Fix GRUB from liveCd won't work! :(

[lancelot69fr]

Hi,

I have a Windows / Ubuntu dual boot system and I recently upgraded my system to 10.04 from the package manager.
I ran into what seem to be not an unusual issue with the new version of GRUB2 being installed hosing up the MBR. When I try to boot now I get a message stating: the symbol 'grub_puts_' not found.

There are a few posts and solutions out there about the issue... but the most promising ones, using the Ubuntu 10.04 liveCD don't work for me.

The GRUB changes don't seem to stick. It's almost like I'm doing all the grub command line work in a virtual system that gets wiped out as soon as I reboot.

For reference, here is one of the posts I've been working w/, some links in there seemed very promising, but again nothing seem to stick for me from the liveCD:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1397629

Should I be using some rescue disk of some sort? Or is there a way to boot directly to a command line from the Ubuntu CD menu?

Please help!!!

[emma00]

you should post this problem in this post



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

[wilee-nilee]

You might consider posting this boot script, it will show what exactly is going on post it in code tags.
http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/

I have yet to see a boot problem that can't be traced to user error in putting grub in the wrong places. I have seen one where it appeared to be a HP setup problem but it was compounded by grub being put in the windows boot partition.

[lancelot69fr]

You might consider posting this boot script, it will show what exactly is going on post it in code tags.
http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/

I have yet to see a boot problem that can't be traced to user error in putting grub in the wrong places. I have seen one where it appeared to be a HP setup problem but it was compounded by grub being put in the windows boot partition. I attached the RESULTS.txt file. Not sure what I'm looking at here. :confused:

[lancelot69fr]

you should post this problem in this post
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708I tried the steps for:

How to restore the Ubuntu grub bootloader (9.10 and beyond)

But no success. When I restarted, same error message.

[wilee-nilee]

I hope you don' mind but I am posting the script so it is easily accessible.


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 #1 for /boot/grub.
=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks on the same drive in
partition #1 for /boot/grub.
=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc and looks for
(UUID=11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6)/boot/grub.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sdb3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sdc1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

=========================== 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
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 63 937,167,839 937,167,777 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 937,167,840 976,768,064 39,600,225 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 937,167,903 976,768,064 39,600,162 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdb1 63 210,547,889 210,547,827 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2 210,547,890 420,340,724 209,792,835 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb3 420,340,725 625,137,344 204,796,620 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdc ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdc: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdc1 * 63 625,121,279 625,121,217 7 HPFS/NTFS


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6 ext4
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 16ddb2f0-b982-4393-8995-5ecb4bfc5333 swap
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 C4E83A99E83A89A6 ntfs first
/dev/sdb2 389852F19852AD5E ntfs second
/dev/sdb3 68745FC4745F93A2 ntfs third
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdc1 5EC07E68C07E45F5 ntfs primary
/dev/sdc: PTTYPE="dos"

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

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


=========================== sda1/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 ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6
set locale_dir=($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 2.6.32-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=UUID=11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-22-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=UUID=11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.31-21-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic root=UUID=11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-21-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.31-21-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.31-21-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic root=UUID=11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-21-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows XP Professional x64 Edition (on /dev/sdc1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd2,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5ec07e68c07e45f5
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 ###

=============================== sda1/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/sda1 during installation
UUID=11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=16ddb2f0-b982-4393-8995-5ecb4bfc5333 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

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


.1GB: boot/grub/core.img
.2GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
81.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-21-generic
81.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
49.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic
2.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic
81.2GB: initrd.img
81.1GB: initrd.img.old
2.3GB: vmlinuz
49.4GB: vmlinuz.old

================================ sdc1/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="Windows XP Professional x64 Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

[lancelot69fr]

I hope you don' mind but I am posting the script so it is easily accessible.Doesn't like anything can uniquely identify my computer in that file... so that's all good. :)
I posted it in the first place.

Thanks wilee-nilee

[wilee-nilee]

I think your in okay shape for a fairly easy fix. I see grub loaded in 3 different MBR's sda/sdb/sdc, but not in any partition's. If it was me I would Pop the live cd in go to gparted and put the boot flag on sda1 and make sure it is the 1st in the bios to be read, and maybe sdc second before sdb. This is only a idea, and will not damage anything. The sdc HD has the XP boot.ini in it for the XP boot. What is in the sdb hard drive I am curious?

A more experienced adviser is needed though to get you back in shape I think, but you are in good shape in that as I suggested I don't see grub in the XP boot, just the mbr of sdc. It may be as simple as setting the boot to sda1 and maybe reloading the XP bootloader in sdc, but lets wait for the people who wear the fix-it capes, they are my heroes.

Am I correct that you have XP and do you have a XP ISO or install disc, if not you probably should get one in that, it will help you maybe now or in the future.

[lancelot69fr]

Am I correct that you have XP and do you have a XP ISO or install disc, if not you probably should get one in that, it will help you maybe now or in the future. Yes I have the XP cd that's not an issue.


What is in the sdb hard drive I am curious?I only have 2 physical HDDs. One for Windows and one for Linux. However the Windows HDD has multiple 3 logical partitions for ease of maintenance. NFTS is not up to par vs. EXT3/4 Linux FS. But that's an entire other story.

So it looks like sda is my Linux drive and sdc is my Windows drive w/ all the sdb partitions being my logical Windows partitions.


If it was me I would Pop the live cd in go to gparted and put the boot flag on sda1 and make sure it is the 1st in the bios to be read, and maybe sdc second before sdb.I tried to select "install xubuntu" and follow the process until the partitioner part, but then when I select, can't remember if it's "advanced" or "manual" partitioning, anyway the one that let's you take care of the partitioning, I couldn't find where I set the boot flag and most important where the option is to NOT format the drives.

[wilee-nilee]

Yes I have the XP cd that's not an issue.



I only have 2 physical HDDs. One for Windows and one for Linux. However the Windows HDD has multiple 3 logical partitions for ease of maintenance. NFTS is not up to par vs. EXT3/4 Linux FS. But that's an entire other story.

So it looks like sda is my Linux drive and sdc is my Windows drive w/ all the sdb partitions being my logical Windows partitions.

[QUOTE]If it was me I would Pop the live cd in go to gparted and put the boot flag on sda1 and make sure it is the 1st in the bios to be read, and maybe sdc second before sdb./QUOTE]

I tried to select "install xubuntu" and follow the process until the partitioner part, but then when I select, can't remember if it's "advanced" or "manual" partitioning, anyway the one that let's you take care of the partitioning, I couldn't find where I set the boot flag and most important where the option is to NOT format the drives.

You don't want to run the installer again if that's what I'm seeing. Go to system>administration and open gparted right click on the sda1 partition then manage flags and click on boot. Then go to the bios and set sdc as the second in line in the boot list, boot into Xubuntu and run
sudo update-grub in the terminal This should set grub to read the XP partition and add it to the grub list. Like I said I'm not sure if maybe the XP bootloader needs to be in the MBR of sdc for this to work though. Lets see if this works before messing with the MBR anymore.

I think what is throwing off the XP boot is having the logical partitions in between sdc and sda, as it is now the computer boots off of sdc probably, finds Xubuntu but can't get back to the sdc for boot.

[darkod]

@lancelot
Do you still have problems booting?

And I hate to ask such a dumb question, but are you SURE you have only two disks???

This shows clearly three disks detected, also the partitions have different UUIDs and even different labels that you have set:


Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 11a86201-2485-4d78-a1cb-7178b04190a6 ext4
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 16ddb2f0-b982-4393-8995-5ecb4bfc5333 swap
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 C4E83A99E83A89A6 ntfs first
/dev/sdb2 389852F19852AD5E ntfs second
/dev/sdb3 68745FC4745F93A2 ntfs third
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdc1 5EC07E68C07E45F5 ntfs primary
/dev/sdc: PTTYPE="dos"

It would be an extremely big bug in the script to report two disks like this.

And if you still have problems booting, there are few things I would like you to try.

[oldfred]

The script says you have a 320 and two 500GB drives? Were you sold a 1000GB but it happens to be two 500's?

Are you booting from sda the 320GB drive? Check in BIOS and see what drives BIOS sees and set the 320 to boot.