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Dumpy Dumpster
October 9th, 2010, 05:04 AM
I wish to install Xubuntu 10.04 onto an old Dell L400. This laptop does not have a CD drive fitted, so I installed Xubuntu onto a drive in another desktop by connecting it up as a sole drive. Installation went fine and all works. However transferring the drive to the laptop I get 'Error: unknown file system. grub rescue>'
No commands (ie help) seem to work.
I attach a copy of the Boot Info Script - made by putting the drive back into the original desktop.

file:///home/michael/Downloads/RESULTS.txt

Any advice and help appreciated. Thanks.

Dumpy Dumpster
October 9th, 2010, 05:07 AM
Sorry - made a hash of attaching the Boot Info Script file - here it is:


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.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 8002 MB, 8002584576 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 972 cylinders, total 15630048 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 14,856,191 14,854,144 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 14,858,238 15,628,287 770,050 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 14,858,240 15,628,287 770,048 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 cb91737d-25cc-44bf-aa66-1121401ba253 ext4
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 d26f6858-8375-4de8-9b72-aea6c0d3d23d swap
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda1 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)


=========================== 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 ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set cb91737d-25cc-44bf-aa66-1121401ba253
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set cb91737d-25cc-44bf-aa66-1121401ba253
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=
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='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set cb91737d-25cc-44bf-aa66-1121401ba253
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=cb91737d-25cc-44bf-aa66-1121401ba253 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='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set cb91737d-25cc-44bf-aa66-1121401ba253
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-24-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=cb91737d-25cc-44bf-aa66-1121401ba253 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-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 cb91737d-25cc-44bf-aa66-1121401ba253
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set cb91737d-25cc-44bf-aa66-1121401ba253
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
if [ ${timeout} != -1 ]; then
if keystatus; then
if keystatus --shift; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=0
fi
else
if sleep --interruptible 3 ; then
set timeout=0
fi
fi
fi
### 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 nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
/dev/sda1 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=d26f6858-8375-4de8-9b72-aea6c0d3d23d none swap sw 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

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


2.4GB: boot/grub/core.img
2.7GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
2.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
2.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic
2.8GB: initrd.img
2.7GB: vmlinuz

andrewthomas
October 9th, 2010, 05:08 AM
It doesn't have only 256M of RAM does it?

Can you try make a LiveUSB?

Dumpy Dumpster
October 9th, 2010, 05:24 AM
Yes - 256 RAM, that is the maximum.
The machine also cannot boot from a USB port.

andrewthomas
October 9th, 2010, 05:28 AM
When you go into BIOS, does the machine recognize the geometry of the new drive?

Dumpy Dumpster
October 9th, 2010, 05:33 AM
Thanks andrewthomas - yes it does. It says Internal Hard Drive: IDE Removable.

andrewthomas
October 9th, 2010, 05:39 AM
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Command%20Line%20and%20Rescue%20Mode

Check this out

Dumpy Dumpster
October 9th, 2010, 06:00 AM
Thanks again andrewthomas - that will take some time! Will get back to you with results. 'ls' does show (hd0) (hd0,1) (fd)

efflandt
October 9th, 2010, 07:11 AM
By default 10.04 puts partitions on MB boundaries instead of cylinder boundaries, and some older computer do not like that (like my older desktop PC from 2004).

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LucidLynx/ReleaseNotes#Partition%20alignment%20changes%20may %20break%20some%20systems

So I would suggest trying to reinstall with partitions aligned on cylinder boundaries. With the drive on that other PC, boot the install CD and when you first boot watch for initial graphics at bottom of screen (keyboard) and press any key. Edit the line for the linux kernel to include partman/alignment=cylinder

Boot to a live system and use gparted to remove the partitions from that drive. Then create your main partition (make sure that align to cylinder is checked) and a swap partition. Since you only have 2 partitions, instead of using an extended partition and logical partition for swap, you could simply make swap a primary partition instead. Close gparted and install, using Advanced partitioning to select the partition you just made as / (root). It will automatically recognize the swap partition.

Put that drive back in the other computer and see if it boots.

Dumpy Dumpster
October 9th, 2010, 12:07 PM
Thank you efflandt, I was having a hard time with Grub Rescue instructions!
Sorry, but I cannot for the life of me see the 'initial graphics' at the bottom of the screen! I booted with the install CD several times and chose 'Install' but chickened out at the 'Erase and use whole disc' stage.
I am using a CF drive if that makes any difference.
Could you spell it out for me! Thanks.