Grub can' find/load Ubuntu kernel

[thaberfelde]

After installation of Ubuntu 10.10, grub loads and has the right menu list. However, Ubuntu doesn't load and I get an error message of :
Gave up waiting for root device. (with a list of common problems)
There is also:
ALERT! /dev/disk/by-uuid/1584598e-b8e5..... does not exist.
How can I fix the link?

[pawhtiobo]

Hi :)

See this:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1355385

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=433710

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1369410

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1127779

You just need a little search in the forum :)


See ya...

[DasEi]

seems like your blkid and/or partitions are messed up, I'm still in some work but can help you on irc ~30 min.
HAve a live cd handy, preferably have it booted on that box when
logging on in #ubuntu , nick DasEi
for now, sudo blkid shows you the uuids of your partitions

[Rubi1200]

Hi,
I suggest you boot the computer with a LiveCD and post the results of the boot info script linked at the bottom of my post (instructions included).

Thanks.

@pawhtiobo: most of those links are old and, anyway, most of the time the situation, or cause of it, is different and requires a solution for the particular user.

[pawhtiobo]

@pawhtiobo: most of those links are old and, anyway, most of the time the situation, or cause of it, is different and requires a solution for the particular user.

I was just saying that he should tried to search before asking in a new post, google is a friend and also the search button in this forum :)...i heard this from lots of people in the beginning when i started to use the forum :).

See ya...

[Rubi1200]

I was just saying that he should tried to search before asking in a new post, google is a friend and also the search button in this forum :)...i heard this from lots of people in the beginning when i started to use the forum :).

See ya...
Can't argue with that ;)

And, there was no disrespect intended about your post.

Regards :-)

[thaberfelde]

Thanks for the links, I've read them all. I think I'm one step away.
Grub thinks the partition is (hd0,msdos1) for both the /sbin/init and vmlinuz.
In Ubuntu the device map (from fdisk) is:
/dev/sdb1 Linux
/dev/sdb2 Extended
/dev/sdb5 Linux swap / Solaris

When I use /dev/sdb1 in the vmlinuz kernel command line, I get the same result ie, ALERT! /dev/sdb1 does not exist.

I can't figure out how to link the two.

[Quackers]

Then give us a chance :-)
Please post the details of the boot script that Rubi1200 asked for in post #4

[thaberfelde]

From the results file:
Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks on the same drive in
partition #1 for (,msdos1)/boot/grub.
=> Syslinux is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdc1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Unknown
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

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

Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 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 * 2,048 476,108,799 476,106,752 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 476,110,846 488,396,799 12,285,954 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 476,110,848 488,396,799 12,285,952 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdc ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdc: 2008 MB, 2008023040 bytes
16 heads, 32 sectors/track, 7660 cylinders, total 3921920 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 * 8,064 3,921,919 3,913,856 b W95 FAT32


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sdb1 4f894c13-a871-4502-ab04-cc6ec269d5be ext4
/dev/sdb2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb5 620ec9d0-35af-4564-992f-85bbac0da11f swap
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdc1 F0AD-1743 vfat PENDRIVE
/dev/sdc: PTTYPE="dos"
error: /dev/sda: No medium found

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

aufs / aufs (rw)
/dev/sdc1 /cdrom vfat (rw,relatime,fmask=0022,dmask=0022,codepage=cp437, iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (ro,noatime)


=========================== sdb1/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='(hd1,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4f894c13-a871-4502-ab04-cc6ec269d5be
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='(hd1,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4f894c13-a871-4502-ab04-cc6ec269d5be
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='(hd1,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4f894c13-a871-4502-ab04-cc6ec269d5be
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=4f894c13-a871-4502-ab04-cc6ec269d5be 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='(hd1,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4f894c13-a871-4502-ab04-cc6ec269d5be
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=4f894c13-a871-4502-ab04-cc6ec269d5be 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='(hd1,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4f894c13-a871-4502-ab04-cc6ec269d5be
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4f894c13-a871-4502-ab04-cc6ec269d5be
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
if [ "x${timeout}" != "x-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 ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_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/sdc1 during installation
UUID=4f894c13-a871-4502-ab04-cc6ec269d5be / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdc5 during installation
UUID=620ec9d0-35af-4564-992f-85bbac0da11f none swap sw 0 0

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


2.2GB: boot/grub/core.img
219.1GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
2.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
.5GB: initrd.img
2.2GB: vmlinuz
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sdb2

00000000 32 82 42 e9 bc 39 69 1a 8f 54 83 9e 75 ae 77 54 |2.B..9i..T..u.wT|
00000010 be bf a0 7b ff 5e 2b db d4 3b 79 e1 41 dc 79 2f |...{.^+..;y.A.y/|
00000020 62 2e 4c 73 61 fd fc ed ae 51 b3 d8 6c dc d9 41 |b.Lsa....Q..l..A|
00000030 27 6a 58 42 c4 94 7e ea 21 7d fa f4 05 96 40 6d |'jXB..~.!}....@m|
00000040 57 cf 6b ae 70 ba 3d 15 35 ea f8 6f cc 54 ca 13 |W.k.p.=.5..o.T..|
00000050 0f fd 08 96 44 ac 3c fa 0f 75 a2 5d 6b e3 a1 53 |....D.<..u.]k..S|
00000060 39 42 02 01 b1 36 82 10 2a cc 83 87 3e 22 0f b4 |9B...6..*...>"..|
00000070 b3 87 cf 1e 3c 00 e9 63 2e 6b 94 dd 13 da 91 c9 |....<..c.k......|
00000080 bb 83 73 17 5d cb 2b 4b 4c c5 76 cc 35 dc 15 cb |..s.].+KL.v.5...|
00000090 b5 49 a1 eb f4 99 6c 20 a5 54 57 69 42 37 95 83 |.I....l .TWiB7..|
000000a0 52 db f0 69 23 e0 3f 2e ac bf 29 ef 9e a9 a6 cc |R..i#.?...).....|
000000b0 6e 68 8e 87 a1 ea 8a 80 1e ab 12 c1 7c 80 cc fc |nh..........|...|
000000c0 90 7a 3e 3a 67 14 7b 0f 3e 54 ff df a2 d1 7b f8 |.z>:g.{.>T....{.|
000000d0 ec 18 7f 4d 37 4e c8 98 15 21 db f4 0d ed 39 02 |...M7N...!....9.|
000000e0 ea 22 b6 cb 34 88 37 8f 64 fb 76 0b b7 52 31 0f |."..4.7.d.v..R1.|
000000f0 20 e1 41 ab 29 4a fc a0 ea 05 31 0f b1 c5 d2 0b | .A.)J....1.....|
00000100 be 45 8a 0e 1b 63 b4 fd 34 76 2d 3b 5c 79 ca 3f |.E...c..4v-;\y.?|
00000110 b3 3a 0e 04 74 9f a8 e7 dd 7b 49 d2 ef 7e 93 3b |.:..t....{I..~.;|
00000120 b0 c0 c0 f5 6a 2f e3 0b 06 f5 39 40 80 b4 e8 80 |....j/....9@....|
00000130 d5 36 d3 2b 5e ea 10 59 35 0b 67 35 2f 62 e9 33 |.6.+^..Y5.g5/b.3|
00000140 2d c7 ab d8 23 ad 42 97 e9 8b 0e c0 14 75 d8 aa |-...#.B......u..|
00000150 15 77 90 86 73 91 91 79 3d b8 a4 a4 d9 be db a4 |.w..s..y=.......|
00000160 84 87 d0 a4 1a 67 e2 7b bd c7 82 8c aa 87 d5 f5 |.....g.{........|
00000170 04 22 05 86 6f dc f8 f7 15 8e 85 28 c8 2e 3e c0 |."..o......(..>.|
00000180 9e 86 0b ed 67 7e 91 1b 6b 7b bf cf 33 2d ef 6c |....g~..k{..3-.l|
00000190 29 e1 bc 02 cb 77 c2 a2 ea 16 3b 0d fe 96 f1 4f |)....w....;....O|
000001a0 3c 31 f1 a5 71 80 42 65 41 87 3f 99 02 e3 94 29 |<1..q.BeA.?....)|
000001b0 55 6d 78 6b 6b 2b c6 92 9e 95 5f d5 5a c0 00 fe |Umxkk+...._.Z...|
000001c0 ff ff 82 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 78 bb 00 00 00 |...........x....|
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

Unknown BootLoader on sdc1

00000000 eb 58 90 53 59 53 4c 49 4e 55 58 00 02 08 32 02 |.X.SYSLINUX...2.|
00000010 02 00 00 00 00 f8 00 00 3f 00 ff 00 80 1f 00 00 |........?.......|
00000020 80 b8 3b 00 e7 0e 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 |..;.............|
00000030 01 00 06 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000040 80 00 29 43 17 ad f0 4e 4f 20 4e 41 4d 45 20 20 |..)C...NO NAME |
00000050 20 20 46 41 54 33 32 20 20 20 fa fc 31 c9 8e d1 | FAT32 ..1...|
00000060 bc 76 7b 52 06 57 8e c1 b1 26 bf 78 7b f3 a5 8e |.v{R.W...&.x{...|
00000070 d9 bb 78 00 0f b4 37 0f a0 56 20 d2 78 1b 31 c0 |..x...7..V .x.1.|
00000080 b1 06 89 3f 89 47 02 f3 64 a5 8a 0e 18 7c 88 4d |...?.G..d....|.M|
00000090 bc 50 50 50 50 cd 13 eb 4b f6 45 b4 7f 75 25 38 |.PPPP...K.E..u%8|
000000a0 4d b8 74 20 66 3d 21 47 50 54 75 10 80 7d b8 ed |M.t f=!GPTu..}..|
000000b0 75 0a 66 ff 75 ec 66 ff 75 e8 eb 0f 51 51 66 ff |u.f.u.f.u...QQf.|
000000c0 75 bc eb 07 51 51 66 ff 36 1c 7c b4 08 cd 13 72 |u...QQf.6.|....r|
000000d0 13 20 e4 75 0f c1 ea 08 42 89 16 1a 7c 83 e1 3f |. .u....B...|..?|
000000e0 89 0e 18 7c fb bb aa 55 b4 41 8a 16 74 7b cd 13 |...|...U.A..t{..|
000000f0 72 10 81 fb 55 aa 75 0a f6 c1 01 74 05 c6 06 32 |r...U.u....t...2|
00000100 7d 00 66 b8 d0 dd 15 00 66 ba 00 00 00 00 bb 00 |}.f.....f.......|
00000110 7e e8 10 00 66 81 3e 24 7e 34 be f5 72 75 76 ea |~...f.>$~4..ruv.|
00000120 38 7e 00 00 66 03 06 64 7b 66 13 16 68 7b b9 10 |8~..f..d{f..h{..|
00000130 00 eb 2b 66 52 66 50 06 53 6a 01 6a 10 89 e6 66 |..+fRfP.Sj.j...f|
00000140 60 b4 42 e8 7f 00 66 61 8d 64 10 72 01 c3 66 60 |`.B...fa.d.r..f`|
00000150 31 c0 e8 70 00 66 61 e2 da c6 06 32 7d 2b 66 60 |1..p.fa....2}+f`|
00000160 66 0f b7 36 18 7c 66 0f b7 3e 1a 7c 66 f7 f6 31 |f..6.|f..>.|f..1|
00000170 c9 87 ca 66 f7 f7 66 3d ff 03 00 00 77 17 c0 e4 |...f..f=....w...|
00000180 06 41 08 e1 88 c5 88 d6 b8 01 02 e8 37 00 66 61 |.A..........7.fa|
00000190 72 01 c3 e2 c9 31 f6 8e d6 bc 6c 7b 8e de 66 8f |r....1....l{..f.|
000001a0 06 78 00 be cc 7d e8 09 00 31 c0 cd 16 cd 19 f4 |.x...}...1......|
000001b0 eb fd 66 60 ac 20 c0 74 09 b4 0e bb 07 00 cd 10 |..f`. .t........|
000001c0 eb f2 66 61 c3 8a 16 74 7b cd 13 c3 42 6f 6f 74 |..fa...t{...Boot|
000001d0 20 65 72 72 6f 72 0d 0a 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | error..........|
000001e0 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==============

sda

[thaberfelde]

I ran this code after reviewing other threads:



Code:
sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sdb
It ran sucessfully but didn't make a difference

[Rubi1200]

Is there an sda? Have you tried changing the device boot priority in BIOS to boot sdb first?

[thaberfelde]

Ultimately when all else failed, I reformatted my hard drive. There was a small partition ahead of the linux root (appeared as sda) which I can only surmise was the cause of the disconnect. After that, worked great.