Multiple OS, need to remove 2 whilst saving GRUB

[computer_nerd]

Ok, so this is my first post to the forum. I'm fairly new to Ubuntu and am still learning. Basically my laptop did have a Windows 7 partition that came with the system(which I no longer need), a Ubuntu partition and a separate partition for storage. This was until I formatted the separate partition using Windows and it did something which gave me a file system error and would not let me boot into any os. Then because I was in a rush and had lectures in a hour I installed another Ubuntu partition of 3gb just to reinstall GRUB so I could boot into my original Ubuntu to get my files.


Now I would like to delete the 3gb Ubuntu partition and the Windows partition to be left with my original Ubuntu partition and then merge the hard drive into just the one partition. My main fear before I attempt this is again destroying my GRUB.


I know I have made a mess of this but would really appreciate being pointed into the right direction. I have done some searching and reading but struggled to find clearish instructions on how to do it properly.


Thanks for any help

[1clue]

If you're using LVM2, then I would recommend simply marking your other partitions as LVM autodetect, add them to the same volume group as your working partition and let the system take care of the rest.

[presence1960]

Let's get a better look at your setup & boot process. Boot the Ubuntu Live CD/USB. Choose "try ubuntu without any changes", when the desktop loads come back here and do the following:

1. Download the boot info script. There is a link in my signature.
2. Once downloaded move the boot info script to the desktop.
3. Open a terminal and run the command
sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh

This will create a RESULTS.txt file on the desktop. Paste the entire contents of that file back here. Once pasted highlight all text and click the # sign on the toolbar to place code tags around the text.

See here (http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/) for more info on the boot info script.

[computer_nerd]

1clue - I looked into LVM2 and found a version with a GUI but it wasn't letting me change anything though. Ill keep reading into it though.

I managed to restore GRUB but it doesn't have a menu to boot into the os. I only have a shell at the moment.

presence1960 - I ran the script which is below. I saw it still has Windows 7 there although I removed that os. But im sure you can see what is going on there a lot better than I am.

RESULTS.txt

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 #5 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.
=> Syslinux is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: Grub
Boot sector info: Grub 0.97 is installed in the boot sector of sda5 and
looks at sector 339807328 of the same hard drive for
the stage2 file. A stage2 file is at this location on
/dev/sda. Stage2 looks on partition #5 for
/boot/grub/menu.lst.
Operating System: Ubuntu 10.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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:

sdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system:
Boot sector type: Unknown
Boot sector info:
Mounting failed:
mount: unknown filesystem type ''

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 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/sda2 * 27,265,024 27,469,823 204,800 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4 318,435,326 488,396,799 169,961,474 f W95 Ext d (LBA)
/dev/sda5 318,435,328 402,776,063 84,340,736 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 402,778,112 406,476,799 3,698,688 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 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/sdb1 * 2,048 6,146,047 6,144,000 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sdb2 6,146,048 312,575,999 306,429,952 7 HPFS/NTFS


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/loop1 9f6814ae-c76e-ae4d-b8a9-e98c6e2a9560 ext2 casper-rw
/dev/sda2 C2647A51647A47E5 ntfs SYSTEM RESERVED
/dev/sda4: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503 ext4
/dev/sda6 swap
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 F6BB-75D7 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)
/dev/sda5 /media/3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503 ext4 (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks)


=========================== sda5/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,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503
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,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503
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 2.6.35-24-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-24-generic root=UUID=3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-24-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-24-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-24-generic root=UUID=3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-24-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,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503 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,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503 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,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503
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/sda2)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set c2647a51647a47e5
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 ###

=============================== sda5/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/sda6 during installation
UUID=3787adf7-8603-4ae2-9865-34e69c2ff503 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
/dev/sda7 none swap sw 0 0

=================== sda5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


167.6GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
173.9GB: boot/grub/stage2
164.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
165.7GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-24-generic
173.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
173.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-24-generic
165.7GB: initrd.img
164.2GB: initrd.img.old
173.9GB: vmlinuz
173.9GB: vmlinuz.old
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sda4

00000000 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 |DDINGXXXPADDINGX|
00000010 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 |XXPADDINGXXXPADD|
00000020 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 |INGXXXPADDINGXXX|
00000030 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e |PADDINGXXXPADDIN|
00000040 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 |GXXXPADDINGXXXPA|
00000050 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 0d 0a 50 41 44 44 49 4e |DDINGXXX..PADDIN|
00000060 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 |GXXXPADDINGXXXPA|
00000070 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 |DDINGXXXPADDINGX|
00000080 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 |XXPADDINGXXXPADD|
00000090 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 |INGXXXPADDINGXXX|
000000a0 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e |PADDINGXXXPADDIN|
000000b0 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 0d 0a |GXXXPADDINGXXX..|
000000c0 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e |PADDINGXXXPADDIN|
000000d0 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 |GXXXPADDINGXXXPA|
000000e0 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 |DDINGXXXPADDINGX|
000000f0 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 |XXPADDINGXXXPADD|
00000100 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 |INGXXXPADDINGXXX|
00000110 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e |PADDINGXXXPADDIN|
00000120 47 58 58 58 0d 0a 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 |GXXX..PADDINGXXX|
00000130 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e |PADDINGXXXPADDIN|
00000140 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 |GXXXPADDINGXXXPA|
00000150 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 |DDINGXXXPADDINGX|
00000160 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 |XXPADDINGXXXPADD|
00000170 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 |INGXXXPADDINGXXX|
00000180 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 0d 0a 50 41 44 44 |PADDINGXXX..PADD|
00000190 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 |INGXXXPADDINGXXX|
000001a0 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e |PADDINGXXXPADDIN|
000001b0 47 58 58 58 50 41 44 44 49 4e 47 58 58 58 00 fe |GXXXPADDINGXXX..|
000001c0 ff ff 83 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 f0 06 05 00 fe |................|
000001d0 ff ff 05 fe ff ff 02 f0 06 05 00 78 38 00 00 00 |...........x8...|
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

Unknown BootLoader on sdb1

00000000 eb 58 90 53 59 53 4c 49 4e 55 58 00 02 08 3e 11 |.X.SYSLINUX...>.|
00000010 02 00 00 00 00 f8 00 00 3f 00 ff 00 00 08 00 00 |........?.......|
00000020 00 c0 5d 00 61 17 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 |..].a...........|
00000030 01 00 06 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
00000040 80 00 29 d7 75 bb f6 4e 4f 20 4e 41 4d 45 20 20 |..).u..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 00 40 58 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

Unknown BootLoader on sdb2

00000000 eb 76 90 45 58 46 41 54 20 20 20 00 00 00 00 00 |.v.EXFAT .....|
00000010 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
*
00000040 00 c8 5d 00 00 00 00 00 00 c0 43 12 00 00 00 00 |..].......C.....|
00000050 00 08 00 00 00 25 00 00 00 30 00 00 90 43 12 00 |.....%...0...C..|
00000060 05 00 00 00 7f a5 07 30 00 01 00 00 09 08 01 80 |.......0........|
00000070 05 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 33 c9 8e d1 bc f0 7b 8e |........3.....{.|
00000080 d9 a0 fb 7d b4 7d 8b f0 ac 98 40 74 0c 48 74 0e |...}.}....@t.Ht.|
00000090 b4 0e bb 07 00 cd 10 eb ef a0 fd 7d eb e6 cd 16 |...........}....|
000000a0 cd 19 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
000000b0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
*
00000100 0d 0a 52 65 6d 6f 76 65 20 64 69 73 6b 73 20 6f |..Remove disks o|
00000110 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 64 69 61 2e ff 0d |r other media...|
00000120 0a 44 69 73 6b 20 65 72 72 6f 72 ff 0d 0a 50 72 |.Disk error...Pr|
00000130 65 73 73 20 61 6e 79 20 6b 65 79 20 74 6f 20 72 |ess any key to r|
00000140 65 73 74 61 72 74 0d 0a 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |estart..........|
00000150 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
*
000001b0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ff ff |................|
000001c0 ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff |................|
*
000001f0 ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff 00 1f 2c 55 aa |.............,U.|
00000200

[presence1960]

Your ubuntu is located inside an extended partition. sda2 is the System Reserved partition for windows 7 which is similar to a /boot partition in linux.

I would remove the sda2 partition and create an ext3 or ext4 partition for storage from all the unallocated space from sda1 & sda2.

[computer_nerd]

Ok, I have removed the sda2 partition and reformatted the other partitions. Do you know how I can get my GRUB menu back. Also do you know how I can boot into my os using the GRUB shell for the moment?

[1clue]

Completely disregard my post. You seem to be using a non-LVM system.

[computer_nerd]

1clue - Ok Thanks for trying to help anyway.