDITION

When the UBUNTU install finish and my pc reboot I have :

GRUB loading.
error: no such partition

If I try ls :

grub rescue> ls
(hd0) (hd0,1) (fd0)
error: no such disk

Other info :

UBUNTU 9.10 so it's GRUB 2

I started with the LIVE CD to take more info :

With GParted :
/dev/sda1 ntfs
/dev/sda2 extended
/dev/sda5 ext4
/dev/sda6 linux-swap

I have a boot CD with GRUB 1.97.2, I can boot on Windows with :
set root=hd0,1
chainloader +1
boot

Why my GRUB doesn't work ? Thanks for you help.

[frantid]

Hi, please run the bootinfoscript:

http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/

post results here by pasting the text in between code tags -- i.e. click on the # sign in the reply box and paste in between the brakets ] [

[herve3d]

I boot with my live CD and I run the script, result :


Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive in
partition #5 for /boot/grub.
=> Syslinux is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc

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: 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

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdc1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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: 400.1 GB, 400088457216 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 48641 cylinders, total 781422768 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x25642563

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 20,964,824 20,964,762 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 20,964,825 781,417,664 760,452,840 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 20,964,888 779,200,694 758,235,807 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 779,200,758 781,417,664 2,216,907 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdc ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdc: 1027 MB, 1027604480 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 124 cylinders, total 2007040 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x91f72d24

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdc1 * 63 2,007,039 2,006,977 6 FAT16


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/ramzswap0 swap
/dev/sda1 A234F97234F949B5 ntfs
/dev/sda5 d2fd7ecc-64ed-4016-b868-975ceb5820f3 ext4
/dev/sda6 ebf19cdb-0c72-4cc2-869e-1d5f4b277a4c swap
/dev/sdc1 B49F-7C3B vfat

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

aufs / aufs (rw)
/dev/sr1 /cdrom iso9660 (rw)
/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (rw)
/dev/sdc1 /media/B49F-7C3B 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

=========================== 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 d2fd7ecc-64ed-4016-b868-975ceb5820f3
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 d2fd7ecc-64ed-4016-b868-975ceb5820f3
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=d2fd7ecc-64ed-4016-b868-975ceb5820f3 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 d2fd7ecc-64ed-4016-b868-975ceb5820f3
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=d2fd7ecc-64ed-4016-b868-975ceb5820f3 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 a234f97234f949b5
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 ###

=============================== 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=d2fd7ecc-64ed-4016-b868-975ceb5820f3 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=ebf19cdb-0c72-4cc2-869e-1d5f4b277a4c none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd1 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

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


17.6GB: boot/grub/core.img
17.6GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
11.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
11.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
11.2GB: initrd.img
11.2GB: vmlinuz

[frantid]

let's try -- to check the disk


fsck -y /dev/sda5

see if you get errors.

Then we'll need to mount the drive


sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt

then recopy grub from the cd.


sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/sda


we are working through the repair steps here, for more info:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Reinstalling%20from%20LiveCD

[herve3d]

I am back to my parent home to try again...


$ sudo fsck -y /dev/sda5
fsck de util-linux-ng 2.16
e2fsck 1.41.9 (22-Aug-2009)
/dev/sda5*: propre, 128732/23699456 fichiers, 2027402/94779475 blocs


$ sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/sda
Installation finished. No error reported.
This is the contents of the device map /mnt//boot/grub/device.map.
Check if this is correct or not. If any of the lines is incorrect,
fix it and re-run the script `grub-install'.

(hd0) /dev/sda

Same Grub message = error: no such partition

A big problem with grub, it never find my linux partition !
I don't think that I have to re-install Grub, I think I have to make any configuration to help him to find my disk...

I don't know wath to do, maybe to find an alternative to Grub...

[darkod]

I think you are hit with this problem:
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/bootinfoscript/index.php?title=Boot_Problems:search

Your UUID in grub.cfg seems correct, so just start from step 4 in the solution.

PS. Forgot to mention. Look at step 1 for how to boot into ubuntu, then jump over steps 2 and 3.

[herve3d]

I'm back again.
I tried this solution, I commented the 3 lines but same problem :-/

I remember that during Ubuntu install I saw my hard disk as a SCSI2 disk, but it's a IDE disk, maybe a problem come from that...

[darkod]

No, reporting as SCSI shouldn't matter. Linux stopped making difference between sata and ide disks so I guess they use SCSI always.

But your ubuntu partitions don't seem to be recognized, both sda5 and sda6.

In the rescue prompt, if you type ls again, does it list (hd0,5) and (hd0,6)?

[kansasnoob]

Please read this all before beginning!

I'm just curious, clear back at the beginning you said,


I have a boot CD with GRUB 1.97.2, I can boot on Windows with :
set root=hd0,1
chainloader +1
boot

But obviously NOT with the auto-generated entry:


menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd0,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set a234f97234f949b5
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}

Is that correct?

If so I think darkod is on the right track so I'd try creating some custom entries in "/etc/grub.d/40_custom" using nano in a chroot like shown below (please copy-n-paste commands since some are quite long).

But, before beginning, please read a bit here about my chroot procedure:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=8068512&postcount=10

And here about Nano if you've never used it:

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

And when you're ready do the following from Terminal using the Live CD:


sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt && sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev && sudo mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc && sudo mount --bind /sys /mnt/sys && sudo mount --bind /dev/pts /mnt/dev/pts && sudo cp /etc/resolv.conf /mnt/etc/resolv.conf && sudo chroot /mnt


nano /etc/grub.d/40_custom

Do NOT edit any text there just copy-n-paste the following below the existing text:


menuentry "Custom Win XP one" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd0,1)
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}

menuentry "Custom Win XP two" {
set root=(hd0,1)
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}

menuentry "Custom Win XP three" {
set root=(hd0,1)
chainloader +1
}

menuentry "Ubuntu one" {
set root=(hd0,5)
linux /vmlinuz root=UUID=d2fd7ecc-64ed-4016-b868-975ceb5820f3 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img
}

menuentry "Ubuntu two" {
set root=(hd0,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d2fd7ecc-64ed-4016-b868-975ceb5820f3
linux /vmlinuz root=UUID=d2fd7ecc-64ed-4016-b868-975ceb5820f3 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img
}


The one, two, three is just so we know the difference, and so I'll know what (if anything) works and what doesn't. As I said I'm curious.

Anyway after editing and saving the changes you can check to see if the changes were saved properly by running:


cat /etc/grub.d/40_custom

Then to apply those changes to grub.cfg run:


update-grub

And just to play it safe lets reinstall grub to the mbr:


grub-install /dev/sda

Then we can exit the chroot and unmount:


exit


sudo umount /mnt/dev/pts && sudo umount /mnt/sys && sudo umount /mnt/proc && sudo umount /mnt/dev && sudo umount /mnt

Those new entries should now show up at the bottom of the boot menu so let us know what works and what doesn't. It may take several hours for me to reply, but based on that we should know what to do next.

[herve3d]

Sorry first I retried to update grub but I have an error. I think it's basic but I don't know what to do... :oops:

sudo update-grub2
/usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: cannot find a device for / (is /dev mounted?).

I tried before
sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt
or
sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt && sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev && sudo mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc && sudo mount --bind /sys /mnt/sys && sudo mount --bind /dev/pts /mnt/dev/pts && sudo cp /etc/resolv.conf /mnt/etc/resolv.conf && sudo chroot /mnt

[darkod]

You can't run update-grub just like that from live mode.

Did you try to execute the commands from kansasnoob one by one as stated?

[herve3d]

Before I just updated grub-mkconfig_lib and tried listed mount commands, I didn't seen other commands to do...

But I have to finish today, so I made it durty, I installed Ubuntu on the same partition of windows, ntfs :-\
but same problem :'-( A better point is that booting on windows works now.

Now I have to go back to my home, I will try to make Ubuntu working the next time I'll come, if you have ideas...

Thanks for your support.