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Vanyo
December 28th, 2010, 11:12 PM
I just did an install from CD of Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook on a Sony Vaio (PCG-V505DC2P) with a brand new 160G hard drive (so no other OS is present). I followed the 10 step installation instructions here: http://www.ubuntu.com/netbook/get-ubuntu/download, and after step 10 ("Restart and enjoy Ubuntu!"), the machine boots to:

GNU GRUB version 1.98+20100804-5ubuntu3
and a grub> prompt.

Is this normal?

Can anyone point me to instructions on what to do next?

This is my first Ubuntu install - just looking for a non-Windows option for a laptop for my daughter, primarily for internet access.

Rubi1200
December 29th, 2010, 07:51 AM
Hi and welcome to the forums :-)

We need you to do the following please:

1. boot the computer with the LiveCD choosing to try not install

2. from the live desktop, download and run the boot info script linked at the bottom of my post (instructions included)

3. post the results back here

Thanks in advance.

Vanyo
December 29th, 2010, 05:56 PM
Thanks for the help. Unfortunately, I never did the try without install, and doing it now, encountered a different problem which prevents me from downloading the script. On clicking on anything on the UI desktop, I get the problem depicted here (someone else's screenshot, found via google):

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JBHfzEovWs8/TPMUNeZst-I/AAAAAAAAA4w/cbc6OGx-KvY/s1600/mutter%2Bclosed.png

In my case, the screen rapidly cycles between a black screen, a fresh desktop, and the above "Mutter closed unexpectedly" dialog box.

If the problem is an incompatibility between my hardware (Sony Vaio PCG-V505DC2P, 1G ram, 160G hd) and the version of Linux (Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook) I'm attempting to install, I'm open to suggestions of a more-likely-to-be-painless flavor of Linux suitable for use by a precocious 11 year old (though I'd still like to get this working).

sikander3786
December 29th, 2010, 08:39 PM
In order to diagnose the problem, we need to see the output of bootinfo script as Rubi1200 mentioned above.

Regarding your crash problem, if you can, logout and click the user name there (must be Ubuntu I think). Sessions menu will pop up in the bottom of your screen, choose ubuntu-desktop and log in (blank password) and then run boot script.

If you are unable to logout, press Ctrl + Alt + F1 and log in the tty1. Username would be Ubuntu with a blank password. Once logged, try these commands.


sudo service gdm stop


sudo service gdm start

Once on the log in screen, choose ubuntu-desktop as mentioned above, log in (blank password) and run the boot script.

Vanyo
December 29th, 2010, 10:23 PM
Thanks, after logging out and logging in as user 'ubuntu' to session ubuntu-desktop, the UI seemed stable, with no Mutter crashes (I did not need to restart gdm). I ran the boot_info_script055.sh script, and have attached the results.

wilee-nilee
December 29th, 2010, 10:27 PM
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 (,msdos1)/boot/grub.

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: 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: 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/sda1 * 2,048 306,440,191 306,438,144 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 306,442,238 312,580,095 6,137,858 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 306,442,240 312,580,095 6,137,856 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 0f315755-9323-497a-91f5-30e951fc4589 ext4
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 8288b6d3-690d-40b1-b9a5-aca562578d70 swap
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
error: /dev/sdb: No medium found

============================ "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 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 0f315755-9323-497a-91f5-30e951fc4589
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 0f315755-9323-497a-91f5-30e951fc4589
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='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 0f315755-9323-497a-91f5-30e951fc4589
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=0f315755-9323-497a-91f5-30e951fc4589 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 0f315755-9323-497a-91f5-30e951fc4589
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=0f315755-9323-497a-91f5-30e951fc4589 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 0f315755-9323-497a-91f5-30e951fc4589
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 0f315755-9323-497a-91f5-30e951fc4589
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 ###

=============================== 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=0f315755-9323-497a-91f5-30e951fc4589 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=8288b6d3-690d-40b1-b9a5-aca562578d70 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/sdb /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

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


103.2GB: boot/grub/core.img
139.7GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
13.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
13.4GB: initrd.img
.3GB: vmlinuz
=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

sdb

Rubi1200
December 30th, 2010, 12:17 PM
Thanks wilee-nilee for posting the script :-)

@ Vanyo:
the results look normal, and as you mentioned the error messages are gone for the moment.

Conclusion: relax and enjoy. If you need more help, ask here first.

Vanyo
December 30th, 2010, 03:33 PM
Sorry if there was a misunderstanding. I'm still stuck.

The error message that I got past was the second one, the "Sorry, Mutter closed unexpectedly" dialog box that Appeared in the UI after booting from CD and selecting "Try Ubuntu-Netbook". I got past that by logging out and logging back in as 'ubuntu', choosing ubuntu-desktop edition from the sessions menu (as suggested by sikander3786).

When booting from the hard drive, I still get the original problem reported, which leaves me at a grub> prompt.

thewill2live
December 31st, 2010, 08:03 AM
Sorry Vanyo, could I piggyback this thread? I'm having a similar problem. I get this (http://i.imgur.com/ejbov.jpg) when I try to restart after a "successful" installation of Ubuntu netbook remix. I ran the script like they suggested and got the following:


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 (,msdos1)/boot/grub.
=> Syslinux 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: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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: 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 * 2,048 964,485,119 964,483,072 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 964,487,166 976,771,071 12,283,906 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 964,487,168 976,771,071 12,283,904 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 8115 MB, 8115978240 bytes
199 heads, 32 sectors/track, 2489 cylinders, total 15851520 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 * 32 15,851,519 15,851,488 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 7db222d0-d7cd-4d65-95fc-3868038a12e0 ext4
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 b9dab59e-1cd7-4404-9e72-8a5b43c44547 swap
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 1B12-133D vfat PENDRIVE
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos"

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

aufs / aufs (rw)
/dev/sdb1 /cdrom vfat (rw,relatime,fmask=0022,dmask=0022,codepage=cp437, iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (ro,noatime)


=========================== 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 7db222d0-d7cd-4d65-95fc-3868038a12e0
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 7db222d0-d7cd-4d65-95fc-3868038a12e0
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='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7db222d0-d7cd-4d65-95fc-3868038a12e0
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=7db222d0-d7cd-4d65-95fc-3868038a12e0 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 7db222d0-d7cd-4d65-95fc-3868038a12e0
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=7db222d0-d7cd-4d65-95fc-3868038a12e0 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 7db222d0-d7cd-4d65-95fc-3868038a12e0
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 7db222d0-d7cd-4d65-95fc-3868038a12e0
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 ###

=============================== 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/sdb1 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdb5 during installation
UUID=b9dab59e-1cd7-4404-9e72-8a5b43c44547 none swap sw 0 0

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


249.2GB: boot/grub/core.img
163.3GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
249.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
.8GB: initrd.img
249.2GB: vmlinuz
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sdb1

00000000 eb 58 90 53 59 53 4c 49 4e 55 58 00 02 08 20 00 |.X.SYSLINUX... .|
00000010 02 00 00 00 00 f8 00 00 3f 00 ff 00 20 00 00 00 |........?... ...|
00000020 e0 df f1 00 5a 3c 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 |....Z<..........|
00000030 01 00 06 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000040 80 00 29 3d 13 12 1b 4e 4f 20 4e 41 4d 45 20 20 |..)=...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 dc 78 00 00 66 ba 00 00 00 00 bb 00 |}.f..x..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



Can someone please decipher this for me?

4md1t
December 31st, 2010, 01:53 PM
hi guys , this is my result ,
can someone tell me what is this ?



result.txt => http://ge.tt/5hbXd17/RESULTS.txt

Vanyo
December 31st, 2010, 06:22 PM
Sorry Vanyo, could I piggyback this thread? I'm having a similar problem. I get this (http://i.imgur.com/ejbov.jpg) ...

It doesn't seem like a similar problem to me - no grub> prompt.

Can anyone offer an opinion as to whether I might be better of trying a different distribution?

JP121
December 31st, 2010, 06:33 PM
I don't know much, so one of the experts should probably jump in if this sounds stupid, but I would try to reinstall everything again. It sounds as if GRUB didn't configure itself right, and maybe trying again would be helpful.

Again, I would take this with a grain of salt.

Rubi1200
December 31st, 2010, 06:39 PM
It doesn't seem like a similar problem to me - no grub> prompt.

Can anyone offer an opinion as to whether I might be better of trying a different distribution?

If you are seeing the grub prompt, try using the instructions here to boot into Ubuntu:
http://ubuntu-ky.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1594052

It may well be that a fresh install is needed, but I wouldn't go for that just yet.

We still have options.