Can't find Ubuntu on Dual Boot

[bro brian]

Today, I installed Mandriva 2010 Spring on one of my 2 partitions (both had Ubuntu previously installed on them - Maverick & Lucid). I installed Mandriva on the Lucid partition, I believe.
After installing Mandriva on the one existing partition, I don't get any option to boot to the Ubuntu Maverick on the other partition. I get no "dual boot" option. It just goes straight to the Mandriva os.
I know the Ubuntu Maverick is there, but I can't get to it! Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. Brian

[Quackers]

Please go to the site below and download the boot script to your DESKTOP and then open up a terminal and run


sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh

This will produce a results.txt file on your desktop. Please copy the contents of that file and paste them in your next post between CODE tags. For CODE tags click on New Reply (not quick reply)and then click on the # symbol in the toolbar.
This will give a full overview of your current system.
Thanks.

http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/

[sikander3786]

You needed to choose not to install boot loader during the installation of Mandriva. But if you did install it, Mandriva is good at picking other OS. Not sure why it didn't in your case.

Anyhow, as Quackers suggested, boot script output will tell us.

[bro brian]

OK - Thanks! I'm going to study the link, and do as instructed. Hopefully I will be able to get it posted in a short while here. This is all pretty foreign to me, but I should be able to do it. I wish I would've not installed that bootloader for Mandriva! Oh well....

** I Couldn't get the script (results.txt file) to run on the mandriva partition. I used the Ubuntu live cd to do it.

[bro brian]

Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Grub 0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive
in partition #6 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.

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:

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Mandriva Linux release 2010.1
(Official) for i586 Kernel 2.6.33.7-server-2mnb on a
Dual-processor i686 /
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda7: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 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/sda1 * 63 507,645,109 507,645,047 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 507,645,950 976,768,064 469,122,115 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 953,184,708 976,768,064 23,583,357 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 507,645,952 935,041,023 427,395,072 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 935,043,072 953,184,255 18,141,184 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85 ext4
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 62ad1198-0845-4b15-bef2-80d8d5618eda swap
/dev/sda6 8aa1fcc1-79aa-4e2b-932d-c4435d607b58 ext4
/dev/sda7 578b21f6-b80f-467c-900b-50371fa78619 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/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 ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
set locale_dir=($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 2.6.32-25-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-25-generic root=UUID=cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-25-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-25-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 cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-25-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-25-generic root=UUID=cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-25-generic
}
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 cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85 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 cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-24-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-23-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-23-generic root=UUID=cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-23-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-23-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 cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-23-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-23-generic root=UUID=cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-23-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=UUID=cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-22-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 cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=UUID=cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.31-21-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic root=UUID=cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-21-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.31-21-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 cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.31-21-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic root=UUID=cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-21-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 cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85
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 defaults 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=cb233134-df94-4375-95da-37bf522e3c85 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=62ad1198-0845-4b15-bef2-80d8d5618eda none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

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


.1GB: boot/grub/core.img
6.9GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
7.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-21-generic
10.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
20.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-23-generic
10.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
34.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-25-generic
6.5GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic
8.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic
30.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-23-generic
32.5GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic
33.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-25-generic
34.8GB: initrd.img
10.3GB: initrd.img.old
33.0GB: vmlinuz
32.5GB: vmlinuz.old

=========================== sda6/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================

timeout 10
color black/cyan yellow/cyan
gfxmenu (hd0,5)/boot/gfxmenu
default 0

title linux
kernel (hd0,5)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux root=UUID=8aa1fcc1-79aa-4e2b-932d-c4435d607b58 resume=UUID=62ad1198-0845-4b15-bef2-80d8d5618eda splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,5)/boot/initrd.img

title linux-nonfb
kernel (hd0,5)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux-nonfb root=UUID=8aa1fcc1-79aa-4e2b-932d-c4435d607b58 resume=UUID=62ad1198-0845-4b15-bef2-80d8d5618eda
initrd (hd0,5)/boot/initrd.img

title failsafe
kernel (hd0,5)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=failsafe root=UUID=8aa1fcc1-79aa-4e2b-932d-c4435d607b58 failsafe
initrd (hd0,5)/boot/initrd.img

title server 2.6.33.5-2
kernel (hd0,5)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.33.5-server-2mnb BOOT_IMAGE=server_2.6.33.5-2 root=UUID=8aa1fcc1-79aa-4e2b-932d-c4435d607b58 resume=UUID=62ad1198-0845-4b15-bef2-80d8d5618eda splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,5)/boot/initrd-2.6.33.5-server-2mnb.img

title server 2.6.33.7-2
kernel (hd0,5)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.33.7-server-2mnb BOOT_IMAGE=server_2.6.33.7-2 root=UUID=8aa1fcc1-79aa-4e2b-932d-c4435d607b58 resume=UUID=62ad1198-0845-4b15-bef2-80d8d5618eda splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,5)/boot/initrd-2.6.33.7-server-2mnb.img

=============================== sda6/etc/fstab: ===============================

# Entry for /dev/sda6 :
UUID=8aa1fcc1-79aa-4e2b-932d-c4435d607b58 / ext4 acl,noatime 1 1
/dev/cdrom /media/cdrom auto umask=0,users,iocharset=utf8,noauto,ro,exec 0 0
none /proc proc defaults 0 0
# Entry for /dev/sda5 :
UUID=62ad1198-0845-4b15-bef2-80d8d5618eda swap swap defaults 0 0
# Entry for /dev/sda7 :
UUID=578b21f6-b80f-467c-900b-50371fa78619 swap swap defaults 0 0

=================== sda6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


290.1GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
290.1GB: boot/grub/stage2
260.0GB: boot/initrd-2.6.33.5-server-2mnb.img
260.1GB: boot/initrd-2.6.33.7-server-2mnb.img
260.1GB: boot/initrd.img
260.1GB: boot/initrd-server.img
290.1GB: boot/vmlinuz
290.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.33.5-server-2mnb
290.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.33.7-server-2mnb
290.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-server

[Quackers]

I suggest that you boot into the Ubuntu Live cd and choose "try ubuntu" then when the desktop is loaded run the following commands in a terminal.


sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda

Then reboot. Ubuntu should then boot directly. Once in Ubuntu open a terminal and run

sudo update-grub and watch the terminal screen as grub.cfg is configured to see if Mandriva is detected.

If Ubuntu does not boot up please come back here as the full chroot method may be required.

[bro brian]

Well, Quackers, the Ubuntu showed up, but I guess I formatted the wrong one. LOL...
I have the Lucid, and the Meerkat was formatted to the Mandriva os. I watched the grub.cfg and it detected the Mandriva as well, but it won't load now. The last 4 or 5 lines at the end of the boot order are the ones for Mandriva. I see the mandriva logos (2 yellow stars and the loading protocol) when I attempt to load it, but it locks up - sometimes with error symbol.
I don't know at this point. I will post 2 photos of the boot screen. I couldn't get all the lines in the square, so I took 2 pics.
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62/brobri_photos/DSCF0408resized.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62/brobri_photos/DSCF0409resized.jpg

[Quackers]

I see. So Lucid boots up ok? (even though you thought it should be Meerkat)
What else boots up via the menu?

[sikander3786]

Are you able to boot Lucid successfully at this point?

[bro brian]

All those lines that say "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.31-21, 2.6.32.-22 thru 24". Those are all earlier distros (upgrades of Ubuntu) with the top ones (ending in 23 & 24) being the last upgrade (Lucid).
I did a clean install of Meerkat, but that partition is now the Mandriva. I do have almost everything from Meerkat backed up on a usb flash, so I guess I could start all over if need be. I did like the idea of having a dual boot Mandriva/Ubuntu KDE/gnome laptop, however. At this point, I'm just about willing to do anything that's within the realms of reason.

**Yes, I can boot Lucid. It's the only one that I can boot up now (which is better than Mandriva at this point). I'd rather be have this problem with Lucid up than Mandriva at this point.

[sikander3786]

Meerkat can't be restored from the position you are in now.

If you decide to re-install everything, install Mandriva first. Then Ubuntu/Kubuntu and save yourself from all the problems.

[bro brian]

Meerkat can't be restored from the position you are in now.

If you decide to re-install everything, install Mandriva first. Then Ubuntu/Kubuntu and save yourself from all the problems.

I'm beginning to think that I may be better off doing just that. Or maybe an Ubuntu/gnome, and Kubuntu/KDE. It may end up being more compatible in the long run?

[oldfred]

Without seeing your boot script I think this may be a issue. Grub's osprober often add this to its boot stanza.

initrd (hd0,5)/boot/initrd.img

change to
initrd /boot/initrd.img

But the hd0,5 is wrong(for grub2) and unnessary. You should be able to copy the boot stanza from your grub.cdf to 40_custom and edit it. If it works then you can delete the osprober version by turning off the prober.

Copy the mandriva entries from this:
gedit /boot/grub/grub.cfg
Copy them to and edit :
gksudo gedit /etc/grub.d/40_custom
Then do:
sudo update-grub

[bro brian]

My apologies, Oldfred, but I don't understand what you are saying here. It sounds like it's worth a try, but my knowledge is far too limited to grasp an understanding of what you have laid out. I am persistent, but quite illiterate yet. Argh!

Can I do this all from the Ubuntu konsole, or am I navigating to another place?

[oldfred]

Yes, just open up a terminal session and run
gedit /boot/grub/grub.cfg
That should show the grub.cfg file (that you do not edit) and scroll to the bottom. It looks like grub's os prober has added the new boot stanzas at the end.
You copy those stanzas.
Then run this:
gksudo gedit /etc/grub.d/40_custom
Paste into this file below the few lines in it. Edit as discussed to remove the errors. save & run the update to add then to your grub.cfg menu.
sudo update-grub

Note when you reboot you will still have the old not correct entries, then your edit entries. You will have to scroll down as the grub menu box probably will not show all the entries.

If the edited entries work then we can turn off the osprober to eliminate the wrong entries.

If it does not work, rerun the boot script so we can see what is where.

[bro brian]

Holy Toledo, Oldfred - IT WORKED!!!!
I just can't believe I pulled that off... :roll:... I have 2 additional lines at the bottom of the bootload sequence. The old ones are still there, but the 2 new lines both load Mandriva. The Ubuntu loads as well.
I don't think that I'll remember how to do this again, so I'd better print this thread out, and stay subscribed to it. Oldfred, many thanks for your expanded instruction as well as to Quackers & the other's input. This is one of those stumbling blocks that makes me think about giving up, but somehow keep going. I will have to reflect on this lesson for a few days.
Here is a picture showing the end result - showing the 2 lines on the bottom of the boot order. I will also try to mark this thread as solved.

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62/brobri_photos/Bootloadafterconfigeditresized.jpg

[oldfred]

You now can turn off the osprober. If you ever update system you can turn it back on temporarily if you want. This will remove the "wrong" entries.

gksudo gedit /etc/default/grub
GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=true
or
sudo chmod a-x /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober

then
sudo update-grub

I find the best way to document boot configuration & partitions is the bootinfo script. I run it before & after I make system or partition changes and I have now added it to my backup script to rerun it and include it in my backup of /home. Link to script in quackers post #2.

[bro brian]

And what is the command for turning the osprober back on, may I ask?

[oldfred]

Why would you ever want to turn it back on, you know how to manually add entries.:)

Oh.
Just reverse the turn off entry (you only do one or the other). Change to false or add # to make it a comment. Or with the chmod command +x so it is executable. chmod is a command to change a file from execute to not execute among others. See man chmod for details.

GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=False
or
sudo chmod a+x /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober

[bro brian]

Oldfred, you so funny. I have no idea why I would want to turn it back on, but thanks for explaining that to me. You've got to admit that I'm getting one heck of a schooling! lol...

[bro brian]

This is my System76 Pangolin Performance (P-5) laptop with the finished result.
Left side: Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) os with Gnome desktop
Right side: Mandriva 2010.1 (Spring) os with KDE desktop

I just can't thank you all enough for your input. I am really happy with the end result. I really wanted a dual-boot where I had the option of using applications native to either the KDE or Gnome. I probably should've went with the Kubuntu, and probably wouldn't have run into the problems I encountered had I done so, but I am very happy with the Mandriva as well. Mandriva was the first Linux operating system I learned, so I am somewhat comfortable with it - except for the booting issue. Having said that, I love the Ubuntu as well for it's "user-friendly" properties. With your help, and a little persistence, I ended up with a pretty sweet laptop, ya think?

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62/brobri_photos/DualBootscreensDec2010.png