Problems with grub2: no way to update the boot menu

[Rehdon]

Hi all,
I upgraded my main box to Ubuntu 10.04 and everything runs fine, except for a problem with grub: I can't modify the boot menu in any way, I'm stuck with what grub2 thought was the optimal setup at installation time (and it got it wrong, btw). The current boot menu lists:

- my older 9.10 install in sdb2 (one kernel)
- legacy windows XP install on sda1
- my even older 9.04 install in sdb1 (two kernel versions)
- my new install in sdb3, with only one kernel (the one coming with the distro CD)

I tried anything I could think of to modify this menu:

- modify the /etc grub config file then running sudo update-grub
- using a specific app (system manager? don't remember its name)
- upgrading to the latest kernel
- removing and reinstalling grub

to no avail: the menu is still there in the above form, and I have to manually select the 10.04 (old) kernel by hand every time I reboot.

Any idea about what I should do? Thx in advance.

Rehdon

[kalistona]

i do not understand : sdb means usbkey or another disk
legacy means linux before grub 2 in XP ?
so i do not understand if it is a problem or if you want re-install properly all that; from a command line ?

[Rehdon]

Nope, sdb is short for /dev/sdb, i.e. my second hard disk drive. "Legacy" means that Windows is just sitting there unused because I only use Ubuntu Linux now. I properly reinstalled grub following an Ubuntu howto using the command line.

Rehdon

[mikewhatever]

Why do you want to modify the menu in the first place? Don't you want to boot all those OSs you have installed? In case not, why have them installed? Why do you have to chose the old kernel for 10.04? What's wrong with the new one?

[Rehdon]

Why do you want to modify the menu in the first place? Don't you want to boot all those OSs you have installed? In case not, why have them installed? Why do you have to chose the old kernel for 10.04? What's wrong with the new one?

In short:

- I want the most recent 10.04 kernel to be booted as default;
- as the automatic kernel upgrade doesn't work, at least I'd like to be able to manually config the boot order and add the last kernel(s): atm the upgraded kernels aren't accessible;
- of course I want to be able to boot all the other OSs on my drives, but only if necessary: it doesn't make sense that 9.10 be the default boot option, as grub seems to have decided for me.

Hope it's clearer now :)

Rehdon

[wilee-nilee]

Post the boot script in my sig in code tags we may see some anomalies there.

[Rehdon]

There you go:



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 #3 for /boot/grub.
=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks on the same drive in
partition #2 for /boot/grub.

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

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda7: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.04
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
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

sdb4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disco /dev/sda: 400.1 GB, 400088457216 byte
255 testine, 63 settori/tracce, 48641 cilindri, totale 781422768 settori
Unità = settori di 1 * 512 = 512 byte
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 20,964,824 20,964,762 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 20,964,825 100,968,524 80,003,700 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 100,968,586 781,417,664 680,449,079 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 100,968,588 102,960,584 1,991,997 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 102,960,648 161,549,639 58,588,992 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 161,549,703 781,417,664 619,867,962 83 Linux


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disco /dev/sdb: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 byte
255 testine, 63 settori/tracce, 30401 cilindri, totale 488397168 settori
Unità = settori di 1 * 512 = 512 byte
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdb1 63 16,000,739 16,000,677 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 16,000,740 32,001,479 16,000,740 83 Linux
/dev/sdb3 32,001,480 48,002,219 16,000,740 83 Linux
/dev/sdb4 48,002,220 488,392,064 440,389,845 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 48,002,283 96,823,754 48,821,472 83 Linux
/dev/sdb6 96,823,818 488,392,064 391,568,247 83 Linux


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 DE103A62103A4237 ntfs
/dev/sda2 CC70960F7095FFFE ntfs
/dev/sda3: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 8399da30-10b6-4731-beb0-9291bfbc9019 swap
/dev/sda6 8a5cd3ba-8a56-4308-bd71-27bbb47e3e18 ext3 backup
/dev/sda7 bb224ba1-eeb9-4be1-9e2a-a116ca1a11bd ext3 multimedia
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac ext3
/dev/sdb2 46d0bda3-c9b4-4c86-8035-cfe80fcf4447 ext3
/dev/sdb3 3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68 ext3
/dev/sdb4: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb5 3ac97593-dbca-4240-a8c4-f48668281f47 ext3
/dev/sdb6 8ca353e8-44aa-4057-8f70-98a0237888fe ext3 store
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos"

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sdb3 / ext3 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sda6 /media/backup ext3 (rw)
/dev/sdb5 /home ext3 (rw)
/dev/sda7 /media/multimedia ext3 (rw)
/dev/sda2 /media/win-store fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096,default_ permissions)
/dev/sda1 /windows fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096,default_ permissions)
/dev/sdb6 /media/store ext3 (rw)


================================ 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 Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


=========================== sdb1/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 10

## 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=4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac

## 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 vga=773

## 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=4

## 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 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-16-generic
uuid 4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-16-generic root=UUID=4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac ro quiet splash vga=773
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-16-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-16-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-16-generic root=UUID=4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-16-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid 4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb2.
title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-21-generic (on /dev/sdb2)
root (hd1,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-21-generic root=UUID=4f8838e6-c0d9-4161-b8a9-21fca9483e98 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-21-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb2.
title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-21-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sdb2)
root (hd1,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-21-generic root=UUID=4f8838e6-c0d9-4161-b8a9-21fca9483e98 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-21-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb2.
title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-20-generic (on /dev/sdb2)
root (hd1,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-20-generic root=UUID=4f8838e6-c0d9-4161-b8a9-21fca9483e98 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-20-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb2.
title Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-20-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sdb2)
root (hd1,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-20-generic root=UUID=4f8838e6-c0d9-4161-b8a9-21fca9483e98 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-20-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb2.
title Ubuntu 8.04.1, memtest86+ (on /dev/sdb2)
root (hd1,1)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb3.
title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-12-generic (on /dev/sdb3)
root (hd1,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-12-generic root=UUID=48d9e95c-60c1-4dae-a20c-b0b25f6f025c ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-12-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb3.
title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-12-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sdb3)
root (hd1,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-12-generic root=UUID=48d9e95c-60c1-4dae-a20c-b0b25f6f025c ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-12-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb3.
title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic (on /dev/sdb3)
root (hd1,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=48d9e95c-60c1-4dae-a20c-b0b25f6f025c ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb3.
title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sdb3)
root (hd1,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=48d9e95c-60c1-4dae-a20c-b0b25f6f025c ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb3.
title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic (on /dev/sdb3)
root (hd1,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic root=UUID=48d9e95c-60c1-4dae-a20c-b0b25f6f025c ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb3.
title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sdb3)
root (hd1,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic root=UUID=48d9e95c-60c1-4dae-a20c-b0b25f6f025c ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb3.
title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (on /dev/sdb3)
root (hd1,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=48d9e95c-60c1-4dae-a20c-b0b25f6f025c ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb3.
title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sdb3)
root (hd1,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=48d9e95c-60c1-4dae-a20c-b0b25f6f025c ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb3.
title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+ (on /dev/sdb3)
root (hd1,2)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
savedefault
boot


=============================== sdb1/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>

proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
#Entry for /dev/sdb1 :
UUID=4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
#Entry for /dev/sdb5 :
UUID=3ac97593-dbca-4240-a8c4-f48668281f47 /home ext3 relatime 0 2
#Entry for /dev/sda6 :
UUID=8a5cd3ba-8a56-4308-bd71-27bbb47e3e18 /media/backup ext3 relatime 0 2
#Entry for /dev/sda7 :
UUID=bb224ba1-eeb9-4be1-9e2a-a116ca1a11bd /media/multimedia ext3 relatime 0 2
#Entry for /dev/sdb6 :
UUID=8ca353e8-44aa-4057-8f70-98a0237888fe /media/store ext3 relatime 0 2
#Entry for /dev/sda5 :
UUID=8399da30-10b6-4731-beb0-9291bfbc9019 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0



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


4.7GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
4.7GB: boot/grub/stage2
5.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-16-generic
1.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-16-generic
5.2GB: initrd.img
1.7GB: vmlinuz

=========================== sdb2/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=(hd1,2)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 46d0bda3-c9b4-4c86-8035-cfe80fcf4447
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 2.6.31-21-generic" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,2)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 46d0bda3-c9b4-4c86-8035-cfe80fcf4447
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic root=UUID=46d0bda3-c9b4-4c86-8035-cfe80fcf4447 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-21-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-21-generic (recovery mode)" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,2)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 46d0bda3-c9b4-4c86-8035-cfe80fcf4447
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic root=UUID=46d0bda3-c9b4-4c86-8035-cfe80fcf4447 ro single
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+)" {
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 Home Edition (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd0,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set de103a62103a4237
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-16-generic (on /dev/sdb1)" {
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-16-generic root=UUID=4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac ro quiet splash vga=773
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-16-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-16-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sdb1)" {
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-16-generic root=UUID=4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-16-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+ (on /dev/sdb1)" {
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac
linux /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "'Ubuntu, con Linux 2.6.32-21-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os { (on /dev/sdb3)" {
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,3)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
menuentry "'Ubuntu, con Linux 2.6.32-21-generic (modalità ripristino)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os { (on /dev/sdb3)" {
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,3)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
### 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 ###

=============================== sdb2/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/sdb2 during installation
UUID=46d0bda3-c9b4-4c86-8035-cfe80fcf4447 / ext3 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /home was on /dev/sdb5 during installation
UUID=3ac97593-dbca-4240-a8c4-f48668281f47 /home ext3 defaults 0 2
# /media/backup was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=8a5cd3ba-8a56-4308-bd71-27bbb47e3e18 /media/backup ext3 defaults 0 2
# /media/multimedia was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=bb224ba1-eeb9-4be1-9e2a-a116ca1a11bd /media/multimedia ext3 defaults 0 2
# /media/store was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=8ca353e8-44aa-4057-8f70-98a0237888fe /media/store ext3 defaults 0 2
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=8399da30-10b6-4731-beb0-9291bfbc9019 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


=================== sdb2: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


9.4GB: boot/grub/core.img
9.5GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
9.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-21-generic
8.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic
9.6GB: initrd.img
8.9GB: vmlinuz

=========================== sdb3/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 ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=it
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, con Linux 2.6.32-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=UUID=3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, con Linux 2.6.32-22-generic (modalità ripristino)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68
echo 'Caricamento Linux 2.6.32-22-generic...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=UUID=3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68 ro single
echo 'Caricamento ramdisk iniziale...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, con Linux 2.6.32-21-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, con Linux 2.6.32-21-generic (modalità ripristino)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68
echo 'Caricamento Linux 2.6.32-21-generic...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68 ro single
echo 'Caricamento ramdisk iniziale...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set de103a62103a4237
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-16-generic (on /dev/sdb1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-16-generic root=UUID=4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac ro quiet splash vga=773
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-16-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-16-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sdb1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-16-generic root=UUID=4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-16-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+ (on /dev/sdb1)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4debf91d-418d-40a1-9a0d-38c5f27e1fac
linux /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-21-generic (on /dev/sdb2)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 46d0bda3-c9b4-4c86-8035-cfe80fcf4447
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic root=UUID=46d0bda3-c9b4-4c86-8035-cfe80fcf4447 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-21-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-21-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sdb2)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 46d0bda3-c9b4-4c86-8035-cfe80fcf4447
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic root=UUID=46d0bda3-c9b4-4c86-8035-cfe80fcf4447 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-21-generic
}
### 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 ###

=============================== sdb3/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
# / was on /dev/sdb3 during installation
UUID=3dbd6e07-4c43-4b4f-9dfa-50d123b2ed68 / ext3 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /home was on /dev/sdb5 during installation
UUID=3ac97593-dbca-4240-a8c4-f48668281f47 /home ext3 defaults 0 2
# /media/backup was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=8a5cd3ba-8a56-4308-bd71-27bbb47e3e18 /media/backup ext3 defaults 0 2
# /media/multimedia was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=bb224ba1-eeb9-4be1-9e2a-a116ca1a11bd /media/multimedia ext3 defaults 0 2
# /media/store was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=8ca353e8-44aa-4057-8f70-98a0237888fe /media/store ext3 defaults 0 2
# /media/win-store was on /dev/sda2 during installation
UUID=CC70960F7095FFFE /media/win-store ntfs defaults,nls=utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 0
# /windows was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=DE103A62103A4237 /windows ntfs defaults,nls=utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 0
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=8399da30-10b6-4731-beb0-9291bfbc9019 none swap sw 0 0


=================== sdb3: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


18.0GB: boot/grub/core.img
18.1GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
17.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
18.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
18.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic
18.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic
18.1GB: initrd.img
17.2GB: initrd.img.old
18.1GB: vmlinuz
18.0GB: vmlinuz.old

[darkod]

It seems you are booting the 9.10 grub2, which of course considers the 9.10 as main OS and has it at the top of the list.
Boot your 10.04 and just do:

sudo grub-install /dev/sdb

As far as the order of the other OSs, if you really want to change the order, just open in 10.04 the /boot/grub/grub.cfg and copy the entries in the order you want them into /etc/grub.d/40_custom

After that is done disable os-prober with:

sudo chmod -x /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober

Update the grub.cfg with

sudo update-grub

That should sort it out. But with os-prober disabled it will not auto detect new OSs (how often you add a new one), and I'm not sure about new kernels when they are added.

[wilee-nilee]

B

[Rehdon]

That should sort it out. But with os-prober disabled it will not auto detect new OSs (how often you add a new one), and I'm not sure about new kernels when they are added.

Thanks a lot. I noticed how grub is installed in sdb as well only now, could that be the real problem here? some sort of conflict between different grub installs? if yes, how do you remove grub from a boot sector?

Ty again for your advice, will follow it and see what happens.

Rehdon

[darkod]

Thanks a lot. I noticed how grub is installed in sdb as well only now, could that be the real problem here? some sort of conflict between different grub installs? if yes, how do you remove grub from a boot sector?

Ty again for your advice, will follow it and see what happens.

Rehdon

I'm not sure I follow. If you mean about grub2 on the MBR of sdb, it should be there because your ubuntus are on sdb too. Grub2 boots fastest when it's on the same disk as ubuntu.
But the issue seems to be that the grub2 on sdb is from 9.10, not 10.04. So the general layout which is:
ubuntu
other OSs (including other linux and ubuntu)

becomes:
9.10
other OSs

When you install grub2 from 10.04 to sdb it will be:
10.04
other OSs

[mikewhatever]

Rehdon, you can set the default booting entry by editing the /etc/default/grub. The line which is of interest is this one: 'GRUB_DEFAULT=0'. You'll need to change it to GRUB_DEFAULT="menu entry", where ''menu entry' is the exact menu entry for 10.04 from /boot/grub/grub.cfg. For example, in my case, the menu entry would be "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-22-generic" (see the full text below).

menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-22-generic" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd0,1)


As for the newer kernels not showing, can you post the full output of sudo update-grub.

[Rehdon]

I'm not sure I follow. If you mean about grub2 on the MBR of sdb, it should be there because your ubuntus are on sdb too. Grub2 boots fastest when it's on the same disk as ubuntu.

I assumed that grub(2) would install on the MBR of the first hard drive, which is why I never thought of doing a sudo grub-install /dev/sdb.

@mikewhatever: here it is:


Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Found Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition on /dev/sda1
Found Ubuntu 9.04 (9.04) on /dev/sdb1
Found Ubuntu 9.10 (9.10) on /dev/sdb2
done

Rehdon

[darkod]

Are you happy with the menu now? :)

[Rehdon]

Are you happy with the menu now? :)

I followed your instructions, and that did it! thanks a lot :D

Actually installing grub on sdb was enough to fix the boot menu.

Rehdon