Live CD installed, no bootloader screen

[Mr. Crumb]

Hello,

I've been a casual Ubuntu user for a little over a year via Wubi. Wubi stopped working for me, failing to load Ubuntu, and instead giving me some console message about BusyBox 1.13.3 dropping into a shell. I poked around, and found posts by other wubi uses having a similar issue, and that a frequent recommendation was to install Ubuntu via Live CD; so I uninstalled Ubuntu from WindowsXP, made a LiveCD, and installed it.

I got to a point in the Live CD install where it wanted me to reboot. Instead I got a screen full of I/O errors, corresponding to a drv0 sector, or some such. I ended up using the reset button on the box. I was AFK during the reboot, so I don't know if a bootloader screen ever came up, but now it just loads WinXp with no choice to boot Ubuntu.

From WinXp I can see the Live CD was successful in creating it's own partition (as WinXp has gone from 80 to 50GB as planned). Windows seems to be fine, though

Can anyone help me with the proper way of figuring what's wrong (before I make it worse :P )

[Mr. Crumb]

System specs attached:

[wilee-nilee]

So from a booted live Ubuntu cd or thumbdrive lets see the bootscript read out; in my signature just click on it and follow the instructions. Come back to the thread and click on the (#) in the reply panel this makes code tags paste all the text in between.

This will tell us what is where.

[Mr. Crumb]

Thanks for the reply :)

boot info script results:


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 #5 for (,msdos5)/boot/grub.
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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: 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

sdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdb6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sdc1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: MSWIN4.1: Fat 32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
16 heads, 63 sectors/track, 484521 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/sda1 * 63 488,397,167 488,397,105 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders, total 156301488 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 99,169,404 99,169,342 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2 99,170,302 156,301,311 57,131,010 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 99,170,304 153,851,903 54,681,600 83 Linux
/dev/sdb6 153,853,952 156,301,311 2,447,360 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdc ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdc: 8054 MB, 8054636032 bytes
8 heads, 32 sectors/track, 61451 cylinders, total 15731711 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 * 32 15,731,710 15,731,679 b W95 FAT32


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 3E58295C58291465 ntfs DRV2_VOL1
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 8440AB0A40AB0252 ntfs
/dev/sdb2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb5 f514b1f6-d99c-48a1-bc78-66429be03943 ext4
/dev/sdb6 de11abf1-4f1c-4153-928d-e9b3501243f9 swap
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdc1 74A8-0353 vfat
/dev/sdc: 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)


================================ sdb1/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="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

=========================== sdb5/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='(hd1,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f514b1f6-d99c-48a1-bc78-66429be03943
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='(hd1,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f514b1f6-d99c-48a1-bc78-66429be03943
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='(hd1,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f514b1f6-d99c-48a1-bc78-66429be03943
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=f514b1f6-d99c-48a1-bc78-66429be03943 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='(hd1,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f514b1f6-d99c-48a1-bc78-66429be03943
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=f514b1f6-d99c-48a1-bc78-66429be03943 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='(hd1,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f514b1f6-d99c-48a1-bc78-66429be03943
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f514b1f6-d99c-48a1-bc78-66429be03943
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sdb1)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd1,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 8440ab0a40ab0252
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 ###

=============================== sdb5/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/sdb5 during installation
UUID=f514b1f6-d99c-48a1-bc78-66429be03943 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=de11abf1-4f1c-4153-928d-e9b3501243f9 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sdb5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


59.5GB: boot/grub/core.img
57.3GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
51.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
59.5GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
51.6GB: initrd.img
59.5GB: vmlinuz
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sdb2

00000000 03 40 00 80 e9 38 02 00 00 8b 08 8d 55 14 52 68 |.@...8......U.Rh|
00000010 38 a1 b9 00 50 ff 51 10 85 c0 79 07 8b f8 e9 1e |8...P.Q...y.....|
00000020 02 00 00 8b 45 fc 39 5d 14 8b 08 74 08 6a 01 50 |....E.9]...t.j.P|
00000030 ff 51 60 eb e7 50 ff 51 58 eb e1 68 14 9a b9 00 |.Q`..P.QX..h....|
00000040 ff 75 0c e8 4a ad 28 00 59 85 c0 59 75 44 8b 45 |.u..J.(.Y..YuD.E|
00000050 10 3b c3 74 aa 8b 08 8d 55 ec 52 68 38 a1 b9 00 |.;.t....U.Rh8...|
00000060 50 ff 51 10 85 c0 78 b4 8b 45 fc 8d 55 10 52 50 |P.Q...x..E..U.RP|
00000070 8b 08 ff 51 24 39 5d ec 74 06 83 4d 10 08 eb 04 |...Q$9].t..M....|
00000080 83 65 10 f7 8b 45 fc ff 75 10 8b 08 50 ff 51 28 |.e...E..u...P.Q(|
00000090 eb 8a 68 3c 9a b9 00 ff 75 0c e8 f3 ac 28 00 59 |..h<....u....(.Y|
000000a0 85 c0 59 75 59 39 5d 10 0f 84 51 ff ff ff 68 ac |..YuY9]...Q...h.|
000000b0 0c b2 00 8d 4d 0c ff 75 14 89 5d 0c ff d7 39 5d |....M..u..]...9]|
000000c0 0c 75 08 8d 4d 0c e9 3c 01 00 00 8b 45 10 8d 55 |.u..M..<....E..U|
000000d0 e8 52 68 38 a1 b9 00 8b 08 50 ff 51 10 8b f8 85 |.Rh8.....P.Q....|
000000e0 ff 78 11 8b 45 0c ff 75 e8 8b 08 50 ff 91 d0 00 |.x..E..u...P....|
000000f0 00 00 8b f8 8d 4d 0c ff d6 e9 43 01 00 00 68 e8 |.....M....C...h.|
00000100 99 b9 00 ff 75 0c e8 87 ac 28 00 59 85 c0 59 75 |....u....(.Y..Yu|
00000110 5c 39 5d 10 0f 84 e5 fe ff ff 68 ac 0c b2 00 8d |\9].......h.....|
00000120 4d f8 ff 75 14 89 5d f8 ff d7 39 5d f8 75 08 8d |M..u..]...9].u..|
00000130 4d f8 e9 d0 00 00 00 8b 45 10 8d 55 e4 52 68 38 |M.......E..U.Rh8|
00000140 a1 b9 00 8b 08 50 ff 51 10 8b f8 85 ff 79 05 8d |.....P.Q.....y..|
00000150 4d f8 eb a3 8b 45 f8 33 d2 39 5d e4 8b 08 0f 94 |M....E.3.9].....|
00000160 c2 52 50 ff 91 f0 00 00 00 8b f8 eb e2 68 b4 99 |.RP..........h..|
00000170 b9 00 ff 75 0c e8 18 ac 28 00 59 85 c0 59 75 53 |...u....(.Y..YuS|
00000180 39 5d 10 0f 84 76 fe ff ff 68 9c 0c b2 00 8d 4d |9]...v...h.....M|
00000190 f4 ff 75 14 89 5d f4 ff d7 39 5d f4 75 05 8d 4d |..u..]...9].u..M|
000001a0 f4 eb 64 8b 45 10 8d 55 e0 52 68 38 a1 b9 00 8b |..d.E..U.Rh8....|
000001b0 08 50 ff 51 10 8b f8 85 ff 79 08 8d 4d f4 00 fe |.P.Q.....y..M...|
000001c0 ff ff 83 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 60 42 03 00 fe |...........`B...|
000001d0 ff ff 05 fe ff ff 02 60 42 03 00 60 25 00 00 00 |.......`B..`%...|
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

[wilee-nilee]

So the Hd where both XP and Ubuntu are=sdb has no bootloader it was put in sda no big deal. So make sure the sdb Hd is the first read in the bios then boot the Maverick live cd and run these two commands.

sudo mount /dev/sdb5 /mnt
then

sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sdb
Reboot to the grub menu choose the Ubuntu install once in in a terminal run.

sudo update-grub

These commands are from this link, defaulting to them.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Reinstalling%20GRUB%202

[Mr. Crumb]

Thanks, I will reboot shortly having run the commands you suggested.

It printed some errors, so I thought I'd post term window before prodceding:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount /dev/sdb5 /mnt
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sdb
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Sector 32 is already in use by FlexNet; avoiding it. This software may cause boot or other problems in future. Please ask its authors not to store data in the boot track..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Sector 33 is already in use by FlexNet; avoiding it. This software may cause boot or other problems in future. Please ask its authors not to store data in the boot track..
Installation finished. No error reported.
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

[Mr. Crumb]

So the Hd where both XP and Ubuntu are=sdb has no bootloader it was put in sda no big deal. So make sure the sdb Hd is the first read in the bios then boot the Maverick live cd and run these two commands.

sudo mount /dev/sdb5 /mntthen

sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sdbReboot to the grub menu choose the Ubuntu install once in in a terminal run.

sudo update-grubThese commands are from this link, defaulting to them.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Reinstalling%20GRUB%202

Great! I can boot either OS without issue (though Ubuntu is now the default OS to load...)

Thanks for the help :D I'll mark consider this as Solved, though if anyone has any comment on the warnings from installing grub you might put my mind to ease on the "future problems" part of that.

[wilee-nilee]

The flexnet warnings are regarding proprietary MS used programs like Adobe Photoshop, CAD/CAM, Rosetta Stone, Matlab others, grub has a way around that as of now.