"No such device" when trying to launch Win7

[Lexoka]

Solved, see post #8.

Hi,

I hope I'm in the right forum category. I've just installed Ubuntu on a new hard drive, and it works fine, but when I try to launch Windows 7 from GRUB, I get an error:



No such device: ac2e30ab2e307086
No such partition.


I'm not sure what's happening, but that device ID seems kind of short. For what it's worth, the HDD is a Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB. I've seached for a solution to this and haven't found one, but I did notice a diagnosis script for loading issues, so here's the 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 #1 for /boot/grub.
=> No boot loader is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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:

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
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:
Boot files/dirs:

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 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 * 2,048 104,859,647 104,857,600 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 104,859,648 1,953,521,663 1,848,662,016 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 2000.4 GB, 2000398934016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 243201 cylinders, total 3907029168 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 1 3,907,029,167 3,907,029,167 ee GPT


GUID Partition Table detected.

Partition Start End Size System
/dev/sdb1 2,048 99,999,743 99,997,696 Linux or Data
/dev/sdb2 99,999,744 116,000,767 16,001,024 Linux Swap
/dev/sdb3 116,000,768 390,629,375 274,628,608 Linux or Data

Drive: sdc ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdc: 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/sdc1 63 976,751,999 976,751,937 7 HPFS/NTFS


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 AC2E30AB2E307086 ntfs System
/dev/sda2 F6D6E10DD6E0CEC5 ntfs Tera
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 bbfd9b70-7f82-45c2-a007-506b2b28557b ext4
/dev/sdb2 c86cd806-84f6-4464-b6b2-f8d1c0111932 swap
/dev/sdb3 3e77abef-4074-42c8-ba5d-5eb05c182c17 ext4
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="gpt"
/dev/sdc1 5490816990815282 ntfs Media
/dev/sdc: PTTYPE="dos"

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sdb1 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sdb3 /home ext4 (rw)


=========================== sdb1/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 ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set bbfd9b70-7f82-45c2-a007-506b2b28557b
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set bbfd9b70-7f82-45c2-a007-506b2b28557b
set locale_dir=($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 2.6.32-21-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set bbfd9b70-7f82-45c2-a007-506b2b28557b
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=bbfd9b70-7f82-45c2-a007-506b2b28557b ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set bbfd9b70-7f82-45c2-a007-506b2b28557b
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-21-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=bbfd9b70-7f82-45c2-a007-506b2b28557b ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
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='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set bbfd9b70-7f82-45c2-a007-506b2b28557b
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set bbfd9b70-7f82-45c2-a007-506b2b28557b
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set ac2e30ab2e307086
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 ###

=============================== sdb1/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/sdb1 during installation
UUID=bbfd9b70-7f82-45c2-a007-506b2b28557b / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /home was on /dev/sdb3 during installation
UUID=3e77abef-4074-42c8-ba5d-5eb05c182c17 /home ext4 defaults 0 2
# swap was on /dev/sdb2 during installation
UUID=c86cd806-84f6-4464-b6b2-f8d1c0111932 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

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


38.8GB: boot/grub/core.img
38.8GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
38.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
38.8GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic
38.8GB: initrd.img
38.8GB: vmlinuz


Any help would be much appreciated, thanks!

[HarmCla]

I just want to say that you're not alone out there.
I also ran into this problem today.
My setup looks similar to yours.

Grub2 was located on sdb,
grub could not reach windows 7 on sda, nor winxp on sda.
but booting my laptop from sda just started win7 without any problem.

It worked perfectly before untill I changed MBR to GUID on sdb getting this problem.
So I tought Grub2 doesn't like GUID and installed Grub2 to sda (which has MBR), still no luck.

However, booting win7 through grub on sdb gave me:
"Non-system disk, press any key to reboot"
booting win7 through grub on sda gave me:
"No such device: blablabla
No such partition."

I may not be much help, but I can confirm that nothing seems to be wrong with windows 7, it's a grub thing.

I hope someone knows what is happening here.

[Lexoka]

By the way, the results from the script say "Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc"

But Windows is actually installed on sda. So that's weird...

[HarmCla]

Nothing is wrong with that Device ID, you can see the same device ID in your boot info script.
Look:


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 AC2E30AB2E307086 ntfs System
/dev/sda2 F6D6E10DD6E0CEC5 ntfs Tera
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 bbfd9b70-7f82-45c2-a007-506b2b28557b ext4
/dev/sdb2 c86cd806-84f6-4464-b6b2-f8d1c0111932 swap
/dev/sdb3 3e77abef-4074-42c8-ba5d-5eb05c182c17 ext4
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="gpt"
/dev/sdc1 5490816990815282 ntfs Media
/dev/sdc: PTTYPE="dos"

And I found out that Grub2, or grub-pc, supports GPT (GUID Partition Table).
So I'm out off guesses right now. :(

[HarmCla]

By the way, the results from the script say "Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc"

But Windows is actually installed on sda. So that's weird...
Note that you also have windows XP on your sdc-drive.

[drs305]

Lexoka,

From the Grub2 menu, try this:
Highlight the Windows menu item. Press "e" to enter the Grub2 edit mode.
Cursor down to the beginning of the "search" line.
Press and hold the DEL key until the entire line is removed.
Press CTRL-x to boot and see if it boots Windows.

Let us know if it works. If it does, we can edit the Grub files to remove the "search" line or come up with a more permanent fix.

[Lexoka]

Note that you also have windows XP on your sdc-drive.

Actually, I don't. I did format this drive using Windows XP (I did that prior to installing Windows 7) but there's no operating system on it, it's just a storage drive. That's why I don't understand the whole "Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc" thing.


Lexoka,

From the Grub2 menu, try this:
Highlight the Windows menu item. Press "e" to enter the Grub2 edit mode.
Cursor down to the beginning of the "search" line.
Press and hold the DEL key until the entire line is removed.
Press CTRL-x to boot and see if it boots Windows.

Let us know if it works. If it does, we can edit the Grub files to remove the "search" line or come up with a more permanent fix.

I removed the "search..." line and pressed CTRL-x. The screen went black for a split second and then back to "normal". Other than that, nothing seemed to happen, no error message or anything.

[oldfred]

I had a similar issue & filed a bug, mixed gpt & msdos is the issue & they have a fix. The solution was to add a command to 40_custom. Then in my older notes I found a link to meierfra's where the same issue was resolved with a line in grub.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+bug/604743

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=8822200&postcount=14
For GPT sdc disk:
added the GRUB_PRELOAD_MODULES="part_msdos" to /etc/default/grub and ran grub-install /dev/sdc and it worked!
now see all the partitions on my IDE drives and boot from them too!!!!!

I prefer to have the boot loader on the same drive as the operating system and change BIOS to boot Ubuntu. That way if a drive fails I can still boot another.

[Lexoka]

I had a similar issue & filed a bug, mixed gpt & msdos is the issue & they have a fix. The solution was to add a command to 40_custom. Then in my older notes I found a link to meierfra's where the same issue was resolved with a line in grub.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+bug/604743

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=8822200&postcount=14
For GPT sdc disk:
added the GRUB_PRELOAD_MODULES="part_msdos" to /etc/default/grub and ran grub-install /dev/sdc and it worked!
now see all the partitions on my IDE drives and boot from them too!!!!!

I prefer to have the boot loader on the same drive as the operating system and change BIOS to boot Ubuntu. That way if a drive fails I can still boot another.

Thanks, that worked! I did exactly what meierfra said, and now it works just fine.

And I've just checked, I can still boot Ubuntu as well. Thanks a lot to everyone.

[Shuroy]

I had a similar issue & filed a bug, mixed gpt & msdos is the issue & they have a fix. The solution was to add a command to 40_custom. Then in my older notes I found a link to meierfra's where the same issue was resolved with a line in grub.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+bug/604743

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=8822200&postcount=14
For GPT sdc disk:
added the GRUB_PRELOAD_MODULES="part_msdos" to /etc/default/grub and ran grub-install /dev/sdc and it worked!
now see all the partitions on my IDE drives and boot from them too!!!!!

I prefer to have the boot loader on the same drive as the operating system and change BIOS to boot Ubuntu. That way if a drive fails I can still boot another.

I got Win7 on sda1 and Ubuntu on sdc4 and this fix helped me, thx a lot!