Grub rescue???

[Alexd4]

I've accidently deleted the bootloader on mu Dell XPS which has been running Ubuntu 10.10 qquite happily until I pressed the DEll Media Direct button, which must have a diffirent bios.

I followed the tutorial to re-install it, but when I run the show disk command the only Linux one is Linux "Swap/Solaris".

When I run the mount command for this (sda5) I get the error message


can't find /dev/sda5/media/sda5 in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab

Does anybody know what might be amiss? Though my computer is aging Linux had really revitalised it, can't believe how silly I was to press that button. Thanks for you help

[howefield]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

Post moved to its own thread.

You are more likely to get help this way, than hijacking someone else thread.

[Rubi1200]

I've accidently deleted the bootloader on mu Dell XPS which has been running Ubuntu 10.10 qquite happily until I pressed the DEll Media Direct button, which must have a diffirent bios.

I followed the tutorial to re-install it, but when I run the show disk command the only Linux one is Linux "Swap/Solaris".

When I run the mount command for this (sda5) I get the error message



Does anybody know what might be amiss? Though my computer is aging Linux had really revitalised it, can't believe how silly I was to press that button. Thanks for you help
Please post the results of the boot info script so we can help you.

There is a link at the bottom of my post with instructions.

Thanks.

[Alexd4]

Thanks for both of your help and guidance! Here are the results of the boot info script test:


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: vfat
Boot sector type: Windows XP: Fat32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows XP
Boot files/dirs: /boot.ini /bootmgr /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

=========================== 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 * 220,508,253 224,701,154 4,192,902 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda2 228,302,846 234,440,703 6,137,858 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 228,302,848 234,440,703 6,137,856 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 07D7-0108 vfat MEDIADIRECT
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 c20a2c10-af25-4080-a435-72ecffd87670 swsuspend
/dev/sda: 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)
/dev/sda1 /media/MEDIADIRECT vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks,uid=999,gid=999,sh ortname=mixed,dmask=0077,utf8=1,showexec,flush)


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

[boot loader]
timeout=0
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 Embedded" /fastdetect /KERNEL=NTOSBOOT.EXE /maxmem=768
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sda2

00000000 b1 38 f5 75 3a 76 fa ad 82 af 2f 5a b1 5d dd 03 |.8.u:v..../Z.]..|
00000010 bb 24 3c e0 49 d0 aa 5e 51 3a 00 c5 a3 7b 74 f1 |.$<.I..^Q:...{t.|
00000020 d4 7d 9d 6f 48 66 0e 4f c6 ae f4 0e f5 d1 43 cb |.}.oHf.O......C.|
00000030 e9 e5 3a e9 e8 79 2f 28 b6 5a 3a cc c1 79 30 b2 |..:..y/(.Z:..y0.|
00000040 d3 60 06 c3 cc bd 1e e9 c5 dd ce 8b 26 63 d5 3b |.`..........&c.;|
00000050 d8 03 4e 90 fa 64 93 a9 2d 88 59 9a be 96 b8 c9 |..N..d..-.Y.....|
00000060 a2 90 81 cb eb 75 f0 19 c2 06 55 8b 5a b8 ee c1 |.....u....U.Z...|
00000070 e0 84 a0 0d 0f 13 17 53 e4 a2 cb d8 55 7b 8d 70 |.......S....U{.p|
00000080 75 c5 6b 80 45 34 8d ba b2 53 fc b6 89 98 d3 31 |u.k.E4...S.....1|
00000090 a4 ba e6 b8 38 d4 11 c3 aa df a1 af 5e 3b 75 0c |....8.......^;u.|
000000a0 9e 8a 76 9d a1 d0 b2 92 78 80 24 44 bf 0d 63 38 |..v.....x.$D..c8|
000000b0 9f 05 62 d2 34 b6 d6 19 cf a7 a9 99 12 46 84 7c |..b.4........F.||
000000c0 9a 0b a4 1c 48 43 32 76 fa 42 75 a3 ee 94 b8 db |....HC2v.Bu.....|
000000d0 08 32 21 d0 a7 23 30 a1 9c 07 5a c8 70 6d 03 92 |.2!..#0...Z.pm..|
000000e0 4e 03 2d 11 cd 99 52 fc 26 b2 92 84 59 39 41 59 |N.-...R.&...Y9AY|
000000f0 6c b9 3d c9 f7 d2 89 ae d7 3c f4 e8 aa fa 8b 36 |l.=......<.....6|
00000100 76 fb 5b 06 57 72 f3 79 cb 79 24 c2 01 8a 4f 2a |v.[.Wr.y.y$...O*|
00000110 ec 5d 85 e6 72 28 98 8b 2d aa cb d2 ac a5 0f c4 |.]..r(..-.......|
00000120 9f 9e 03 05 4f e0 b2 1b 01 83 cb 72 7b d0 ba 0b |....O......r{...|
00000130 68 14 85 54 0f 68 f5 00 49 7e ae 8f be ab 81 a9 |h..T.h..I~......|
00000140 1e 66 8f 47 9a 3f 7d 8b 16 ae 30 9d eb b6 6f 55 |.f.G.?}...0...oU|
00000150 a8 b2 c4 65 06 c4 94 26 9c f8 b0 86 db ea cc 47 |...e...&.......G|
00000160 04 43 a7 74 3d fe 00 7e 85 1b c2 9a 97 cb d0 ed |.C.t=..~........|
00000170 db 8f 6a fc 7c fd 05 22 f2 3d a3 09 38 cb 8d e2 |..j.|..".=..8...|
00000180 ae 3c 4c 35 b5 0c 05 08 55 bd d6 cf e6 39 34 28 |.<L5....U....94(|
00000190 a0 de 2d d5 35 48 d7 76 d6 f8 f1 fe ec 39 15 ce |..-.5H.v.....9..|
000001a0 2d 1d fa 34 7d dd 89 92 44 a5 6d 10 e0 33 07 09 |-..4}...D.m..3..|
000001b0 7d cf fa 5f fd 49 df 7d f5 32 33 c7 10 77 00 fe |}.._.I.}.23..w..|
000001c0 ff ff 82 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 a8 5d 00 00 00 |............]...|
000001d0 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

[Rubi1200]

Well, I must admit I have never seen something like this before:


mount: unknown filesystem type 'swsuspend'

I assume your Ubuntu install was on sda5?

But why does GRUB point to sda1?


Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive in
partition #1

Can you give us some more background information please on how you originally installed Ubuntu and what exact steps you took afterwards:


I followed the tutorial to re-install it

Please provide a link if possible to the tutorial.

Any other information you consider relevant should also be posted.

Thanks.

[Alexd4]

Thanks for your interest, I am unhappy to know I'm an outlier!

I installed Ubuntu 10.10 from CD a few months back on a Dell XPS M1210 (info here (http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2965) and here (http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsm1210/en/SM/index.htm)). Since the hardware was aging a little, and I had no particular love or need for Windows XP, I did a a complete install to ubuntu and wiped the partition which had been there. No problems with it until now.

As I mentioned before, the Dell machine had a Dell/Windows home media set-up. Beside the power button there is another button "Dell Media Direct" which boots the machine directly to a home entertainment set-up (sort of like Mythubuntu). This must have had its own boot process because it wasn't running the full operating system and booted very fast. I'm also presuming it was deleted with my ubuntu install. The problem started when I accidently pressed the remaining "MediaDirect" button which now has no software behind it. I guess the grub has re-directed to that.

I followed these instructions to re-install it (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708&highlight=Grub+rescue+tutorial)(http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708&highlight=Grub+rescue+tutorial), but got the error message below.


I hope this info helps, please take all of my suppositions with a pinch of salt as I'm a layman and thanks again

[Rubi1200]

If I understand your post correctly, you overwrote the Windows partition with Ubuntu?

In other words, as far as you were concerned Windows was no longer on the computer, right?

I suggest you give Testdisk a run and see if it can find and restore your Ubuntu partitions:
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step

You should run this from a LiveCD.

Boot with the CD, go to the terminal and run:


sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install testdisk

After installation:

sudo testdisk to start and then use the guide above to try and find what appears to have been lost.

If at any point you are unsure, post back here and ask before moving ahead.

[Alexd4]

Hi again,

Yes I completely deleted windows, I declined the chance to keep a partition.

I'm continually getting the following error message;


ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get install testdisk
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package testdisk


except this one once
:
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get install testdisk
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?


when I exited the program and tried again i again was told to was not located. Is there some problem with the repository?

thanks

[Rubi1200]

On the LiveCD, go to System > Administration > Synaptic > Repositories and put a check-mark next to universe and multiverse if not already enabled and then try to install again (after closing Synaptic).

edit: I meant Repositories > Software Sources

[Alexd4]

I've already checked this, it was allowed as the default but am unfortunately getting the same message.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get install testdisk
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package testdisk
I am running ubuntu 10.10 from the CD so I can't think how my set-up would be different from others.

I've also tried downloading it from here (http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download), and extracting the files, but there is no .exe. I ran the command in terminal;

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo testdisk-6.9/linux/testdisk_static
sudo: testdisk-6.9/linux/testdisk_static: command not found


I feel I have angered the partition god...

[Rubi1200]

Did you try running sudo apt-get upgrade before the command to install testdisk?

If the repositories are enabled, I see no reason why this would not work.

[Alexd4]

So i got it to work in the end. Here are the results of the testdisk search:


Disk /dev/sda - 120 GB / 111 GiB - CHS 14594 255 63
Partition Start End Size in sectors
* FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 10 254 63 176652 [DellUtility]
P HPFS - NTFS 11 0 1 13724 254 63 220315410
L FAT32 LBA 13726 1 1 13986 254 63 4192902 [MEDIADIRECT]
P FAT32 LBA 13987 0 1 14592 254 63 9735390 [DellRestore]

*=Primary bootable P=Primary L=Logical E=Extended D=Deleted

Yes i had intended to completely remove Windows from the system, but as suspected the mediadirect appears to have remained. The primary bootloader seems to have been changed to that when I pressed that button on the hardware. Does this sound correct?

Should I change the primary bootable to one of the other primary drives. just to recap i am getting the error message "Unknown filesystem, grub rescue" on booting.

Sorry about earlier fretting with the install

[Rubi1200]

Hi Alexd4,
here's the problem: I was hoping that Testdisk would find and restore your Ubuntu install.

Instead, it appears to have found your old Windows partitions. Unless you want Windows back, I am not sure this will help you.

Did you try the Deeper Search option or just the Quick Search?

Also, just for the record, I am not an expert on Testdisk. I know other users have employed it to successfully restore lost data and partitions. Therefore, I am wary of answering your question and suggesting what you should do next other than to try the Deeper Search option.

In the meantime, I will send a message to some other users who may have different perspectives to offer on your current situation.

Please hang in there as I would not like you to lose an opportunity to recover your data.

[Alexd4]

Hi Rubi,

That was just the quick search. Preliminary results of the deeper search are showing a linux result;


FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 10 254 63 176652 [DellUtility]
Linux 0 32 33 14211 17 14 228298752
HPFS - NTFS 11 0 1 13724 254 63 220315410



I'll post the full results when the search is finished.

[Rubi1200]

Okay, that is good news. I have to go out now, but will check back in on the thread in about an hour or so.

Post the results of the deeper search once you have them.

Thanks.

[Alexd4]

Rubi, thanks for your continued help and patience, I really appreciate it. The deeper search definitely showed some linux results, but alas I skipped ahead by accident while trying to copy-paste them.

I got this summary of the drive size afterward;


Disk /dev/sda - 120 GB / 111 GiB - CHS 14594 255 63, sector size=512Here's the full results from the log file, apologies for the length of the post, I hope you can make better sense of this than I can!




Sun Mar 6 15:17:43 2011
Command line: TestDisk

TestDisk 6.11, Data Recovery Utility, April 2009
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org
OS: Linux, kernel 2.6.35-22-generic (#33-Ubuntu SMP Sun Sep 19 20:34:50 UTC 2010)
Compiler: GCC 4.4 - Jun 23 2009 17:11:34
ext2fs lib: 1.41.12, ntfs lib: 10:0:0, reiserfs lib: none, ewf lib: none
/dev/sda: LBA, HPA, LBA48, DCO support
/dev/sda: size 234441648 sectors
/dev/sda: user_max 234441648 sectors
/dev/sda: native_max 234441648 sectors
/dev/sda: dco 234441648 sectors
Warning: can't get size for Disk /dev/mapper/control - 0 B - CHS 1 1 1, sector size=512
/dev/sr0 is not an ATA disk
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 120 GB / 111 GiB - CHS 14593 255 63, sector size=512 - ATA SAMSUNG HM120JI
Disk /dev/sr0 - 726 MB / 693 MiB - CHS 354896 1 1 (RO), sector size=2048 - PHILIPS DVD+-RW SDVD8820

Partition table type (auto): Intel
Disk /dev/sda - 120 GB / 111 GiB - ATA SAMSUNG HM120JI
Partition table type: Intel

Analyse Disk /dev/sda - 120 GB / 111 GiB - CHS 14593 255 63
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63
FAT32 at 13726/1/1
Info: size boot_sector 4192902, partition 4192902
FAT1 : 32-4124
FAT2 : 4125-8217
start_rootdir : 8218 root cluster : 2
Data : 8218-4192897
sectors : 4192902
cluster_size : 8
no_of_cluster : 523085 (2 - 523086)
fat_length 4093 calculated 4087
check_part_i386 failed for partition type 82
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=2
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=2
Current partition structure:
1 * FAT32 LBA 13726 1 1 13986 254 63 4192902 [MEDIADIRECT]
2 E extended 14211 49 45 14593 66 1 6137858
5 L Linux Swap 14211 49 47 14593 66 1 6137856
5 L Linux Swap 14211 49 47 14593 66 1 6137856
Computes LBA from CHS for Disk /dev/sda - 120 GB / 111 GiB - CHS 14594 255 63
Allow partial last cylinder : Yes
search_vista_part: 1

search_part()
Disk /dev/sda - 120 GB / 111 GiB - CHS 14594 255 63
FAT16 at 0/1/1
FAT1 : 1-173
FAT2 : 174-346
start_rootdir : 347
Data : 379-176650
sectors : 176652
cluster_size : 4
no_of_cluster : 44068 (2 - 44069)
fat_length 173 calculated 173

FAT16 at 0/1/1
FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 10 254 63 176652 [DellUtility]
FAT16, 90 MB / 86 MiB
NTFS at 11/0/1
filesystem size 220315410
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 16
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 11 0 1 13724 254 63 220315410
NTFS, 112 GB / 105 GiB
FAT32 at 13726/1/1
FAT1 : 32-4124
FAT2 : 4125-8217
start_rootdir : 8218 root cluster : 2
Data : 8218-4192897
sectors : 4192902
cluster_size : 8
no_of_cluster : 523085 (2 - 523086)
fat_length 4093 calculated 4087

FAT32 at 13726/1/1
FAT32 LBA 13726 1 1 13986 254 63 4192902 [MEDIADIRECT]
FAT32, 2146 MB / 2047 MiB
FAT32 at 13987/0/1
FAT1 : 32-9526
FAT2 : 9527-19021
start_rootdir : 19022 root cluster : 2
Data : 19022-9735389
sectors : 9735390
cluster_size : 8
no_of_cluster : 1214546 (2 - 1214547)
fat_length 9495 calculated 9489
set_FAT_info: name from BS used

FAT32 at 13987/0/1
FAT32 LBA 13987 0 1 14592 254 63 9735390 [DellRestore]
FAT32, 4984 MB / 4753 MiB
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=8
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=8

Results
* FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 10 254 63 176652 [DellUtility]
FAT16, 90 MB / 86 MiB
P HPFS - NTFS 11 0 1 13724 254 63 220315410
NTFS, 112 GB / 105 GiB
L FAT32 LBA 13726 1 1 13986 254 63 4192902 [MEDIADIRECT]
FAT32, 2146 MB / 2047 MiB
P FAT32 LBA 13987 0 1 14592 254 63 9735390 [DellRestore]
FAT32, 4984 MB / 4753 MiB


dir_partition inode=0
* FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 10 254 63 176652 [DellUtility]
FAT16, 90 MB / 86 MiB
Directory /
2 -r-xr-xr-x 0 0 53569 22-Jun-2005 00:54 command.com
29 -r-xr-xr-x 0 0 29690 26-Jul-2005 00:48 DELLBIO.BIN
44 -r-xr-xr-x 0 0 33352 22-Jun-2005 00:54 DELLRMK.BIN
61 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 49 5-Jan-2000 20:32 CONFIG.BTS
62 drwxr-xr-x 0 0 0 8-Jan-2007 09:50 DELL
39541 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 813 8-Oct-2006 05:13 DIR.LST
74 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 50393 13-Dec-2005 06:05 SEAL.EXE
70 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 77 8-Oct-2006 05:13 config.sys
41439 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 10802 26-Jan-2007 08:49 SEAL.INI
37984 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 325139 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Adaptec.mdm
38143 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 316659 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Adaptec2.mdm
38298 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 48155 8-Oct-2006 05:13 ami_raid.mdm
38322 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 241 8-Oct-2006 05:13 AUTOEXEC.UP
38323 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 18955 8-Oct-2006 05:13 BiosMp.mdm
38333 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 203266 8-Oct-2006 05:13 CABLES.mdm
38433 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 52711 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Cache.mdm
38459 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 77 8-Oct-2006 05:13 CONFIG.UP
38460 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 85 8-Oct-2006 05:13 COPYUP.BAT
38461 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 33578 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Cpu.mdm
38478 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 4419 8-Oct-2006 05:13 DDInit.mim
38481 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 1814 8-Oct-2006 05:13 DDINIT.MLM
38482 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 2635 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Dellboot.exe
38484 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 10321 8-Oct-2006 05:13 DELLDIAG.COM
38490 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 1201923 8-Oct-2006 05:13 DELLDIAG.EXE
39077 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 319 8-Oct-2006 05:13 DellDiag.INI
39078 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 83479 8-Oct-2006 05:13 DellSys.msm
39119 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 863731 8-Oct-2006 05:13 DELLTBUI.EXE
39542 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 259563 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Disk.mdm
39669 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 62772 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Diskette.mdm
39700 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 18946 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Dvd.mdm
39710 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 186829 8-Oct-2006 05:13 GenAudio.mdm
39802 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 78003 8-Oct-2006 05:13 HDAudio.mdm
39841 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 106367 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Iaudio.mdm
39893 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 28655 8-Oct-2006 05:13 IEEE1394.mdm
39907 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 38980 8-Oct-2006 05:13 IMchEcc.mdm
39927 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 900 8-Oct-2006 05:13 INT15_88.COM
39928 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 50830 8-Oct-2006 05:13 IoApic.mdm
39953 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 62438 8-Oct-2006 05:13 IR.mdm
39984 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 199019 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Keyboard.mdm
40082 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 90839 8-Oct-2006 05:13 LSI.mdm
40127 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 125117 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Memory.mdm
40189 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 41523 8-Oct-2006 05:13 MiscPci.mdm
40210 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 77101 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Mouse.mdm
40248 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 57342 8-Oct-2006 05:13 MpCache.mdm
40276 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 104432 8-Oct-2006 05:13 mpmemory.exe
40327 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 42936 8-Oct-2006 05:13 NbBatt.MDM
40348 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 33316 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Nbfan.MDM
40365 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 70808 8-Oct-2006 05:13 NbSvc.MDM
40400 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 48212 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Nbtherm.MDM
40424 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 239232 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Nic.mdm
40541 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 83515 8-Oct-2006 05:13 nic8254x.MDM
40582 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 47741 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Parallel.mdm
40606 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 14691 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Pci.mdm
40614 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 33490 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Perc2Ada.mdm
40631 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 13931 8-Oct-2006 05:13 PM.MDM
40638 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 24251 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Pnp.mdm
40650 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 62222 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Raid.mdm
40681 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 274886 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Scsi.mdm
40816 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 48564 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Serial.mdm
40840 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 112763 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Smbios.mdm
40896 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 23572 8-Oct-2006 05:13 SMBus.mdm
40908 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 27750 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Smi.mdm
40922 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 1979 8-Oct-2006 05:13 SYMTREE.INI
40923 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 84397 8-Oct-2006 05:13 SYSBDMON.mdm
40965 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 76252 8-Oct-2006 05:13 System.mdm
41003 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 72648 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Usb.mdm
41039 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 48239 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Usb2.mdm
41063 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 119144 8-Oct-2006 05:13 UsbDevID.mdm
41122 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 52388 8-Oct-2006 05:13 USBEHCI.mdm
41148 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 142406 8-Oct-2006 05:13 UsbKbd.mdm
41218 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 23801 8-Oct-2006 05:13 UsbMass.mdm
41230 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 51298 8-Oct-2006 05:13 UsbMouse.mdm
41256 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 34043 8-Oct-2006 05:13 USBOHCI.mdm
41273 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 52481 8-Oct-2006 05:13 UsbTm.mdm
41299 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 61981 8-Oct-2006 05:13 UsbUfi.mdm
41330 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 38267 8-Oct-2006 05:13 USBUHCI.mdm
41349 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 157811 8-Oct-2006 05:13 Video.mdm
69 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 241 8-Oct-2006 05:13 AUTOEXEC.BAT
71 -rwxr-xr-x 0 0 264 29-Sep-2006 10:45 EEPROM.DMP

interface_write()
1 * FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 10 254 63 176652 [DellUtility]
2 P HPFS - NTFS 11 0 1 13724 254 63 220315410
3 E extended LBA 13725 0 1 13986 254 63 4209030
4 P FAT32 LBA 13987 0 1 14592 254 63 9735390 [DellRestore]
5 L FAT32 LBA 13726 1 1 13986 254 63 4192902 [MEDIADIRECT]

search_part()
Disk /dev/sda - 120 GB / 111 GiB - CHS 14594 255 63
FAT16 at 0/1/1
FAT1 : 1-173
FAT2 : 174-346
start_rootdir : 347
Data : 379-176650
sectors : 176652
cluster_size : 4
no_of_cluster : 44068 (2 - 44069)
fat_length 173 calculated 173

FAT16 at 0/1/1
FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 10 254 63 176652 [DellUtility]
FAT16, 90 MB / 86 MiB

recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=0/870, s_mnt_count=7/30, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 28537344
recover_EXT2: part_size 228298752
Linux 0 32 33 14211 17 14 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock, 116 GB / 108 GiB
NTFS at 11/0/1
filesystem size 220315410
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 16
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 11 0 1 13724 254 63 220315410
NTFS, 112 GB / 105 GiB

recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=0/870, s_mnt_count=7/30, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 28537344
recover_EXT2: part_size 228298752
Linux 7065 242 26 21276 227 7 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
This partition ends after the disk limits. (start=113514496, size=228298752, end=341813247, disk end=234452610)

recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=0/870, s_mnt_count=7/30, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 28537344
recover_EXT2: part_size 228298752
Linux 7068 160 5 21279 144 49 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
This partition ends after the disk limits. (start=113557504, size=228298752, end=341856255, disk end=234452610)

recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=0/870, s_mnt_count=7/30, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 28537344
recover_EXT2: part_size 228298752
Linux 7069 67 39 21280 52 20 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
This partition ends after the disk limits. (start=113567744, size=228298752, end=341866495, disk end=234452610)

recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=0/870, s_mnt_count=7/30, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 28537344
recover_EXT2: part_size 228298752
Linux 7069 230 10 21280 214 54 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
This partition ends after the disk limits. (start=113577984, size=228298752, end=341876735, disk end=234452610)

recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=0/870, s_mnt_count=7/30, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 28537344
recover_EXT2: part_size 228298752
Linux 7070 202 45 21281 187 26 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
This partition ends after the disk limits. (start=113592320, size=228298752, end=341891071, disk end=234452610)

recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=0/870, s_mnt_count=7/30, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 28537344
recover_EXT2: part_size 228298752
Linux 7073 55 23 21284 40 4 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
This partition ends after the disk limits. (start=113631232, size=228298752, end=341929983, disk end=234452610)

recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=0/870, s_mnt_count=7/30, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 28537344
recover_EXT2: part_size 228298752
Linux 7079 118 16 21290 102 60 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
This partition ends after the disk limits. (start=113731584, size=228298752, end=342030335, disk end=234452610)

recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=0/870, s_mnt_count=7/30, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 28537344
recover_EXT2: part_size 228298752
Linux 7081 30 54 21292 15 35 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
This partition ends after the disk limits. (start=113758208, size=228298752, end=342056959, disk end=234452610)
NTFS at 13724/254/63
filesystem size 220315410
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 16
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 11 0 1 13724 254 63 220315410
NTFS found using backup sector!, 112 GB / 105 GiB
FAT32 at 13726/1/1
FAT1 : 32-4124
FAT2 : 4125-8217
start_rootdir : 8218 root cluster : 2
Data : 8218-4192897
sectors : 4192902
cluster_size : 8
no_of_cluster : 523085 (2 - 523086)
fat_length 4093 calculated 4087

FAT32 at 13726/1/1
FAT32 LBA 13726 1 1 13986 254 63 4192902 [MEDIADIRECT]
FAT32, 2146 MB / 2047 MiB
FAT32 at 13726/1/7
FAT1 : 32-4124
FAT2 : 4125-8217
start_rootdir : 8218 root cluster : 2
Data : 8218-4192897
sectors : 4192902
cluster_size : 8
no_of_cluster : 523085 (2 - 523086)
fat_length 4093 calculated 4087
set_FAT_info: name from BS used

FAT32 at 13726/1/7
FAT32 LBA 13726 1 1 13986 254 63 4192902 [NO NAME]
FAT found using backup sector!, 2146 MB / 2047 MiB
FAT32 at 13987/0/1
FAT1 : 32-9526
FAT2 : 9527-19021
start_rootdir : 19022 root cluster : 2
Data : 19022-9735389
sectors : 9735390
cluster_size : 8
no_of_cluster : 1214546 (2 - 1214547)
fat_length 9495 calculated 9489
set_FAT_info: name from BS used

FAT32 at 13987/0/1
FAT32 LBA 13987 0 1 14592 254 63 9735390 [DellRestore]
FAT32, 4984 MB / 4753 MiB
FAT32 at 13987/0/7
FAT1 : 32-9526
FAT2 : 9527-19021
start_rootdir : 19022 root cluster : 2
Data : 19022-9735389
sectors : 9735390
cluster_size : 8
no_of_cluster : 1214546 (2 - 1214547)
fat_length 9495 calculated 9489
set_FAT_info: name from BS used

FAT32 at 13987/0/7
FAT32 LBA 13987 0 1 14592 254 63 9735390 [DellRestore]
FAT found using backup sector!, 4984 MB / 4753 MiB
Disk /dev/sda - 120 GB / 111 GiB - CHS 14594 255 63
Check the harddisk size: HD jumpers settings, BIOS detection...
The harddisk (120 GB / 111 GiB) seems too small! (< 175 GB / 163 GiB)
The following partitions can't be recovered:
Linux 7065 242 26 21276 227 7 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
Linux 7068 160 5 21279 144 49 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
Linux 7069 67 39 21280 52 20 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
Linux 7069 230 10 21280 214 54 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
Linux 7070 202 45 21281 187 26 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
Linux 7073 55 23 21284 40 4 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
Linux 7079 118 16 21290 102 60 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
Linux 7081 30 54 21292 15 35 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=8
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=8

Results
FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 10 254 63 176652 [DellUtility]
FAT16, 90 MB / 86 MiB
Linux 0 32 33 14211 17 14 228298752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock, 116 GB / 108 GiB
HPFS - NTFS 11 0 1 13724 254 63 220315410
NTFS, 112 GB / 105 GiB
FAT32 LBA 13726 1 1 13986 254 63 4192902 [MEDIADIRECT]
FAT32, 2146 MB / 2047 MiB
FAT32 LBA 13987 0 1 14592 254 63 9735390 [DellRestore]
FAT32, 4984 MB / 4753 MiB

interface_write()

No partition found or selected for recovery

[srs5694]

Try running TestDisk again, do the deep search, and recover the Linux partition this time.

Also, when posting big files, it's best to do so either as an attachement or between
and strings, which improves legibility and sets up a scrollable area for long extracts.

[Rubi1200]

srs5694 is right; run it again and find the Linux partition. Use the options in Testdisk (see the link I gave before) to check everything is correct (p option to check the files). Once you are sure you have the right partition then, and only then, write the partition table to restore.

Remember this is a risky operation.

Good luck!

[Alexd4]

Ok, thanks for the support, I'm about to go ahead and recover the linux partition. Here are the deeper search results


TestDisk 6.11, Data Recovery Utility, April 2009
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org

Disk /dev/sda - 120 GB / 111 GiB - CHS 14594 255 63

The harddisk (120 GB / 111 GiB) seems too small! (< 175 GB / 163 GiB)
Check the harddisk size: HD jumpers settings, BIOS detection...

The following partitions can't be recovered:
Partition Start End Size in sectors
Linux 7065 242 26 21276 227 7 228298752
Linux 7068 160 5 21279 144 49 228298752
Linux 7069 67 39 21280 52 20 228298752
Linux 7069 230 10 21280 214 54 228298752
Linux 7070 202 45 21281 187 26 228298752
Linux 7073 55 23 21284 40 4 228298752
Linux 7079 118 16 21290 102 60 228298752
Linux 7081 30 54 21292 15 35 228298752



[ Continue ]
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Recover, 116 GB / 108 GiB though the next screen is showing them as all deleted;


TestDisk 6.11, Data Recovery Utility, April 2009
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org

Disk /dev/sda - 120 GB / 111 GiB - CHS 14594 255 63
Partition Start End Size in sectors
D FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 10 254 63 176652 [DellUtility]
D Linux 0 32 33 14211 17 14 228298752
D HPFS - NTFS 11 0 1 13724 254 63 220315410
D FAT32 LBA 13726 1 1 13986 254 63 4192902 [MEDIADIRECT]
D FAT32 LBA 13987 0 1 14592 254 63 9735390 [DellRestore]







Structure: Ok. Use Up/Down Arrow keys to select partition.
Use Left/Right Arrow keys to CHANGE partition characteristics:
*=Primary bootable P=Primary L=Logical E=Extended D=Deleted
Keys A: add partition, L: load backup, T: change type, P: list files,
Enter: to continue
FAT16, 90 MB / 86 MiB
Remember I am getting the grub rescue prompt on start-up. should I change the status of one to 'primary bootable" ? clicking "p' shows that they all have file lists and none are corrupted or damaged as in the tutorial. Mediadirect has two ominous looking red lines. I've re-written the linux partition. So I have to re-write and see what happens. If i'm not back it's not gone well....

I feel I'm making progress, thanks for your help.

[psusi]

It looks like you reinstalled windows, overwriting Ubuntu in the process. Time to reinstall Ubuntu and/or restore from backup I'd say.

[Alexd4]

Thanks for all the assistance, especially Rubi. I rewrote the linux partition and it now boots properly from bios, I'll be staying away from the remaining windows button!

I have got a "fatal" error message saying that certain modules from the kernel cannot be loaded, it does not appear to be affecting performance though are you aware of any diagnostic I could run?

Thanks again for the help and hand-holding. I'll be looking out to pay it forward in the community sometime soon.

[Rubi1200]

Excellent! Really glad you got things sorted out :)

After making a backup of important data, you might want to consider updating the system.

[Alexd4]

Hi, Thanks again for your help and your sincere enthusiasm.

I've backed up recently, unfortunately the back-up is in another country at the moment, I'm still a little untrusting of the cloud.

I'm using the latest version of ubuntu (10.10), and after updating with the most recent patches the second boot issue I mentioned is no longer coming.

I think it's a hardware problem more than a software one: sometimes I can really hear the harddrive working! Are there some powerful defragging tools or optimisers I can use, similar to Smart Defrag on Windows?

Best,

A

[psusi]

I think it's a hardware problem more than a software one: sometimes I can really hear the harddrive working! Are there some powerful defragging tools or optimisers I can use, similar to Smart Defrag on Windows?


The short answer is no, Linux doesn't need defragging. The long answer is http://launchpad.net/e2defrag.