10.04 LTS to 11.04, hangs at GRUB

[kardain]

As the title says. Was running 10.04 LTS x64, updated to 11.04 x64 (well, 10.04 > 10.10 > 11.04 via update-manager -d). Non-dual boot system.

Turned my computer off for the night, next day, fired it up and was presented with the lovely GRUB menu and there it sits. Keyboard is non-responsive.

A bit of googling later, tried this: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Reinstalling%20from%20LiveCD -- both the standard and chroot options. Standard gave "No errors reported" or something like that. Restarted and it hung, so tried the chroot method, same thing. Wasn't able to find any other viable options.

So... I'm a tad stuck at this point.

Thanks for any help you might be able to provide.

boot_info_script.sh output:


Boot Info Script 0.56 from 8 February 2011


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

=> Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector 1 of
the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks
for (,msdos1)/boot/grub on this drive.
=> No boot loader is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb.

sda1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 11.04
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

sdb1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sdb2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

============================ 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 Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 468,520,959 468,518,912 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 468,523,006 488,396,799 19,873,794 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 468,523,008 488,396,799 19,873,792 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdb __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
81 heads, 63 sectors/track, 191411 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sdb1 * 63 488,519,727 488,519,665 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sdb2 488,521,728 976,771,071 488,249,344 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS


"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63 ext4
/dev/sda5 0802ee0c-f193-44d1-84e7-8617ac1a1d42 swap
/dev/sdb1 C214A9DF14A9D727 ntfs D:
/dev/sdb2 E8568B83568B516C ntfs Network

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (ro,noatime)
/dev/sr1 /cdrom iso9660 (ro,noatime)


=========================== sda1/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 video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_US
insmod gettext
if [ "${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
if background_color 44,0,30; then
clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
if [ ${recordfail} != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "$linux_gfx_mode" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-8-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
submenu "Previous Linux versions" {
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic root=UUID=da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-28-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic root=UUID=da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-31-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-31-generic root=UUID=da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-31-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-31-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-31-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-31-generic root=UUID=da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-31-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='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
if [ "x${timeout}" != "x-1" ]; then
if keystatus; then
if keystatus --shift; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=0
fi
else
if sleep --interruptible 3 ; then
set timeout=0
fi
fi
fi
### 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 ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sda1/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/sda1 during installation
# Commented out by Dropbox
# UUID=da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=0802ee0c-f193-44d1-84e7-8617ac1a1d42 none swap sw 0 0
UUID=da02cb23-5d05-4685-85bd-bee15d39fc63 / ext4 errors=remount-ro,user_xattr 0 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

98.133510590 = 105.370054656 boot/grub/core.img 1
98.135749817 = 105.372459008 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
151.172851562 = 162.320613376 boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-31-generic 2
56.046905518 = 60.179906560 boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic 2
56.279560089 = 60.429717504 boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic 2
98.981319427 = 106.280382464 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-31-generic 1
150.188652039 = 161.263837184 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic 2
157.180973053 = 168.771784704 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic 1
56.279560089 = 60.429717504 initrd.img 2
56.046905518 = 60.179906560 initrd.img.old 2
157.180973053 = 168.771784704 vmlinuz 1
150.188652039 = 161.263837184 vmlinuz.old 2

========= Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive: =========

sdc sdd sde sdf

=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

unlzma: Decoder error

[kansasnoob]

I don't see anything obviously wrong, but I've been seeing quite a few of these issues. Please look here:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=10757056&postcount=7

That disc won't fix anything but should get you booted. If so we probably need to try either step #2 or step #3 here:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=10764475&postcount=12

I'm so tired ATM I'm a bit rummy but hopefully that will be helpful :)

[kansasnoob]

Oh, I just noticed that you have a 64bit Ubuntu OS installed, eh? If so, and if you try the step #3 mentioned above when you get to this section:


Code:

wget http://mirrors.us.kernel.org/ubuntu//pool/main/g/grub2/grub-common_1.98+20100804-5ubuntu3_i386.deb

Code:

wget http://mirrors.us.kernel.org/ubuntu//pool/main/g/grub2/grub-pc_1.98+20100804-5ubuntu3_i386.deb

Code:

sudo dpkg -i grub-common_1.98+20100804-5ubuntu3_i386.deb

Code:

sudo dpkg -i grub-pc_1.98+20100804-5ubuntu3_i386.deb



Those are 32bit packages!

To be sure you have a 64bit OS run:


uname -m

64 bit = x86_64
32 bit = i686

For 64bit Maverick grub packages it would be:


wget http://mirrors.us.kernel.org/ubuntu//pool/main/g/grub2/grub-common_1.98+20100804-5ubuntu3_amd64.deb


wget http://mirrors.us.kernel.org/ubuntu//pool/main/g/grub2/grub-pc_1.98+20100804-5ubuntu3_amd64.deb


sudo dpkg -i grub-common_1.98+20100804-5ubuntu3_amd64.deb


sudo dpkg -i grub-pc_1.98+20100804-5ubuntu3_amd64.deb

[kardain]

I had to dig up a PS2 keyboard for SGD to work, but other than that, pretty straight forward.

Boots up perfectly after step 2 and 3 completed (with the x64 tweak above substituted).

Plymouth broke as a side-effect of the grub backdate, but I can live without it.

Thanks again, KN.

[kansasnoob]

I had to dig up a PS2 keyboard for SGD to work, but other than that, pretty straight forward.

Boots up perfectly after step 2 and 3 completed (with the x64 tweak above substituted).

Plymouth broke as a side-effect of the grub backdate, but I can live without it.

Thanks again, KN.

Well, step #2 and step #3 are two different things. The first restores natty grub to it's 'out-of-box' state and the second reverts you to Maverick grub :)

Did it not work after completing only step #2 from that thread?

But it did then work after completing step #3?

I've been noticing too many of these grub failures with Natty and I'm trying to figure out what might be wrong, but it's hard to do because I've not been able to reproduce the failure on any of the machines I've worked on.

I need to spend a little time and figure out how to word things better and probably start my own thread.

Glad things worked out for you :D

[kardain]

Well, step #2 and step #3 are two different things. The first restores natty grub to it's 'out-of-box' state and the second reverts you to Maverick grub :)

Did it not work after completing only step #2 from that thread?

But it did then work after completing step #3?

I've been noticing too many of these grub failures with Natty and I'm trying to figure out what might be wrong, but it's hard to do because I've not been able to reproduce the failure on any of the machines I've worked on.

I need to spend a little time and figure out how to word things better and probably start my own thread.

Glad things worked out for you :D

You worded things fine :) Step 2 failed after completion. It loaded something grub-ish, but just displayed


grub>

on screen in place of where the boot options would be normally.

Step 3, though, took care of it.

[kansasnoob]

Thank you very much. I'm super tired ATM but I need to try and figure out what's going wrong so the devs can fix it.

[kansasnoob]

Hi kardain.

If you happen to see this I have a request :)

There's an existing bug report here:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+bug/778059

You'll see in post #4 there I say:


I've discussed this with a couple of friends and we're all wondering if it might be hardware/firmware related (particularly BIOS related) and maybe the devs have a more eloquent way of requesting this info but if it's not too much trouble please run the command:

sudo lshw > hardwareprofile.txt

That will create a file in your home folder named ""hardwareprofile.txt". Then if you'd click on "Add attachment or patch" you should be able to use "Browse" to locate and attach that file.

Note: you may wish to delete the very first line of text in that file, eg: "lance-desktop". That's the closest thing I can find in that profile to "personal info".

I'd certainly appreciate it.

[kardain]

Done. Hope it helps :)

[kansasnoob]

Done. Hope it helps :)

Thank you. It might. I seem to be noticing something else, not sure if it's related or not.

But it seems like Natty's grub wants to try and display the grub menu in a resolution that some monitors won't accept.

Not too sure yet but I'm trying to figure it out :D

[kardain]

Interesting theory. Not sure how that would be related to it just locking up at the menu, but then again, I'm not that knowledgeable about how grub works.

As for monitors, since it doesn't look like it was included in the hardware profile, I have 2x of these (http://www.lg.com/us/computer-products/monitors/LG-led-monitor-E2350V-SN.jsp) hooked up via DVI.

[MAFoElffen]

Thank you. It might. I seem to be noticing something else, not sure if it's related or not.

But it seems like Natty's grub wants to try and display the grub menu in a resolution that some monitors won't accept.

Not too sure yet but I'm trying to figure it out :D
By this sticky:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1743535