LiveCD will not boot

[WickedShadow]

When i pop in the live cd to boot from it gets stuck on the loading screen the one that looks like this:

Ubuntu
. . . . .

The dots move until like 2 mins in and then they get stuck and nothing happens i let it sit for like 30 mins.

The reason im using the cd is i already have installed ubuntu but then i installed windows xp on another partition and so im trying to get the grub back using the livecd.

Please help.
-Thanks

[Quackers]

At the purple Ubuntu screen press any key and a new screen will appear. On the new screen press the4 F6 key and some boot options will appear on the right. As your problem is probably graphics card related you could try the nomodeset option if you have a nvidia graphics card or a i915 option if you have Intel integrated graphics.

[WickedShadow]

I do that then it goes to the for terminal type loadup then is says
"Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempting to kill Init!"
then spits out a bunch of code and stops.

[Quackers]

First, have you checked the downloaded .iso file has been correctly downloaded?

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToMD5SUM

If that checks out ok boot from the live cd again and tap the F6 key during boot. You should get a screen which offers you the chance to check the cd for errors. Try that.

[WickedShadow]

So i checked everything turns out i have a bad disk made a new one works fine now the whole reason i needed one was to get grub back after i installed windows xp after ubuntu and ive done everything its just when i get to the actual installing i get this

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo grub-install --root-directory=/media/b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553/ /dev/sda1
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partition instead of the MBR. This is a BAD idea..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible. GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists. However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: error: if you really want blocklists, use --force.


I was using this guide:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RecoveringUbuntuAfterInstallingWindows

[Quackers]

Please go to the site below and download the boot script to your DESKTOP and then open up a terminal (Applications > Accessories > 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/

[WickedShadow]

Here you go:

Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

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

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

sdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sdb5 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 163.9 GB, 163928604672 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19929 cylinders, total 320173056 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 2,048 155,539,455 155,537,408 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 * 155,539,456 307,093,503 151,554,048 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 307,095,550 320,172,031 13,076,482 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 307,095,552 320,172,031 13,076,480 82 Linux swap / Solaris


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 * 63 204,796,619 204,796,557 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2 204,796,620 488,392,064 283,595,445 f W95 Ext d (LBA)
/dev/sdb5 204,796,683 488,392,064 283,595,382 7 HPFS/NTFS


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553 ext4
/dev/sda2 D2B4248EB42476DF ntfs
/dev/sda3: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 a7e93351-fa99-4dac-bb18-192a2e7ae381 swap
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 5860147E60146552 ntfs Games
/dev/sdb2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb5 01CB992F40CC13E0 ntfs Windows
/dev/sdb: 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)
/dev/sda1 /media/b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553 ext4 (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks)


=========================== sda1/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='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553
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='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553
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 2.6.35-23-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-23-generic root=UUID=b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-23-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-23-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-23-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-23-generic root=UUID=b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-23-generic
}
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='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553 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='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553 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='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (on /dev/sdb1)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd1,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5860147e60146552
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 ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_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
# / was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=b2f78c97-a7c1-42cf-ae39-5bc86f0bd553 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=a7e93351-fa99-4dac-bb18-192a2e7ae381 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

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


28.0GB: boot/grub/core.img
15.4GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
1.0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
2.0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-23-generic
7.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
7.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-23-generic
2.0GB: initrd.img
1.0GB: initrd.img.old
7.2GB: vmlinuz
7.2GB: vmlinuz.old

================================ sda2/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

================================ sdb1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

[msandoy]

There is probably a problem with ACPI, when booting from the CD, after choosing language and keymap, press F6, and switch off ACPI. This has helped me many times. Can't explain why, it usually just works.

Answered too quickly, didn't read the whole thread.

[Quackers]

From the live cd desktop open a terminal and copy/paste these commands in one at a time pressing enter after each one.

sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda
If it reports "no errors"
then reboot and after Ubuntu loads open a terminal again and run

sudo update-grub
and watch the terminal screen as grub.cfg is configured to see if both XP installations are found.

[WickedShadow]

I tried to do:


sudo update-grub

but then it said


/usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: cannot find a device for / (is /dev mounted?).

so i mounted it in the places menu and it still didnt work.

[Quackers]

As stated in my last post
sudo update-grub

is to be run after you have rebooted into the Ubuntu installation - not whilst booted from the live cd.

[WickedShadow]

Thanks all is well (said i from my ubuntu 10.10 operating system!)

-Thanks

[Quackers]

Excellent :-)
You're welcome.
Please mark the thread as solved using the Thread Tools near the top of the page. Thanks.