Install boot off different drive

[cromat]

Hey all,

I just did a fresh install of Ubuntu 10.10 on a hard drive, I have a ssd with Windows 7 and the Ubuntu drive and then data drives. When I go to boot my pc, my windows 7 drive happens to be first in the list and it will boot that automatically. When I use the Bios to select which disc to alternatively boot off of and select the ubuntu disk it won't boot. If I select a blank drive above the ubuntu drive in the array it will find ubuntu and boot it, any idea why?

I'm running a EVGA 780i Mobo.

[ronparent]

Apparently because that disk happened to be the default where grub installed the boot loader to. You can actually easily reinstall grub so that the boot loader is where you want it if where its at is not satisfactory.

[cromat]

There is no files on that drive what so ever, how is that possible that it is installed to that drive?

[cromat]

Nevermind, I think I see what your saying, grub saw that drive as the priority drive over the drive I installed it to so it used that as the place for the boot loader. I'll have to verify that tonight.

[oldfred]

If you have multiple drives and multiple systems knowing this script is worthwhile:

Boot Info Script courtesy of forum member meierfra
Page with instructions and download:
http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/
Paste results.txt, then highlight entire file and click on # in edit panel(code tags) to make it easier to read.
Or You can generate the tags first by pressing the # icon in the post's menu and then paste the contents between the generated [ code][ /code] tags.

I rerun it before & after system changes to make sure I did what I thought I did. And save a copy as it documents what is where in case I ever have to recover things.

[ronparent]

cromat - That's correct. The drive need have nothing on it. The boot loader would just write to the MBR section of the disk anyway.

[cromat]

Yea, I'll confirm, and if I remember reading correctly moving the MBR to the drive can be done with a few commands, looked fairly simple.

Thanks!

[cromat]

I see that my Boot is on my 160gb drive and not the 320 like I originally intended, suggestions on how to move it?



Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda
=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdg and looks on the same drive in
partition #1 for (,msdos1)/boot/grub.
=> No boot loader is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdh
=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdi and looks on the same drive in
partition #1 for /boot/grub.
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdj

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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: /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sdg1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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:

sdh1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 10.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sdh2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdh5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdi1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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:

sdj1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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:

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 64.0 GB, 64023257088 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7783 cylinders, total 125045424 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 * 2,048 206,847 204,800 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 206,848 125,042,687 124,835,840 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdg ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdg: 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/sdg1 * 2,048 312,578,047 312,576,000 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdh ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdh: 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/sdh1 2,048 601,374,719 601,372,672 83 Linux
/dev/sdh2 601,376,766 625,141,759 23,764,994 5 Extended
/dev/sdh5 601,376,768 625,141,759 23,764,992 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdi ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdi: 750.2 GB, 750156374016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 91201 cylinders, total 1465149168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdi1 2,048 1,465,145,343 1,465,143,296 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdj ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdj: 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/sdj1 2,048 976,769,023 976,766,976 7 HPFS/NTFS


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 561802CE1802ACD5 ntfs System Reserved
/dev/sda2 FEB40B3DB40AF843 ntfs
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdg1 5EB00231B0020FE7 ntfs
/dev/sdg: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdh1 2284ac86-c6f3-48be-a2e6-f33ca78549d6 ext4
/dev/sdh2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdh5 f4280049-ce94-49b1-99b7-329d4a417232 swap
/dev/sdh: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdi1 7EDC14DEDC14930F ntfs
/dev/sdi: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdj1 2228B5AE28B58179 ntfs
/dev/sdj: PTTYPE="dos"
error: /dev/sdb: No medium found
error: /dev/sdc: No medium found
error: /dev/sdd: No medium found
error: /dev/sde: No medium found
error: /dev/sdf: No medium found

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sdh1 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)
/dev/sdg1 /media/5EB00231B0020FE7 fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096,default_ permissions)
/dev/sdj1 /media/2228B5AE28B58179 fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096,default_ permissions)
/dev/sdi1 /media/7EDC14DEDC14930F fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096,default_ permissions)


=========================== sdh1/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${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
}

function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd2,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2284ac86-c6f3-48be-a2e6-f33ca78549d6
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd2,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2284ac86-c6f3-48be-a2e6-f33ca78549d6
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 2.6.35-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd2,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2284ac86-c6f3-48be-a2e6-f33ca78549d6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=2284ac86-c6f3-48be-a2e6-f33ca78549d6 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd2,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2284ac86-c6f3-48be-a2e6-f33ca78549d6
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=2284ac86-c6f3-48be-a2e6-f33ca78549d6 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd2,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2284ac86-c6f3-48be-a2e6-f33ca78549d6
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd2,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2284ac86-c6f3-48be-a2e6-f33ca78549d6
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 part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 561802ce1802acd5
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 ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

=============================== sdh1/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/sdh1 during installation
UUID=2284ac86-c6f3-48be-a2e6-f33ca78549d6 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdh5 during installation
UUID=f4280049-ce94-49b1-99b7-329d4a417232 none swap sw 0 0

=================== sdh1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


171.9GB: boot/grub/core.img
155.0GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
33.9GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
171.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
33.9GB: initrd.img
171.9GB: vmlinuz
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sdh2

00000000 f0 17 0e c4 74 7f 00 00 60 e6 0d c4 74 7f 00 00 |....t...`...t...|
00000010 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000020 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 81 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |0...............|
00000030 00 e7 0d c4 74 7f 00 00 e0 f5 0d c4 74 7f 00 00 |....t.......t...|
00000040 00 5d 00 00 b0 00 00 00 61 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |.]......a.......|
00000050 40 f9 0d c4 74 7f 00 00 00 e7 0d c4 74 7f 00 00 |@...t.......t...|
00000060 4b 5d 00 00 00 00 00 00 41 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |K]......A.......|
00000070 b0 ea 0d c4 74 7f 00 00 10 eb 0d c4 74 7f 00 00 |....t.......t...|
00000080 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 24 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | .......$.......|
00000090 10 eb 0d c4 74 7f 00 00 00 00 00 c4 74 7f 00 00 |....t.......t...|
000000a0 b0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 54 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |........T.......|
000000b0 d0 0a 0e c4 74 7f 00 00 69 6f 6e 2d 76 6e 64 2e |....t...ion-vnd.|
000000c0 6d 73 2d 70 6f 77 65 72 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 70 72 |ms-powerpoint.pr|
000000d0 65 73 65 6e 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 6d 61 63 72 6f |esentation.macro|
000000e0 45 6e 61 62 6c 65 64 2e 31 32 00 00 00 00 00 00 |Enabled.12......|
000000f0 88 20 98 26 00 00 00 00 c1 07 00 00 00 00 00 00 |. .&............|
00000100 30 44 0e c4 74 7f 00 00 f0 17 0e c4 74 7f 00 00 |0D..t.......t...|
00000110 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000120 a0 f5 0d c4 74 7f 00 00 69 6f 6e 2d 76 6e 64 2e |....t...ion-vnd.|
00000130 6d 73 2d 77 6f 72 64 2e 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 |ms-word.document|
00000140 2e 6d 61 63 72 6f 45 6e 61 62 6c 65 64 2e 31 32 |.macroEnabled.12|
00000150 00 b2 06 50 00 00 00 00 81 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |...P............|
00000160 50 f5 0d c4 74 7f 00 00 50 24 0e c4 74 7f 00 00 |P...t...P$..t...|
00000170 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 34 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | .......4.......|
00000180 b0 fe 0d c4 74 7f 00 00 6d 65 2d 61 70 70 6c 69 |....t...me-appli|
00000190 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 2d 78 2d 70 68 70 00 00 00 00 |cation-x-php....|
000001a0 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 34 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |P.......4.......|
000001b0 f0 19 0e c4 74 7f 00 00 6d 65 2d 61 70 70 00 fe |....t...me-app..|
000001c0 ff ff 82 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 a0 6a 01 00 00 |............j...|
000001d0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
*
000001f0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 55 aa |..............U.|
00000200


=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

sdb sdc sdd sde sdf

[oldfred]

reinstall from working (not liveCD) system - first find Ubuntu drive:
sudo fdisk -l
if it's "/dev/sdh" then just run:
sudo grub-install /dev/sdh
If that returns any errors run:
sudo grub-install --recheck /dev/sdh
Then:
sudo update-grub
to get grub to remember where to reinstall on updates, if drive always is sdh as this saves by drive not UUID:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure grub-pc
spacebar to choose/unchoose drive, enter to accept, do not choose partitions

[cromat]

Thanks a lot, I'm going to give it a try tonight but I assume I won't have an issue moving it.

[efflandt]

This all brings up another question. Where in the installation of Maverick can you chose where to install grub?

In 10.10 beta when I put "/" on a USB hard drive, there was something at the bottom of one of the dialogs to specify where to put grub, and that automatically defaulted to the USB drive. I thought that was great that it obviously offered you a choice instead of hiding it behind an Advanced button.

But when I just installed 10.10 release on my internal drive, that option has disappeared from the release version. So either the choice of where to put grub is missing, or I was not watching closely enough and missed it. I wanted to put grub on sda4 to leave the mbr untouched, but it put grub in the mbr.

cromat's issue shows that hiding where it is going to put grub, and/or not offering a choice, can be a real problem if the installer makes an incorrect assumption, especially for multiple drives. Not very user friendly.

[oldfred]

I see the combo box to install grub, but I always use manual install, as I create partitions in advance or am reinstalling to an existing partition.

It is my understanding that the auto install choices also auto install grub2 to the default drive. I think they wanted to hide it to avoid confusion, but they should at least let users know what they are doing.