Dual Boot - error: no such device: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Alterah]

Hello,

I was recently plagued with a bad update and then Windows decided to crap out on me. So, I backed up everything, reformatted both hard drives and reinstalled. I have two hard drives, one 200GB (sdb) and one 1TB (sda). On the 200GB hard drive I installed Ubuntu 10.04LTS and on the 1TB hard drive I installed Windows XP. I installed XP first, then I installed Ubuntu. During the last step of installing Ubuntu I noticed it was going to put Grub on the 1TB hard drive, so I changed that to the 200GB hard drive.

The problem is that when I try to boot into Windows by using Grub I get the following:


error: no such device: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
error: invalid signature

Booting into Ubuntu works fine. Also, I can select the 1TB hard drive to boot from and Windows XP will boot up fine as well.

Is there a way to tell grub where to find Windows XP? Thanks for any and all assistance.

[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.

[Alterah]

Just to note, I can boot up into Ubuntu (I have to tell the BIOS to boot from the hard drive it is on). Likewise with Windows XP.

Here are the contents of the file:



Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda
=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks on the same drive in
partition #1 for /boot/grub.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info:

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sda5 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
16 heads, 63 sectors/track, 1938021 cylinders, total 1953525168 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 * 63 275,799,887 275,799,825 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 275,799,888 1,953,521,135 1,677,721,248 f W95 Ext d (LBA)
/dev/sda5 275,799,951 1,953,521,135 1,677,721,185 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 200.0 GB, 200049647616 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24321 cylinders, total 390721968 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 39,086,079 39,084,032 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 39,086,080 58,640,383 19,554,304 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb3 58,640,384 351,635,455 292,995,072 83 Linux


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 56D02B46D02B2C25 ntfs
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 D64476A244768551 ntfs Main
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11 ext4
/dev/sdb2 e0604437-8731-43fb-be34-fa89f3901f3a swap
/dev/sdb3 819d697d-772b-4503-8edc-f0c2de2ac136 ext4
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos"

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sdb1 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sdb3 /home ext4 (rw)
/dev/sr0 /media/X3TC udf (ro,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks,uid=1000,gid=1000, iocharset=utf8,umask=0077)
/dev/sda5 /media/Main fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096,default_ permissions)


================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Media Center Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

=========================== sdb1/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 ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11
set locale_dir=($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 2.6.32-28-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-28-generic root=UUID=2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-28-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-28-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-28-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-28-generic root=UUID=2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-28-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-27-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-27-generic root=UUID=2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-27-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-27-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-27-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-27-generic root=UUID=2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-27-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-24-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11 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='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-24-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows XP Media Center Edition (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 56d02b46d02b2c25
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 ###

=============================== sdb1/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/sdb1 during installation
UUID=2b98fe13-cc83-4bd2-aab1-5dfdcfd33a11 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /home was on /dev/sdb3 during installation
UUID=819d697d-772b-4503-8edc-f0c2de2ac136 /home ext4 defaults 0 2
# swap was on /dev/sdb2 during installation
UUID=e0604437-8731-43fb-be34-fa89f3901f3a none swap sw 0 0

=================== sdb1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


17.3GB: boot/grub/core.img
15.1GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
17.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
17.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-27-generic
17.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-28-generic
17.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic
17.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-27-generic
17.5GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-28-generic
17.4GB: initrd.img
17.5GB: initrd.img.old
17.5GB: vmlinuz
17.4GB: vmlinuz.old

[oldfred]

I boot from sdc & sdb with exactly the same XP boot stanza (with my UUID of course).

The only thing I see a little unusual is the number of heads on your 1TB drive. It is normally 255 like on your 200GB drive with LBA. Did you do something special in partitioning drive?
16 heads, 63 sectors/track, 1938021 cylinders,

Sometimes with flash drives the heads are 16 or other smaller number.

Presence1960 may see something else.

[presence1960]

http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/bootinfoscript/index.php?title=Boot_Problems:search

[Alterah]

Well, that didn't seem to work. It looks like I made things worse. I tried step 3 and now right before the hard drive boot, I get an error, but it switches to the Grub menu so quickly and I can't read anything else. Grub 2 gives me the following error messages:



Out of disk
You need to load the kernel first


I just reread the steps and saw under step 1 in the link:


and then press "Ctrl+X". This should boot your OS. If you were not able to boot into you OS, you are infected by a different problem and should not continue this howto.

[oldfred]

Did you delete the search line from the Ubuntu or the windows. Windows was the one you were having trouble with.

You use the e on the grub menu to edit and it is a one time change. Only if things work, then you make the change permanent.

[Alterah]

At first I deleted the search line from the grub menu at boot up. Afterwards I commented out the three lines outlined in the link. Should I be able to use a live cd to uncomment out those three lines to at least be able to boot into Ubuntu?

[oldfred]

By editing the script before we know all the solutions, you removed the search line also from the Ubuntu boot lines. The set root is wrong in the Ubuntu boot but the search allows you to find the correct partition, so then Ubuntu boots.

set root='(hd1,1)'

Should be:
set root='(hd0,1)'

You should be able to edit this at the grub menu and boot. Then lets see where we are at. Does windows boot without the search line?

[Alterah]

I will try what you suggested. And no, Windows did not boot. I removed the search line, pressed Ctrl and X and nothing happened. I will keep you posted. Thanks for the assistance thus far.

[Alterah]

Your suggestion worked. I was able to boot into Ubuntu after making those changes and I undid the changes I made to the script. I rebooted and used your suggestion on Windows.

Leaving the search line alone, I changed the Windows from:

set root='(hd0,1)'
to
set root='(hd1,1)'

Windows booted up after that.

[oldfred]

If you made the changes on the grub menu as you boot, it is a one time change.

I would first try this to see if it reverses/correct the current entries.

sudo update-grub

Otherwise we will have to copy the windows entry into 40_custom and edit it there, so it is permanent.