Adding space to the system drive

[YasinG]

hi guys, when i first installed ubuntu i cut up 20 gb from one of my drives and put ubuntu in it, because i still had xp. Now i want to add extra space. can i do that ?
please be over explanatory since i'm not that good with it yet.
Thanks in advance

[lmarmisa]

I suppose you are not running Ubuntu with Wubi.

The procedure for resizing your system partition requires an Ubuntu Live CD / USB and the use of the tool Gparted. But, the exact steps to follow depends on the partitions of your hard drive.

Please, open a terminal and post the output of this command:



sudo fdisk -l

[YasinG]

Here it is:

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x77777777

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 4844 38909398+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 4845 30400 205278539+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 4845 14990 81496554+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda6 17623 30400 102639253+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda7 14990 15245 2048000 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda8 15246 17622 19092480 83 Linux

Partition table entries are not in disk order

ps: what is wubi?

[rcayea]

I have before been in your same situation. I don't know if it will work for you, but I just downloaded EASEUS Partition Manager (it is free) and I expanded my linux partition that way. Then it told me to reboot and when it rebooted, the computer partitioned the space and I was on my way.

[lmarmisa]

Wubi is an special version of Ubuntu. The system and swap partitions of Wubi are not physical but they are files of Windows. Anyway, do not worry about Wubi because you are not running it.

You have defined several NTFS partitions in your hard drive. I see 3 partitions with 38,5 GB, 81.5 GB and 102 GB.

I would appreciate if you could explain what type of information (XP, personal files, etc) is stored in each partition.

[YasinG]

Sorry for replying so late, I have been incredibly busy.
The 38.5 GB drive contains the XP files wich I don't need.
The 81.5 GB drive contains personal files, it was 100 GB before i cut 20 for UBUNTU
The last drive has personal information too.
I want to move UBUNTU on the 38.5 GB drive.
Thanks in advance.

[Iantos]

download easus partition manager, install it in xp partition...and then open it and you will be able to see all your partitions there, resize, decrease and move whatever partition as you wish.

[fdrake]

i have never tried EASEUS Partition Manager, but there is always a chance that you will encounter errors with grub after the resizing. also keeping files all in different partitions is a better and safer thing to do in case of crashes or corruptions. Why do not create a folder in win partition and store there your data from UBUNTU. in this case you will be able to share the data easily between the systems. You can mount the win folder in ubuntu like you do with partitions automatically in fstab too.

[YasinG]

Ok here's the update. I had my friend make me a live cd on my flash drive and started Gparted and copied the UBUNTU drive into the 38.5 drive.
Now in the black screen i get my normal ubuntu generic and ubuntu generic (recovery mode) and two memory tests, i don't really understand why but they have always been there since i installed UBUNTU, plus a new choice: Previous versions, when i press enter on that i get another screen where there is two Ubuntus like this:

Ubuntu generic <some numbers like the ones on the previous screen but 10 instead of eleven >
Ubuntu generic <some numbers like the ones on the previous screen but 10 instead of eleven > ( recovery mode)

Ubuntu generic <some numbers like the ones on the previous screen but 10 instead of eleven >
Ubuntu generic <some numbers like the ones on the previous screen but 10 instead of eleven > recovery mode)

I didn't repeat myself that's how they are shown , two identical Ubuntus.
My question is what are those ? are they the copy that i made ? and why there is two when i only copied one? notice there is another one thats in the previous screen, the old one.
And can i delete the one that's in the 20 GB now or i should keep it in case ?
Thanks for your answers everyone, i deeply appreciate this.
Yasin

[YesWeCan]

Hi. Your system won't boot if you delete the original Ubuntu so don't do that yet.

Did you do a copy & paste in GParted? Pretty slick feature, I think. But if you did it this way there are a few things you need to do to make things work. If you did not do it this way then ignore the following instructions. This also assumes you are using Grub2. If not, don't do this.

You should boot from live CD (same version as the installed) to do this:

1) The UUID for the new Ubuntu partition will be the same as the old one and this will confuse the boot and filesystem mounting process.
sudo blkid
will show you the UUIDs for all partitions. If your new one (sda1 I guess?) is the same as the old one sda8 then you'll need to change it.
sudo tune2fs -U random /dev/sda1
then run
sudo blkid
and see the new, unique UUID for sda1. You'll need this for the next step.

2) The fstab file in the new Ubuntu will have the wrong UUID for its root (/) entry. So you need to edit it and change the UUID to the new one for sda1:
sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
sudo gedit /mnt/etc/fstab

3) You need to reinstall Grub so that it works using files in your new Ubuntu:
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda

Now you can reboot into the first Ubuntu on the menu.
Check this is the new Ubuntu by looking at which partition / is mounted on. It should be sda1
mount

If all that checks out, you can go ahead and delete the old Ubuntu in sda8. If any of that is not clear enough just ask.

[YasinG]

hi YesWeCan, I did a copy & paste in Gparted, but i have no idea what grub2 is and whether or not i'm using it. is there a way to find that out ?
By the way the UUID for my sda1 is the same as the UUID for my sda8, which is the old one.

[YesWeCan]

Yes. From live CD, assuming your new Ubuntu partition is sda1 (tell me what it is if it isn't)
sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
ls /mnt/boot/grub
and if there is a file named grub.cfg and if there is not a file named menu.lst you have Grub2.
BTW which version of ubuntu are you using?

[YesWeCan]

By the way the UUID for my sda1 is the same as the UUID for my sda8, which is the old one.
Indeed. sda1 needs to be given a new UUID of its own to avoid confusion with sda8, as per my previous post. When GParted does a copy and paste it does not do this.

[YesWeCan]

BTW you might be wondering why I don't just say to delete sda8 right now so there is no UUID conflict. That would work. But I am cautious and I think it better to make sure the new Ubuntu is working properly before you delete the old one.

[YasinG]

I'm running Ubuntu 11.04, i don't know the name of it but it's something complicated and russain-like.
so i typed in terminal
sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
ls /mnt/boot/grub
and it gave me the no such file message.

[YesWeCan]

What does ls /mnt show?

[YasinG]

Sorry I didn't boot from the live cd, that's why it wouldn't show.
You were right, grub.cfg is there and no menu.lst, so i'm using grub. Shall I execute the rest of the steps in your first post ?

[YesWeCan]

Go ahead. I have to go now but I'll check back tomorrow.

[YasinG]

I still says it's mounted on sda8
/dev/sda8 on / type ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,user_xattr,commit=0)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
...

[YesWeCan]

Ok, it may be the new ubuntu is further down the boot menu list. Yes, that may be right because we havent updated grub yet.

try that.

if that doesnt work, boot sda8 again and run
sudo update-grub
sudo grub-install /dev/sda

then reboot and select the new ubuntu at the end of the menu
check using mount that sda1 is on /
if so, again do
sudo update-grub
sudo grub-install /dev/sda

then reboot and the first menu entry should take you to sda1

[YasinG]

This is what i get after the last step in your first post:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda
/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.
Installation finished. No error reported.

I'll reboot now and check.

[YesWeCan]

That warning is a long story to explain right now. Its due to residue from a Windows app.

[YasinG]

Ok, never mind about the warning.
I did this step:

if that doesnt work, boot sda8 again and run
sudo update-grub
sudo grub-install /dev/sda

then reboot and select the new ubuntu at the end of the menu
check using mount that sda1 is on /
and the same thing happened:

/dev/sda8 on / type ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,user_xattr,commit=0)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)

There is something new though. In the boot menu, there is about three Ubuntus. But each one has the <> brackets beside it stating on which partition it's mounted, i chose the one with sda1, but it still shows the previous message. Could it be i'm writing the mount command wrongly ? I just type mount right ?

[YesWeCan]

you edited the fstab in sda1 and gave / the new UUID for sda1?

if it still has the sda8 uuid then it will mount the root partition in sda8.

[YasinG]

Yes i did. Here is the fstab file:

# /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/sda8 during installation
UUID=88118626-5482-45ab-8f03-c2d131752aa9 / ext4 errors=remount-ro,user_xattr 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=978c7491-f17e-4adf-9882-32a1ef3c3071 none swap sw 0 0

And this is the UUID of the sda1:

/dev/sda1: UUID="88118626-5482-45ab-8f03-c2d131752aa9" TYPE="ext4"

IT's the same.

[YesWeCan]

That fstab file looks good.
The sda8 uuid is different, right?
Im am going to have to go. I'll check back tomorrow. it would be helpful for others who may want to assist if you post the bootinfoscript output.

[YasinG]

Yes it's different.
Here is the bootinfoscript output:


Boot Info Script 0.60 from 17 May 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 (,msdos8)/boot/grub on this drive.
=> Syslinux MBR (3.61-4.03) 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: 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:

sda6: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sda6 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sda7: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

sda8: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

sdb1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: SYSLINUX 4.02 debian-20101016 ...........>...r>........G8....0...~.k...~...f...M.f.f....f..8~....>2}
Boot sector info: Syslinux looks at sector 3420256 of /dev/sdb1 for its
second stage. SYSLINUX is installed in the directory.
The integrity check of the ADV area failed. No errors
found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files: /syslinux/syslinux.cfg /ldlinux.sys

============================ 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 * 63 77,818,859 77,818,797 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 77,818,921 488,375,999 410,557,079 f W95 Extended (LBA)
/dev/sda5 77,818,923 240,812,031 162,993,109 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda6 283,097,493 488,375,999 205,278,507 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda7 240,814,080 244,910,079 4,096,000 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda8 244,912,128 283,097,087 38,184,960 83 Linux


Drive: sdb __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 7873 MB, 7873757184 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 957 cylinders, total 15378432 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 15,378,431 15,378,369 b W95 FAT32


"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 88118626-5482-45ab-8f03-c2d131752aa9 ext4
/dev/sda5 249096089095E11A ntfs Mein
/dev/sda6 AE0804BB08048515 ntfs Sweet
/dev/sda7 978c7491-f17e-4adf-9882-32a1ef3c3071 swap
/dev/sda8 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ext4
/dev/sdb1 4446-0923 vfat YASIN

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (ro,noatime)
/dev/sdb1 /cdrom vfat (ro,noatime,fmask=0022,dmask=0022,codepage=cp437,i ocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,errors=remount-ro)


=========================== 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,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
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,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
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 2.6.38-11-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-11-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-11-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-11-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-11-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-11-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-11-generic
}
submenu "Previous Linux versions" {
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-10-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-10-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-10-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-10-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-10-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-8-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-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,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
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/sda1)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root EE98EC2198EBE5D5
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 ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== 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/sda8 during installation
UUID=88118626-5482-45ab-8f03-c2d131752aa9 / ext4 errors=remount-ro,user_xattr 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=978c7491-f17e-4adf-9882-32a1ef3c3071 none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

6.164390087 = 6.618963456 boot/grub/core.img 1
8.862544537 = 9.516084736 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
11.507232189 = 12.355796480 boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-10-generic 2
14.960967541 = 16.064216576 boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-11-generic 2
7.835967541 = 8.413806080 boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic 2
10.816745281 = 11.614391808 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic 1
2.680026531 = 2.877656576 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-11-generic 1
6.236121655 = 6.695984640 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic 1
14.960967541 = 16.064216576 initrd.img 2
11.507232189 = 12.355796480 initrd.img.old 2
2.680026531 = 2.877656576 vmlinuz 1
10.816745281 = 11.614391808 vmlinuz.old 1

=========================== sda8/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,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
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,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
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 2.6.38-11-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-11-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-11-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-11-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-11-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-11-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-11-generic
}
submenu "Previous Linux versions" {
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-10-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-10-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-10-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-10-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-10-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-8-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-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,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-11-generic (on /dev/sda1)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 88118626-5482-45ab-8f03-c2d131752aa9
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-11-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-11-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-11-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda1)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 88118626-5482-45ab-8f03-c2d131752aa9
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-11-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-11-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-10-generic (on /dev/sda1)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 88118626-5482-45ab-8f03-c2d131752aa9
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-10-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-10-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda1)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 88118626-5482-45ab-8f03-c2d131752aa9
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-10-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic (on /dev/sda1)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 88118626-5482-45ab-8f03-c2d131752aa9
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 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) (on /dev/sda1)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 88118626-5482-45ab-8f03-c2d131752aa9
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
### 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 ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sda8/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/sda8 during installation
UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 / ext4 errors=remount-ro,user_xattr 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=978c7491-f17e-4adf-9882-32a1ef3c3071 none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda8: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

123.027122498 = 132.099366912 boot/grub/core.img 1
131.488670349 = 141.184884736 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
128.290405273 = 137.750773760 boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-10-generic 2
131.744140625 = 141.459193856 boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-11-generic 2
124.619140625 = 133.808783360 boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic 2
127.599918365 = 137.009369088 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic 1
119.463199615 = 128.272633856 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-11-generic 1
123.019294739 = 132.090961920 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic 1
131.744140625 = 141.459193856 initrd.img 2
128.290405273 = 137.750773760 initrd.img.old 2
119.463199615 = 128.272633856 vmlinuz 1
127.599918365 = 137.009369088 vmlinuz.old 1

========================= sdb1/syslinux/syslinux.cfg: ==========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# D-I config version 2.0
include menu.cfg
default vesamenu.c32
prompt 0
timeout 50
ui gfxboot bootlogo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

?? = ?? ldlinux.sys 1
?? = ?? syslinux/gfxboot.c32 1
?? = ?? syslinux/syslinux.cfg 1
?? = ?? syslinux/vesamenu.c32 1

============== sdb1: Version of COM32(R) files used by Syslinux: ===============

syslinux/gfxboot.c32 : COM32R module (v4.xx)
syslinux/vesamenu.c32 : COM32R module (v4.xx)

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

unlzma: Decoder error
/home/ubuntu/Desktop/boot_info_script.sh: line 1579: [: 2.73495e+09: integer expression expected

[YesWeCan]

Ok, the grub.cfg file in sd8:/boot/grub has the wrong UUID for root of sda1:

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-11-generic (on /dev/sda1)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 88118626-5482-45ab-8f03-c2d131752aa9
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-11-generic root=UUID=93efeb51-de8e-4240-8163-0c812b73a9a6 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-11-generic
}
Should be

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-11-generic (on /dev/sda1)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 88118626-5482-45ab-8f03-c2d131752aa9
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-11-generic root=UUID=88118626-5482-45ab-8f03-c2d131752aa9 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-11-generic
}

Edit this file and change the UUID; this will change the first menu entry for sda1. Reboot and select this menu entry. This should get you in to sda1 and then you need to do
sudo update-grub
sudo grub-install /dev/sda

If that doesn't work...the belt and braces chroot method will: see 12.1.4 here https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2

[YasinG]

You are right, I can't imagine how you found that out !
Any way, grub.cfg is a read only file i can't change it.

[dino99]

update /etc/fstab with the good uuid (sudo gedit /etc/fstab)

sudo grub-mkconfig
sudo update-grub

[YesWeCan]

You can do:
sudo gedit /boot/grub/grub.cfg


I'm not sure whether this is a bug in update-grub or not. After you fix grub.cfg it will boot into sda1 and then if you run update-grub there it will change something so that when you go back to sda8 and run update-grub it will get it right. But I don't see why the location of the Ubuntu boot files should be affected by what the state of the Grub files is.

[YasinG]

Dino Thats what i did the first time, i updated the fstab file two times, it still wouldn't ubdate the grub file as you see.
I'll do that YesWeCan

[YasinG]

It worked. Now there is finally an entry on the menu that directs me to sda1, it's not the first one though. I guess that's what grub updating is right? or should i change the UUID in the first entry in the grub file? The one you marked in red was one further down the list.

[YesWeCan]

Right. I think the one I marked is the first entry after the memtest ones. So select it and give it a while to boot and hopefully when you run mount it will be sda1 at /.
Then you run
sudo update-grub
sudo grub-install /dev/sda

And now when you reboot everything should go through sda1 and the sda1 Ubuntu should be the first on the list.

The rule is that the Ubuntu, and its variants, that you are running when you do update-grub becomes the first on the menu. All other OSs get listed at the end after memtest.


BTW: When you see the grub menu you can highlight an entry and then press "e" to bring up an editor for that entry. You then see the whole line that's been grabbed from grub.cfg and you can edit it on the spot and then boot it. This is an alternative to editing the grub.cfg file.

[YasinG]

I thought so, and it did. Thanks a lot for all your work with me.
Now i have few questions if you don't mind.
How do i delete the old Ubuntu?
How do i get rid of the many entries in the boot menu? or what are they good for if i can't delete them ?
I noticed a small partition named linux swap when i was in Gparted or when i checked for UUIDs, what is that?
Thanks again.
Yasin

[YesWeCan]

Good stuff. You are welcome.
To remove a partition you can either run Disk Utility or GParted and use a nice GUI, or you can do it from the command line:
sudo parted /dev/sda rm
and it will ask you for the number of the partition

I prefer using a GUI because I feel more sure about what I am deleting. Make sure your cloned Ubuntu is all present and correct before you delete the old one.

Each time you run update-grub a scan is made of all your drives and any OS detected is an entry in the boot menu. So after you have deleted the old Ubuntu you need to run this again to remove its entries.

The swap space is like an emergency RAM supply. If Ubuntu runs out of RAM then it stops functioning properly. Some disk space is set aside as a sort of very slow, simulated RAM in case of short-term shortages. This space is also used when laptops hibernate: they copy the real RAM contents into the swap for restoration later. Windows uses a more modern form of swap by using a file in the actual root filesystem so no special partition is needed. Linux can also do it this way but for some reason Ubuntu still defaults to installing a swap partition. As a rule, you should set aside the same amount of swap as RAM, but unless you are going to hibernate or do really memory intensive stuff, 4GB of swap is plenty.

BTW Ubuntu may auto-mount any swap spaces it sees. This can cause confusion when you try to resize or delete a swap partition and you cannot because it is "in use". To see which swap partitions are active:
swapon -s
to deactivate a swap partition
swapoff /dev/sdxy
to reactivate a swap partition
swapon /dev/sdxy

[YasinG]

Thanks a lot man ( is it ?), i really appreciate you being so patient with me.
Yasin

[YesWeCan]

man ( is it ?),
Penguin.


Don't forget to mark this as solved in Thread Tools when you are ready.

[YasinG]

Done. Thanks again, I'm pretty sure you will be answering more of my upcoming questions so, see you later.