Natty fresh install won't boot

[Bearly Able]

Hi all,

I had a problem yesterday with 10.10, which suddenly refused to boot for no apparent reason. (See thread here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1751541).)

I decided to do a fresh install of Natty, as the quickest and easiest solution. However, I still can't boot. If I try to boot the first option ( kernel 2.6.35-28 ) I get
error: environment block too smallfollowed after a few seconds by
mount: mounting /dev on /root/dev failed: No such file or directory
mount: mounting /sys on /root/sys failed: No such file or directory
mount: mounting /proc on /root/proc failed: No such file or directory
Target filesystem does not have requested /sbin/init.
No init found. Try passing init =bootarg.
Then it drops to BusyBox.

If I try using the recovery option, I just get more of the same, and it ends as above.

Apart from "environment block too small", this is basically the same problem that developed in Maverick yesterday, and which prompted me to do a fresh install to fix it. I'm now totally stumped as to what to do next.

Any assistance would be most appreciated.

[kansasnoob]

Well lets start with a look at the partitioning arrangement:


sudo parted -l

[Bearly Able]

Hi Kansasnoob, and thanks for your help. Here's the info:
Model: ATA WDC WD1600JS-00N (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 160GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 32.3kB 36.7GB 36.7GB primary ntfs boot
2 36.7GB 160GB 123GB extended lba
5 36.7GB 68.2GB 31.5GB logical ntfs
6 68.2GB 102GB 33.9GB logical ntfs
7 102GB 137GB 34.4GB logical ntfs
8 137GB 160GB 23.5GB logical ntfs


Model: ATA WDC WD1600AAJS-0 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 160GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 84.5GB 84.5GB primary ext4 boot
2 84.5GB 160GB 75.5GB extended
6 84.5GB 152GB 67.1GB logical ext4
7 152GB 154GB 2141MB logical linux-swap(v1)
5 154GB 160GB 6290MB logical linux-swap(v1)


Warning: Unable to open /dev/sr0 read-write (Read-only file system). /dev/sr0
has been opened read-only.
Error: /dev/sr0: unrecognised disk label
The first drive has Windows XP, but I've been unable to boot that for months (ever since I installed Maverick & Grub2).
The partition sizes on the Ubuntu drive are what the installation gave by default; I didn't change anything because I don't know enough to make any decision about it. I've always gone with default settings in the past without problem.

[Bearly Able]

I came across Kansasnoob's excellent guide http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=10778491&postcount=55 and tried using Super GRUB2 Disk, as suggested. That booted Natty for me, and I noticed that the kernel number was not one shown on my existing GRUB menu. When I looked again at the partition info, I realised I now have boot flags on both drives, which I didn't have before. The new install seems to have put GRUB on my Ubuntu drive, but the BIOS was set to boot from the other drive, so I was still getting the out-of-date menu. I followed Step 2 of the guide, just to be on the safe side, reset the BIOS and bingo! we're up and running.

Many thanks to Kansasnoob for that very clear and helpful guide.