Windows won't start and instalation failed

[bill23]

I have a double problem here. I had a problem with ubuntu which I more or less took care of but at the loss of much information but that is neither here nor there. The problem has to do with the here and now. I purchased a ubuntu 10.04 LTS CD. I installed it and partitioned it with my win xp. All seemed to go good but the problems seem to arrive when I booted to the other partition side.

I am able to select the windows xp side and hit enter and and boot to xp. However when I wanted to go to the ubuntu side of things this is where the problems happens. I click enter the ubuntu selection and this error shows up.

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt. <windows root> \system32\hal.dll
Please re-install a copy of the above file."

The only way I can of getting to the ubuntu side is by inserting the ubuntu cd into the cd/dvd drive. However when I do I get this message.

"Installation Failed.
The installer encountered an unrecoverable error. A desktop session will now run so you may investigate the problem or try installing again."

I am hoping that someone here will be able to assist me in finding an solution to my dilemma.

bill23

[Marcelo Ruiz]

Hi Bill,

Can you please provide more info about what you did? What computer do you have? How old is it? How did you partition the hard drive? Do you have the windows installation CD?
Cheers,

Marcelo

[Rubi1200]

Are you sure this isn't a Wubi install?

See here for more details and solutions:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WubiGuide#Windows%20Missing%20hal.dll

[bill23]

Hello Marcelo and Rubio1200

I have a gateway profile5 and it is about six years old. I partitioned the hard drive in the usual way, at least I think it was usual, I have not done that too often. I do have the installation cd.

I did not install ubuntu using the Wubi method, I checked and I am sure.

bill23

[Rubi1200]

Can you please boot the computer with the Ubuntu CD in live mode and post the results of the bootscript linked to at the bottom of my post.

The results should help us determine what is going on.

[bill23]

Rubio1200,

I may have some trouble with that suggestion. As stated in my first thread. When I try and go to the ubuntu partition I have to use the ubuntu cd and it is then that I receive the message that the installation failed and that a desktop session will run and it does when I hit enter.

I can boost the computer in live mode but will not have the bootscript to ascertain any possible answers. I can try and go the semi regular route and download the bootscript but there is no guarantee that it will still be available to me if and when I boot from the ubuntu cd.

There is another problem which I had hoped would be rectified if the other problems were resolved. When I restart from ubuntu the computer does not restart with the option of selecting either ubuntu or windows xp. None of the keyboard buttons does anything to correct this dilemma. All I can do is to remove the ubuntu disc and manually shut the computer off and then turn it back on again.

If you think it will be worth the try, I can boost the computer using the ubuntu disc and see what happens.

bill23

[wilee-nilee]

The bootscript can be run from any Ubuntu environment. Get in it sounds like there is some way, and run thescript and post the results in code tags as described in my sig.

The script text output will give us a lot of valuable information about your setup, frankly without this info we are just flailing in the dark.

It sounds to me as well that your not aware of the f-key prompt to choose the boot from a menu outside of the bios. Mine is f12 it can be esc or another key. You use this key prompt to boot from a specific drive ie HD, thumb, cd/dvd reader, ...etc. Sometimes just having the CD reader first in bios just doesn't work.

[bill23]

I got to ubuntu and downloaded bootscript. I made a copy of the 'line' then opened the terminal and pasted it there. I then received the line that there was no such file or directory.

bill23

[wilee-nilee]

I got to ubuntu and downloaded bootscript. I made a copy of the 'line' then opened the terminal and pasted it there. I then received the line that there was no such file or directory.

bill23

It probably downloaded to the download folder drag it to the desktop and run this command.

sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh

Where ever it is get it on the desktop, it could be in home, your browser preferences will tell where things go.

[bill23]

Well it worked and this is what I got.

2010

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

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

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 10.04.1 LTS
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders, total 312581808 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 * 63 135,138,787 135,138,725 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 135,139,326 312,580,095 177,440,770 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 135,139,328 306,579,455 171,440,128 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 306,581,504 312,580,095 5,998,592 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 76602671602637EF ntfs
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d ext4
/dev/sda6 0e57c061-51c5-4580-a1fd-1800d1411d39 swap
/dev/sda: 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.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" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect
C:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"

=========================== 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 $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 ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d
set locale_dir=($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 2.6.32-24-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-24-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-24-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d 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='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-21-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d 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='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows NT/2000/XP (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 76602671602637ef
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 nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=9a560095-26d8-4a2c-85cf-11e19bf3b05d / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=0e57c061-51c5-4580-a1fd-1800d1411d39 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

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


101.5GB: boot/grub/core.img
144.6GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
101.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
101.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
101.5GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic
101.5GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic
101.6GB: initrd.img
101.5GB: initrd.img.old
101.5GB: vmlinuz
101.5GB: vmlinuz.old


Hope this information will be of some help. It is to confusing to me but I am hopeful that it might lead to some answer.

[wilee-nilee]

Your script with a quick read only shows Windows in the master boot record. The windows bootloader doesn't read the Linux part how and where are you choosing Ubuntu?

To install the grub botloader here is a link and the commands from it.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Reinstalling%20from%20LiveCD

So from a live cd run these commands reboot to Ubuntu and run

sudo update-grub

From the live cd.

sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt
then

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

The reboot to Ubuntu.

[bill23]

Well what do you know, that seems to work. Hooray!!!!

Thank all of you for coming to my aide. I really appreciate it.

bill23 ):P