Restoring Grub failed after installing Windows XP

[jackflamer]

Hi All, I am pretty new to ubuntu, and not sure if this question has been solved by anyone, I tried search this forum, but didn't find enough information. The closest thread I found here was this one:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708

As I could not solve my problem by searching the forum, I post my problem here hoping someone can help, thanks in advance.

Here is my situation, I have installed Ubuntu 9.04 a few days ago with an old Live CD, after running it pretty well, I upgraded it to 9.10 with the online update tool. (I guess this makes sure I was using Grub 1, the legacy Grub). After updated to 9.10, I installed a Windows XP on my hard drive, obviously, it wiped off my Grub from the MBR. So I tried to restore the Grub back to the MBR, but failed, please see below:

I first run the fdisk



ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l
omitting empty partition (5)

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xe1bde1bd

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 6079 48829536 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda2 6080 60801 439554465 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda3 12750 25497 102398278+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda5 * 6080 12401 50781402 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 12402 12749 2795278+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 25498 38245 102398278+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda8 38246 60801 181181038+ b W95 FAT32
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo grub
Probing devices to guess BIOS drives. This may take a long time.
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$
Then tried run grub commands to restore the grub to MBR, but failed with the following error message:



[ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For
the first word, TAB lists possible command
completions. Anywhere else TAB lists the possible
completions of a device/filename. ]

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hd0,5)

grub> root (hd0,5)

grub> setup (hd0)
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5" exists... yes
Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0)"... 17 sectors are embedded.
succeeded
Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+17 p (hd0,5)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/g
rub/menu.lst"... failed

Error 12: Invalid device requested

grub>




Thank you again, and any suggestion is welcomed!

[wilee-nilee]

Post this script in code tags it will give the details that are needed.
http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/

Also tell us what is going on when you try to boot into Ubuntu or XP.

[hansdown]

Welcome to the forum jackflamer.

It appears, that you have 2 boot flags, (*).

I'm trying to remember how to edit this.

[wilee-nilee]

Welcome to the forum jackflamer.

It appears, that you have 2 boot flags, (*).

I'm trying to remember how to edit this.

That is a obvious problem but there are others lets see the bootscript before we suggest fixes blindly. ;)

[jackflamer]

Wow! Thank you all quick reply, here is my boot script , also, when I try to boot the computer, it loads the windows ntloader, and give my 2 options, first is the windows XP, second it something called " unrecognizable operating system on C:" , but this option can't load ubuntu.



Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Windows XP: Fat32
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: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda7: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: MSWIN4.1: Fat 32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda8: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: MSWIN4.1: Fat 32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: MSWIN4.1: Fat 32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xe1bde1bd

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 97,659,134 97,659,072 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda2 97,659,135 976,768,064 879,108,930 f W95 Ext d (LBA)
Extended partition linking to another extended partition
/dev/sda5 * 97,659,261 199,222,064 101,562,804 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 199,222,128 204,812,684 5,590,557 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 409,609,368 614,405,924 204,796,557 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda8 614,405,988 976,768,064 362,362,077 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda3 204,812,748 409,609,304 204,796,557 b W95 FAT32

/dev/sda2 overlaps with /dev/sda3

blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 86DB-626D vfat WINXPSP3
/dev/sda3 4AD0-B38F vfat DATA
/dev/sda5 869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8 ext3
/dev/sda6 76ef528b-1a71-4272-a228-e85651552805 swap
/dev/sda7 E072-1BD9 vfat DOWNLOAD0
/dev/sda8 95A1-67DE vfat DOWNLOAD1

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

rootfs / rootfs (rw)
/dev/sr0 /cdrom iso9660 (ro,noatime)
/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (ro,noatime)


================================ 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
C:\linux = "Ubunutu"

=========================== 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=869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8 ro locale=zh_CN

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8

## 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 2.6.31-21-generic
uuid 869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic root=UUID=869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8 ro locale=zh_CN quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-21-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-21-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic root=UUID=869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8 ro locale=zh_CN single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-21-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-18-generic
uuid 869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-18-generic root=UUID=869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8 ro locale=zh_CN quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-18-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-18-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-18-generic root=UUID=869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8 ro locale=zh_CN single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-18-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid 869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8 ro locale=zh_CN quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8 ro locale=zh_CN single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, memtest86+
uuid 869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

=============================== sda5/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/sda8 during installation
UUID=869141f8-0579-49b2-ae9d-2f7275d656d8 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /windows was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=86DB-626D /windows vfat utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda9 during installation
UUID=76ef528b-1a71-4272-a228-e85651552805 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0



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


85.5GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
85.6GB: boot/grub/stage2
80.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
73.7GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-18-generic
80.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-21-generic
80.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic
80.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-18-generic
80.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic
80.6GB: initrd.img
73.7GB: initrd.img.old
80.7GB: vmlinuz
80.7GB: vmlinuz.old
=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

sdb sdc sdd sde

[hansdown]

That is a obvious problem but there are others lets see the bootscript before we suggest fixes blindly. ;)

My sight is quite good, thankyou.

[wilee-nilee]

My sight is quite good, thankyou.

Excellent then read the bootscript.;) There are some anomalies in it.

[jackflamer]

By the way, when I tried to solved the problem myself (already found the issue), I tried to copy the first block of my ubuntu partition using WinHex, and saved to a file on the C: drive's root directory called linux, and modified the boot.ini using that file, but it didn't work. Apparantely, WinHEX showed me that there was nothing on the first block of my ubuntu partition, all "00 ", but I just tried.

[hansdown]

Excellent then read the bootscript.;) There are some anomalies in it.

Then I shall exit, stage left.

[wilee-nilee]

So OP what is happening now if you try to boot anything?

[jackflamer]

Now, if I boot the computer, I can boot into Windows XP using NT Loader with now problem, but I have no way to boot into Ubuntu. Obviously, the Grub has not yet been restored.

[jackflamer]

I appreciate all your kindness and help, thanks! This is a great community!

[oldfred]

This is a problem and two boot flags may be a problem but I think windows only sees boot flags on primary partitions. You still should delete the flag on sda5. You can use gparted, right click on partition and manage flags, or use Disk Utility. Or command line.

set boot flag on for sda1 (off on others)
sudo sfdisk -A1 /dev/sda

Bigger problem with partitions. They cannot overlap. Your manual edit messed up somehow.
/dev/sda2 overlaps with /dev/sda3

Sometimes just rewriting it will fix it. Sometimes it make no changes:
You can reorder the partition with fdisk, just type single letters:
sudo fdisk /dev/sda
x # enter expert mode
f # fix partition table
r # return
p # to print
v # to verify partition
if ok
w # write the changes to disk

[wilee-nilee]

The sda2 and sda3 overlap was the first thing I noticed and was going to suggest a more knowledgeable user will be more helpful, and here you are; a much more experienced user. ;)

[jackflamer]

This is a problem and two boot flags may be a problem but I think windows only sees boot flags on primary partitions. You still should delete the flag on sda5. You can use gparted, right click on partition and manage flags, or use Disk Utility. Or command line.

set boot flag on for sda1 (off on others)
sudo sfdisk -A1 /dev/sda

Bigger problem with partitions. They cannot overlap. Your manual edit messed up somehow.
/dev/sda2 overlaps with /dev/sda3

Sometimes just rewriting it will fix it. Sometimes it make no changes:
You can reorder the partition with fdisk, just type single letters:
sudo fdisk /dev/sda
x # enter expert mode
f # fix partition table
r # return
p # to print
v # to verify partition
if ok
w # write the changes to disk


Thank you OldFred, the overlapping seems causing my problem, I did what you suggested, but seemed I had only fixed the "2 boot flags" issue, but I could not reorder the partition overlap problem:



ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo gparted
======================
libparted : 1.8.8
======================
Can't have overlapping partitions.
Can't have overlapping partitions.
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l
omitting empty partition (5)

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xe1bde1bd

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 6079 48829536 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda2 6080 60801 439554465 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda3 12750 25497 102398278+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda5 * 6080 12401 50781402 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 12402 12749 2795278+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 25498 38245 102398278+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda8 38246 60801 181181038+ b W95 FAT32
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo sfdisk -A1 /dev/sda
Done

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l
omitting empty partition (5)

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xe1bde1bd

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 6079 48829536 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda2 6080 60801 439554465 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda3 12750 25497 102398278+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda5 6080 12401 50781402 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 12402 12749 2795278+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 25498 38245 102398278+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda8 38246 60801 181181038+ b W95 FAT32
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk /dev/sda

The number of cylinders for this disk is set to 60801.
There is nothing wrong with that, but this is larger than 1024,
and could in certain setups cause problems with:
1) software that runs at boot time (e.g., old versions of LILO)
2) booting and partitioning software from other OSs
(e.g., DOS FDISK, OS/2 FDISK)
omitting empty partition (5)

Command (m for help): x

Expert command (m for help): f
Nothing to do. Ordering is correct already.


Expert command (m for help): r

Command (m for help): p

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xe1bde1bd

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 6079 48829536 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda2 6080 60801 439554465 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda3 12750 25497 102398278+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda5 6080 12401 50781402 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 12402 12749 2795278+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 25498 38245 102398278+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda8 38246 60801 181181038+ b W95 FAT32

Command (m for help): v
5539 unallocated sectors

Command (m for help): q

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo gparted
======================
libparted : 1.8.8
======================
Can't have overlapping partitions.
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$



The only thing I haven't done is to save the changes within fdisk as it told me "Nothing to do. Ordering is correct already."

Do I still need to use the "W" command to write to disk?

Thanks again!

[oldfred]

I would try the write just to see if it corrects the end points or not. It may not make any changes.

Normally this would be to reorder partitions, I am not sure why anyone would but thats what it is for. When partitions get renumbered grub often has to be reinstalled, but you are not changing anything, just trying to get to to do the recalculations automatically.

IF that does not work I would look at testdisk. I have not used it so I do not know but it does many thing.

repairs including testdisk info & link to testdisk, testdisk is in repository and on most repairCDs
http://members.iinet.net.au/~herman546/p21.html
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntucat/recoverdeletedfiles/
download TestDisk http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

Instructions
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/Menu_Analyse

[jackflamer]

Dear All, I have solved my problem, special thanks to OldFred! Also, I appreciate all of your inputs!

Yes, by downloading and running the TestDisk, the problem solved pretty smoothly.

1. run the TestDisk tool
2. Choosing [Analyze ] to check the partition table
3. It finds my partition table has some conflicts, actually, 2 partitions are duplicated ( overlapping)
4. Choose [Quick Search] to find the correct partition table
5. Choose [Write] to rewrite the partition table with correct information
6. Restart the computer

After these above process, I can restore the Grub Legacy to the MBR following this howto:

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

After that, I can boot into Ubuntu again, but still need to modify the /boot/grub/menu.lst to add the windows boot option which is also indicated in this above mentioned howto.

And now, I can dual boot into both Ubuntu and Windows using Grub.

Thanks again, and Ubuntu is great! This community rocks!

[oldfred]

Glad you got it to work.:)

[hansdown]

Nice work oldfred.

Glad you got things sorted jackflamer.