arg. no dice.
I installed grub, removed the live USB key and rebooted. I got a flash of a screen saying something like "No boot sector on external USB device" or similar. Then Windows started booting up (off the internal HDD). I tried rebooting a couple more times, but never saw that screen again - it went directly to Windows *
I then restarted my machine, and pressed F12 for the boot menu. There was no USB option, only CDROM or internal HDD. I plugged in the live USB key and restarted, and sure enough, an external USB option showed up (!).
I'm now booted up into the live USB linux, and I ran the boot info script one more time. This time, the external HDD is seen as sdc. It was seen as sdc when I installed grub on it a few minutes ago as well. Here's the results.txt:
Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010
============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda
=> Syslinux is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb
=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc and looks on the same drive in
partition #1 for (,msdos1)/boot/grub.
sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Dell Utility: Fat16
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /COMMAND.COM
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 /wubildr.mbr /wubildr
sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:
sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Fat32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:
sdc1: __________________________________________________ _______________________
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
sdc2: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sdc5: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sdc3: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:
sdc4: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:
=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================
Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___
Disk /dev/sda: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders, total 234441648 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 63 160,649 160,587 de Dell Utility
/dev/sda2 * 160,650 125,997,794 125,837,145 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 125,997,795 234,436,544 108,438,750 7 HPFS/NTFS
Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___
Disk /dev/sdb: 1021 MB, 1021125120 bytes
15 heads, 14 sectors/track, 9497 cylinders, total 1994385 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 1,992,703 1,990,656 b W95 FAT32
Drive: sdc ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___
Disk /dev/sdc: 1500.3 GB, 1500301910016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 182401 cylinders, total 2930277168 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 * 2,048 58,593,279 58,591,232 83 Linux
/dev/sdc2 58,595,326 97,654,783 39,059,458 5 Extended
/dev/sdc5 58,595,328 97,654,783 39,059,456 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdc3 97,654,784 1,609,712,999 1,512,058,216 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdc4 1,609,713,000 1,814,509,619 204,796,620 7 HPFS/NTFS
blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________
Device UUID TYPE LABEL
/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 07D7-0718 vfat DellUtility
/dev/sda2 84C44261C4425598 ntfs
/dev/sda3 08A4788FA47880CC ntfs Data
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 B8D8-3A16 vfat
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdc1 f2b4e379-0afe-43ee-b51d-ec64feba2a6e ext4
/dev/sdc2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdc3 78D0233FD02302CC ntfs vol
/dev/sdc4 B4C0CA7BC0CA437A ntfs linux
/dev/sdc5 f71272f2-930d-43d7-8ab2-55b53e8b0773 swap
/dev/sdc: PTTYPE="dos"
============================ "mount | grep ^/dev output: ===========================
Device Mount_Point Type Options
aufs / aufs (rw)
/dev/sdb1 /cdrom vfat (ro,noatime,fmask=0022,dmask=0022,codepage=cp437,i ocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (ro,noatime)
/dev/sdc1 /media/f2b4e379-0afe-43ee-b51d-ec64feba2a6e ext4 (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks)
/dev/sdc4 /media/linux fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096,default_ permissions)
/dev/sdc3 /media/vol fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096,default_ permissions)
================================ 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 Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
C:\wubildr.mbr = "Ubuntu"
=========================== sdc1/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 "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
}
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd2,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f2b4e379-0afe-43ee-b51d-ec64feba2a6e
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd2,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f2b4e379-0afe-43ee-b51d-ec64feba2a6e
set locale_dir=($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='(hd2,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f2b4e379-0afe-43ee-b51d-ec64feba2a6e
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=f2b4e379-0afe-43ee-b51d-ec64feba2a6e 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='(hd2,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f2b4e379-0afe-43ee-b51d-ec64feba2a6e
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=f2b4e379-0afe-43ee-b51d-ec64feba2a6e 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='(hd2,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f2b4e379-0afe-43ee-b51d-ec64feba2a6e
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd2,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f2b4e379-0afe-43ee-b51d-ec64feba2a6e
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Dell Utility Partition (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod fat
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 07d7-0718
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda2)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 84c44261c4425598
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 ###
=============================== sdc1/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=f2b4e379-0afe-43ee-b51d-ec64feba2a6e / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdc5 during installation
UUID=f71272f2-930d-43d7-8ab2-55b53e8b0773 none swap sw 0 0
=================== sdc1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================
6.6GB: boot/grub/core.img
2.5GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
2.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
6.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
2.5GB: initrd.img
6.7GB: vmlinuz
I'm kinda at a loss as to what's going on. I thought maybe because the external HDD is sometimes being recognized as sdb and other times as sdc is the issue. But then grub would at least load up and complain about a missing image right? that isn't even happening.
At this point, I'm of course open to trying different things to fix this. I'm also open to installing grub on a USB key and configuring it to point to the image on the HDD, in the hope that will work. This will be my backup plan. But first, any further ideas re HDD?
* well, one artifact of the (now deleted) wubi install is that it now gives me a dual-boot option - windows or "ubuntu" - it went to the dual boot screen.